Pure Michigan: Spring Photography Book

The “Pure Michigan – Spring” book represents four months of some of the most challenging photo sessions I’ve ever encountered. It’s wonderful to have my work featured alongside that of other top photographers. To represent Michigan in this beautiful publication is a great honor. And yes, I’ll admit it… doing so as the only female photographer is AWESOME!

Abundant Natural Beauty, Authentic Destinations, Unique Experiences: Spring

By Firefly Productions, LLC

Ten professional photographers were charged with the task of capturing the vibrancy and beauty of the Great Lake State during the spring season of 2009. The resulting pictures of people, places and landscapes became an unparalleled collection, perfect for any Michigander’s coffee table.

To order your copy, use the link below. $17.95 + $5.50 shipping – order using link below

Pay safely and securly either via PayPal – or by check/cash
or contact Stacy directly for ordering information

ISBN:978-1-59193-245-1
128 pages | 12″ x 9″ | hardcover

For a limited time (through February 14, 2010) take advantage of a VERY SPECIAL PRE-SALE OFFER. Not only will you receive $5.00 off the book’s suggested retail value – but it will arrive personally signed – and shipped FREE to your doorstep!

Inside, you will also discover a unique bonus gift – a beautiful lustre-finished 5×7 photo greeting card, very suitable for framing. The greeting card will only be offered inside the pre-sale books, so consider picking up your copy in advance.

Come take a relaxing journey through some of the most beautiful locations I have ever photographed. The images featured in the book represent a portion carefully selected to be included in the permanent artwork collection of the Spectrum Health Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The use of artwork and photography throughout the building helps to create an environment that is therapeutic, supportive and restorative for patients and their families, as well as their caregivers.

• General info: Hard cover, heirloom-quality sewn binding
• Trim size: 10 inches by 7 inches
• Inside pages: 112 full-color pages, printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified text stock, 55 images
• Cover: 100% natural cotton cloth cover with a dust jacket

Retail price: Retail – $40.00
Pre-sale price: $35.00 – and FREE SHIPPING – and the bonus 5×7 photo greeting card inside!

Out of Stock

Road Sign - Copyright 2008: S. Niedzwiecki

“Hello Stacy,

I am so amazed at your beautiful pictures of God’s AWESOME creation all around us. God has truly blessed you with some incredible talent! We have never met, but after the holidays I do look forward to meeting you in person. I have enjoyed and have bought many of your cards from the Lemmen Holton gift shop as I was waiting for my husband during his cancer treatment.

On January 15th he died and I so very much appreciate the beautiful picture you sent me as a celebration of his eternal and glorious home he entered.

Photography is very therapeutic and healing to so many. You truly have no idea how powerful your ministry of photography has been, touching so many lives. Keep up the GREAT work that God has blessed you with!

Blessings to You,
JB”

About 2 months ago, another woman had come into my booth at an outdoor art show. After a few minutes of looking around, I noticed she began was sobbing, loudly. I had no idea what was wrong, but I just had to ask. It turned out – her mother had been receiving treatment at Lemmen-Holton, and they would spend a lot of time wandering about the building, enjoying the artwork (there is a LOT of beautiful artwork in the facility). Her mother had since passed away, and she recognized my photos. She was so wraught with emotion, she couldn’t even talk. The best I could do was give her a hug…

Admittedly, I wasn’t prepared for these situations. I wish I knew more what to say beyond a simple “thank you”. It doesn’t seem nearly enough when I receive letters like this? It’s not easy to say the right thing during someone’s immediate grief. I was never “trained” for this. I can only let the images speak for me.

It makes me really realize what caregivers (doctors, nurses, hospice, etc.) must go through each day. It’s all very humbling.

~ Stacy

PS – The woman who wrote the wonderful note above – also ask I share some information with my readers. She would like you to know about the Living Well as One Workshop.  This was put together from a dream and goal that she had from her experience of being widowed 12 years ago – and again just this past January.

As a single person – widowed or divorced – there are so many things to learn as one adjusts to their new roles. This workshop event is designed to equip and encourage anyone who is single – or single again.  The author wished there had only been a workshop like this to attend when she was widowed for the first time – raising 4 young children, running a house hold, trying to do the best she could as a single mom, and still trying to learn how to care for herself.

The Living Well as One Workshop will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2009 and Scott Reyburn will be one of the presenters at this event.  He is speaking on Remarriage and the Eight Steps of a Healthy Blended Families.

Please try to spread the word of this event if you know folks who have become single through death or divorce.  Thank you!

A Juried Photography Exhibit

The Holland Area Arts Council is hosting its first ever juried show of photographs called “Through the Lens”.  The exhibit celebrates all the ways that this art form can speak to us.

October 1 – November 27th 2009
Guest Juror: Duncan J. Snyder

150 East 8th St.
Holland, MI 49423
616.396.3278

I am pleased to announce my photo titled Good Ol’ Summertime, has been accepted into the show.  The opening reception is Thursday, October 8th at the Arts Council. However, I am the keynote speaker on the same evening for the NANPA Michigan Regional Event in the Sleeping Bear Dunes, so I will not be able to attend.

Click to view in Lightbox

You are welcome to attend the show at any time during open Gallery Hours:

• Monday – Thursday-, 10 AM – 8 PM
• Friday – 10 AM – 4 PM
• Saturday – 10AM – 3 PM
• Closed Sunday

We are already planning on the methods of how to capture images of the best attractions the area has to offer – and Muskegon County has a LOT to offer! Our first plan of action is to compile a wish list of images to be taken and work out the details of access points, scheduling, etc.

When my meeting was finished, I took advantage of a free afternoon and spent some time driving around the area to familiarize myself with a few main sections of Muskegon. It was an absolutely frigid day – but the sun started to shine and break up the lake effect snow cloud bands, and it was actually pretty out there for a period of time! I drove along both sides of Muskegon Lake, watching a few hardy souls working their ice shanties. But outside of some determined fishermen – I didn’t see another person. No wonder, it was about -15 to -20 with the wind chill factor.

Below is a slide show of few images I captured…  I also made a quick stop in Fremont to collect some items from the Newaygo County Council for the Arts. I paused for a moment when I saw several Amish buggies being pulled along slick roads, and wondered what all us “English” folk (as the Amish call us) – were complaining about. I’m sure it can’t be very warm inside a wooden horse-drawn buggy…

The New Year brings an exciting new opportunity and challenge to my photography career. I’m pleased to announce I have been chosen as one of ten photographers to compete in the first annual Pure Michigan Photo Contest (Pro Division).

This event will begin on March 1, 2009. Each selected photographer has been partnered with a Michigan Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). We will be photographing in that designated geographic area for four months, “hosted” by the CVB, who will assist in providing photographic opportunities as often as is reasonable. Four months are dedicated to allow for the opportunity to capture images throughout the entire spring season.

At the end of the four months, each photographer will submit their 30 best images. Those images will appear online and in a hard-cover book titled, Pure Michigan-Spring Scenic Places along with the photographer’s bio, photo and web site information.

The purpose of this photography competition is to provide breathtaking publications with stunning scenic images of Michigan to promote, support and drive tourism in the State of Michigan, and to further enhance the Pure Michigan tourism campaign.

This site is a different concept than my usual website or personal blog news and events. The site will feature one beautiful, wonderful location around Michigan each day. For now, I’m posting one of my images each day – but keep your eye on the site – as other photographers jump on board! This site will be worth bookmarking and visiting repeatedly, or you may subscribe via an RSS feed to be notified of new images.

The images are offered for purchase via a secure PayPal transaction. More to come… but for now – please come on over and see what you think!

We are exploring the options of having books produced in a larger quantity, quite possibly in hard cover. There’s a possibility they may be used as a way to encourage donor gifts to the facility. This is an exciting step in having a book published for a wider audience to enjoy.

For those of you who haven’t seen the original version, please visit the link below. They are available for purchase through an on-demand printing service:

The Healing Journey…

Selections from the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion

By Stacy Niedzwiecki

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