Documentary Photography, the bad medicine kind

I had the pleasure of participating in a documentary photography project of Bad Medicine Lake in August through Minnesota State University Moorhead. For one week fifteen photographers were partnered with one another and given different sections of the lake. The outcome will be published into a book this fall for all to see. I am really excited about it. It was a great opportunity and another chance to hang out with Wayne before I say adios. This was a nice way to finish off my summer long vacation from having a real job and feel like I was actually contributing something to the world. Plus meeting up with old friends and making new ones never gets boring.

My photography partner (Erin) and I were assigned a southern portion of the lake, including Veronen's resort, High Pines and a few other cabins. We were the blessed ones to have the only resort to photograph; lots of activity and super friendly people.

I must say it was funny living with a bunch of photographers for a week. Think about it. It wasn't bad, just an interesting thought... "are we all a type of leader?" I think we have to be leaders in the photography field, how else will we get the great photos?

We stayed in two bigger-type of cabins at Hoot Owl resort (not on bad medicine). After our days of photographing we had time to kick back most nights and go swimming, paddle boating and play cards.

Here are some photos from the documentary.


This was one of my favorite photos. I actually spoke up to try and get it into the book and well it pays off to speak up. The photo was taken during one of the only nights that Erin and I actually went out to the resort, but it ended up being the most beneficial. The lighting was amazing and so much activity was going on. I was a bit crabby this day however, it ended up being the longest day of photographing and it all started by my car having a flat tire.

This is a fun picture. I like it, but it didn't make the cut. It would have been better if there had actually been a boat coming or going.







I like this picture, solitude and freedom. I don't know whose flip flops these were but they seemed just perfectly placed next to the tree and I happened upon them.


This was a cool moment. Donna (pictured) and Judith were making food for the pot luck that they have every Monday at their resort. They make their mother's (one of the original owners of the resort) bread from a special recipe. I thought it was important.


The beach. Everyone was at the beach all afternoon almost every afternoon, even the owners. This one did make it into the book. It more represents the fun times at the beach at a resort... was that obvious?

This was a fun night picture. Taken on the long photographing day, such a beautiful night. It was a sauna night for the resort and a mosquito night for me. The guests among others would run and jump in Bad Medicine after sweating in the sauna.


Hoot Owl - Behind the Scenes
These are some behind the scenes photos of our stay at Hoot Owl and just hanging out with the photo gang. How can you be a journalist without photographing the stay as well as the actual project?

This is the view from the loft area in the morning. Yes one of the young ladies did actually sleep on the couch or recliner each night.


Up in the loft there were four beds with a partition in the middle. It felt a lot like summer camp, seven or so girls sharing one small bathroom, kitchen and living space.


This was our classroom. We would meet out here at around 6pm for a debrief every night. It is probably the best classroom I have ever had, not bad eh?


Ahh yes Chris Hueber, he was pretty much our technician for the week. This was during a very fatal paper jam. I think he didn't like the camera but I couldn't help it, its in my nature to try and capture disasters.

Random mushroom.


My lily. I went into the water for this lovely lily, no wadding, full on drench to the neck.


One of the infamous days, Tuesday to be exact, of looking at contact sheets before dinner. We had a lovely meal of chili that night.


Decision day arrives. The photos were laid out for all to see, ones on the right were in book order and on the left, the rejects. This was in the upstairs of the resort lodge, very good location but hot.


Wayne goes through the book image by image as the students/photographers look on in expectation.

A night of free fun! On Wednesday night we were invited over to Curt and Pam's for Bison burgers, hot tub and water tubing. It was fun to just hang out with the gang and relax a little earlier in the day than normal. We had all worked so hard earlier in the week that the majority of our photographing was done, for the most part. These are three great friends, Chris, Chris and Penny.

Hope you enjoyed the photos, I could go on forever but I will save that for another day and another project.