Midwest Photography Workshops

Nubians are people from Egypt who live on the Nile. Linda and I visited one of their villages in 2025. The architecture is bright and colorful. So are the shopkeepers and their wares. This merchant grew all his own spices in his own garden, ground them up and put them out for sale in his street side shop. He is talking with the camel driver in the middle of the street while waiting for customers.
Sony A1 camera body, Sony 24-70mm lens , f/22, 1/40 sec. ISO 100. Instagram page, .midwest.photography web page, .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email

Luke Dulak is an aerialist/fire spitter from Traverse City, MI. He was recently in my studio for a shoot. I set up four studio electronic flashes in softboxes and smeared his body with baby oil to emulate sweat as he performed on my lyra. He is available for bookings from the Detroit Cuircus/Flyhouse.
Sony A1 camera body, Sony 70-200mm lens , f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO 200.
Instagram page, .midwest.photography web page, .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email

This is a Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia). This colorful resilliant desert plant is native to the Americas. It is famous for its fleshy pads and sweet edible fruits. The fruit can be made into jellies, jams and syrup. It tastes similar to cantaloupe. It thrives in sunshine but can survive in colder climates as well. I have seen Prickly Pear growing in the sand dunes along Lake Michigan.
The pads (Nopales) when young and tender, can be harvested, despined and cooked for use in Tacos, salads and various egg dishes, The pads also contain a gel that can be made into a salve and used like aloe vera to sooth burns. Prickly Pear can be used as a house plant if it gets enough sunshine and the gardener resists over watering it. This particular plant was photographed earlier today at the Tollgate Farm in Novi. The Tollgate Farm is operated by Michigan State University as an educational farm to house 4H and performs other civic duties like training master gardeners like my wife Linda. She and others, volunteer their time tending to the various gardens, and help with the birthing of sheep and goats and they even have a cow on site.
Sony A1 camera body, Sony 70-200mm lens /22, 1/100 sec, ISO 100
Instagram page, .midwest.photography, .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email

Earlier today I taught our annual Prima Ballerina downtown Detroit workshop featuring the talented Julia Watkins and her assistant. Julia is opening her own dance studio and with good reason. She can really dance and model. We held the workshop Downtown at Z's Parking structure on the 10th floor to take advantage of the bright murals in the background. The murals add to but do not dominate the beauty and grace of the dancer.
Sony A1 camera body, Sony 70-200mm lens /8, 1/1000 sec, ISO320
Instagram Page, .midwest.photography web page, .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email

I love the Navajoe people. I marvel that they have no native word for religion or art as it is assumed that those concepts are so woven into their everyday life, that there just isn't the need for a word to decribe it. Many Navajoe are skilled in making jewelry of hammered silver and tourquois. The jewlery is prized so highly that some pieces are passed down from generation to generation. Such is the case here. This young man just graduated from high school and is wearing his grandfathers necklace for an environmental photo at nearby Monument valley. He and his mother permitted me to also shoot his portrait on this special day; thank you.
Sony A1 camera body, Sony 24-70 lens @ 34mm. f/22, 1/125 sec. ISO640
Instagram page, .midwest.photography web page, .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email

Focal Point Portrait Studio located at 33431 Grand River in Farmington is consolidating to their main studio in Plymouth. It is the premier portrait studio in the Greater Detroit Metro Area. and has been in buisness since 1973. The studio in Farmington has ten shooting rooms and so very well equipped. They are having a garage sale to get rid of their surplus furniture, photo lighing gear, light stands, frames, offices supplies, light stands and so much more. They must be out of the Farmington Building by July 1. I reccomend that photographers go there and view the stuff for sale. The prices and pennies on the dollar. They are practically giving the stuff away. For anyone contemplating setting up a studio a visit here is really worth while. Plus, they are really nice people.

Today I had the privilege of photographing a local performer who specializes in bubbles - Shawn McCarthy. She performs locally and has a plethora of ways to make bubbles for her audiences.
Sony A1 Camera, Sony 24-70mm lens /8, 1/160 sec, ISO 200
Instagram page, .midwest.photography web page .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email.

Most family photos are boring. They become a document of people hugging upon one another. Consider making them ACTIVE not PASSIVE. The difference is to make a universally interesting photo of somebody doing something; even if they don't look back at the camera. An active photo is easily made by putting something in the person's hands. Just being included in the photo is not enough to make it a good photo. Here is a tailor in an open air market in Cairo Egypt sourrounded by his wares. The fact that he is sewing makes this photo active.
Sony A1 Camera Body, Sony 24-70mm lens @ f/9, 1/80 sec. ISO 2500
Instagram page, .midwest.photography, web page, .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email

This past weekend was our annual workshop at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Simcoe, Ontario. Students can photograph raptors with a lens no more powerful than a 70-200mm. Pictured here is a Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis). It is the largest and heaviest hawk in North America. It is indigenous to the western and central plains, prairies and arid shrublands. They eat medium sized mammals like pocket gophers, ground squirrels and prairie dogs. They have been know to swolow them whole. The Ferruginous Hawk is identified due to its rusty colored leg feathers. All hawks are protected; so if you find a hawk trying to carry off your dog or cat, you can NOT shoot the hawk.
Sony A1 camera body, Sony 100-400 lens, 1/2000 sec, f/13, ISO 10000
Instagram page, .midwest.photography web page, .com personal web page, .com email.

Alopecia is a double edged sword. On one hand, people find comfort and beauty with hair. On the other hand, it is hard to argue the simplicity and dramatic appearance of a clean head. It is striking and elegant. Michelle Hein is a courageous military vet and looks stunning. Thank you for your service and thank you for allowing me the privilege to photograph you in my studio.
Sony A1 camera body, Sony 70-200 lens /8, 1/200 sec. ISO 200,
Instagram page, .midwest.photography web page, .brycedenisonphoto.com personal web page, .com email