Jim and I don’t do a lot of urban time because it isn’t his favorite place to be – especially big cities. Consequently urban photography is a new challenge every time I take my camera to a city. This trip was an exciting challenge because I drove to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2016 to meet up with my granddaughter, Emily, who was about to start her senior year of high school. She had taken a photography class so we thought it would be great fun to do some urban photography.
Grand Rapids is a medium-large city – second to Detroit in Michigan. We decided to focus on the Grand River area that runs through the city on its way to Lake Michigan – about 30 minutes to the west.
Grand Rapid’s culture has been influenced by Dutch Reformed Religion, furniture making, Amway, and Lake Michigan. It is also the home of the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum that had opened just a couple of months before we were there.
This sounds like a trick puzzle after 58 years. The explanation is that Ford was appointed vice-president by Richard Nixon after Spiro Agnew was convicted of tax evasion. Then Richard Nixon resigned just before his impeachment for his role in breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters (Watergate), making Gerald Ford president. Ford did run for president in the next election but lost, probably because he pardoned Nixon, which was an unpopular decision.
Like every photographer, Emily took a few minutes retreat to check if her photos were as she wanted them to be.
I started this blog last Saturday thinking I would be one of the first to post. Well it didn’t happen and this week’s Lens-Artist Challenge is posted by Tina with the topic being Opposites. I will get right on that one and include a link. There should be some fun entries for that one. If you want to see other posts on Urban Environments you can follow this link.
A New Day: Living Life Almost Gracefully 
Photography is fun and it must be more so to be together with your granddaughter:)
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I love it! And the Ford quote is priceless.
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Doesn’t that have class. A little bit of humility.
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What fun that photography runs in the family.
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And I came out of that Dutch Reformed heritage! And lived in “GR” awhile. Loved the photos.
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Thanks, Lois.
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Love your captures of reflections, Pat….and what fun to share an interest in photography with your granddaughter
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Thanks, Sue. Right now she doesn’t have interest – maybe it will come back. 😉
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perhaps!
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How fun to have a photo outing with your granddaughter! You seem to have a particular knack for capturing interesting reflections here 🙂
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They were all over. The reflections of the landscaping in the windows seemed to blur the concept of inside and outside.
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It was worth the wait, Pat. I’m fascinated with all the American cities we’ve got this week, especially as I never been to that side of the world. It’s certainly proven the variety of cityscapes to explore. I love your opener, that is a lovely shot of your granddaughter, and the reflection on the museum.
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Yes, I favor those too.
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That’s a good history lesson Pat 🙂
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It surprised me that he was President 58 years ago. I remember the time but realized that many of my readers weren’t born yet. Thanks for your comment, Alison.
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I’m not that familiar with all the old US presidents but I liked that little speech he made
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