“Photostock”, as it has become known, began in the summer of 2006 as a gathering of photographers who, for the most part, had never met before. It grew out of a post I made on a popular photography forum called A.P.U.G., an invitation to photographers in the Great Lakes area looking to meet like minded people.
I’m just back from the 2017 Photostock gathering, a freewheeling symposium/workshop/festival that magically materializes every summer in the upscale wilderness of Northern Michigan. It’s held near Harbor Springs MI, a five-hour drive from Detroit …Photostock is the brainchild of Bill Schwab (a notable photographer in his own right), and is marked by its friendly, innovative & libertarian dedication to photographic art. Simply put: It’s a Trip! – Ted Orland
I invited anyone wishing to come to join me and camp out on my wooded property near Cross Village and the Lake Michigan shoreline that I love to photograph so much. Many of my favorite photographs from the last 20 years were made within miles of this spot and knowing the area well, figured it would be great place to gather and use a base for our personal shooting expeditions. We are located in close proximity to some of the most beautiful places in Northern Michigan and there is much to see and photograph.
We had almost 20 people that year and it created an informal, educationally, socially and creatively gratifying foundation for what has been building ever since. Needless to say, it has expanded over the years and we have had photographers from far and wide, both beginner and seasoned professional alike. We now get upwards of 100 people per year attending and it is my hope that even more will join us in the coming years. I am committed to keeping the event alive, each year bringing diverse and talented people together so that we can all share knowledge, experience and grow as photographers.
Here’s to hoping you will join us this year and in the future! I look forward to welcoming you to Northern Michigan this summer.
Bill Schwab
www.billschwab.com