Honors, Awards, and Press
This page highlights places where I or my work have been featured.
Upper Peninsula Arts & Culture Alliance Article (23 April 2025)
On 23 April 2025, the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance issued an article, entitled A Light in the Dark: New Horizons for an Upper Peninsula Photographer, about my experience attending the 2023 Aurora Summit in Red Cliff, WI. It highlighted how my photography benefited from the support they provided for attending as a form of professional development. The grant I was given was funded by the Michigan Arts & Culture Council and managed through the UPACA. The knowledge I gained from renowned experts about the night sky, aurora, and deep space photography; astronomy and space weather; and northern lights art, history, culture and mythology was immeasurable. The event also gave me a network of scientists and artists interested in the northern lights, which I still turn to for growth.
SimplifyLiveLove Article (04 April 2025)
This year, VisitKeweenaw sponsored a media event entitled Keweenaw Snow-Venture 2025 12-16 February 2025. They hired me to provide guided snowshoe hikes and, if weather permitted, photography guidance to any of the participants who were interested. Michelle Marine, with SimplifyLiveLove, included me as #19 in her article about her experience in the Keweenaw (Keweenaw Peninsula in Winter: 21 Perfect Spots for Snowy Fun). Thanks Michelle. It was fun spending the day exploring the Keweenaw with your group.
WZMQ Interview - “Tips for Exploring the Night Sky”
WZMQ 19 News Interview (27 February 2025)
On 27 February 2025, WZMQ 19 News interviewed me for their “Insights” segment on their newscast. The segment was entitled Tips for Exploring the Night Sky.
Visit Keweenaw Blog Post (24 February 2025)
On 24 February 2025, Visit Keweenaw posted a write-up entitled Keweenaw Night Sky Etiquette that I contributed for their blog.
At a location where I was already in position for northern lights pictures, another photographer set-up (and a small group of people with a cell phone) walked in front of me while I was actively taking pictures. I was livid at the moment but decided to make the best of the situation by using such images to teach people what NOT to do.
Milky Way, aurora, air glow, Andromeda, the Pleiades Star Cluster, Jupiter, Uranus, Capella, an airplane, shoreline house lights, car lights on Mt. Brockway, a giant white pine, and an ancient northern white-cedar amidst 4-foot waves on Lake Superior seems to connect a Silver Island visitor to the entire Universe.
Silver Island Artist-in-Residence (27-30 September 2024)
I was sponsored by the Keweenaw Land Trust to be one of their inaugural artists-in-residence at their Silver Island property. My project focused on highlighting the wildlife and night sky views found on the island. I provided a presentation about my time on the island on 11 January 2025 at the Copper Country Community Arts Center along with the other two artists-in-residence, who were there at separate times…Please also check out their work:
Isle Royale Visiting Artist (13-18 September 2024)
I was sponsored by the Copper Country Community Arts Center (CCCAC) and Isle Royale National Park to pilot a program intended to encourage local artists to conduct back-country expeditions on Isle Royale as a means to inspire their art. My project focused on highlighting the beauty and benefits found in the fire-impacted landscapes in the areas encompassing the Horne and amt. Franklin wildfires. I gave a presentation about the excursion on 22 February 2025 at the CCCAC.
A migrating Palm Warbler searches for insects in and around charred trees found at the location of the Horne Fire at Isle Royale.
MACC Professional Development Grant (November 2023)
I was given a professional development grant from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council which helped defray the costs to attend the Aurora Summit in Red Cliff, WI (3-5 November 2023). At the Aurora Summit, I gained knowledge from renowned experts about the night sky, aurora, and deep space photography; astronomy and space weather; and northern lights art, history, culture and mythology and networked with scientists and artists interested in the northern lights. The grant was managed through the UP Arts & Culture Alliance.
Experience Michigan’s Dark Sky Parks and Reserves - Video Interview
Pure Michigan interviewed me for a video highlighting how people can Experience Michigan’s Dark Sky Parks and Reserves. The video was published to YouTube on 26 July 2023.
The single mode, red LED flashlight I use provides sufficient light to allow me to see obstacles and uneven terrain but, due to the red light spectrum it emits, it doesn’t impact my night vision as much as a standard white-light flashlight.
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Blog Post (22 March 2022)
On 22 March 2022, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge posted a write-up entitled Why red light is better for night-time activities that I contributed for their blog.
A Passport and a Past Life - Photography Exhibit
Nineteen of my original images were on exhibit 03-31 July, 2019, at the Copper Country Community Arts Center, Kerredge Gallery located in Hancock, MI. The photo exhibit centered around images which reflect the influence my past career as a wildlife biologist and my current career as an environmental science educator has on my approach to photography and my overall worldview.
A Passport and a Past Life - Photography Exhibit
Fifteen of my original images were on exhibit 08 October - 08 November, 2018, at the Finlandia University Reflection Gallery, previously located in Hancock, MI. The photo exhibit centered around images which reflect the influence my past career as a wildlife biologist and my current career as an environmental science educator has on my approach to photography and my overall worldview.
23rd Annual Lake Superior Magazine Photo Contest
Tom’s photo “Rainy Day Song Sparrow” was awarded an Honorable Mention (Wildlife) in Lake Superior Magazine’s 23rd Annual Photo Contest. It was published in their February/March 2018 23rd Annual Photo Contest Issue
Rainy Day Song Sparrow
Au Train Lake - Au Train, MI
February/March 2018
Instagram and Website Features (coming soon….)
The following is a collection of Tom’s photo which have been selected to be featured on various Instagram pages and organization websites.