Temp Work

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Photo by: James Lundeen

While I was doing my day job, taking pictures for insurance companies, I cam across this thermometer.  Can't say much about it other than it struck me while I was waiting for the home owner to answer the door. I have seen this type of thermometer before, but loved the way the light struck this.

I have been trying to challenge myself to take pictures of something other than what was assigned at least once a week. I have come pretty close to meeting this challenge, however, I am way behind in posting them. I think I have some good stuff coming up in the future.

Just thought I would post this while the temperatures are beginning to drop as we enter the autumn season.

Walking In Sunshine - Linden, Michigan

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Last week while out doing work for my other company, www.inspictures.com I drove past this field of sunflowers. I stopped by and asked the owners for permission to photograph their field, they graciously said yes.

After a bit of talking, it turns out that people stop by there to photograph their sunflowers every year. They have had senior pictures, engagement pictures, art photographers and the like. It never hurts to ask!


Roaming In Romeo

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It has been a while since I have posted. I am a few weeks behind, so, I will do I can to gain some ground today. About a month ago, I was heading through Romeo, Michigan and decided to photograph two landmarks in that town, Romeo United Methodist Church and First Congregational Church. These two old brick buildings were landmarks that told me that I was getting close to my grandma and grandpa Lundeen's house in Almont, MI.

Gold City came out with a song a few years ago entitled, "Show Me The Cross." Below are the first few stanzas to the song;

Just a tiny little boy stood in tears 
On a busy street corner--what was he doing here? 
As he tried to explain all he knew was his name 
But it was late and beginning to rain. 

So, I asked him about the place where he lived 
He remembered the old church where the big cross was lit 
And his eyes opened wide and he said with a smile 
If you can get me to the cross, I can find my way home. 

The song paralleled with the idea that if you showed me these old churches, I could find my grandparents. Grandma and Grandpa Lundeen were huge testimonies and monuments that pointed to Christ in my life.


Concert Poster For Fuson

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My friend Brian Fuson asked me to create a poster for the Justified Quartet and The Sammons Family in Garden City. This is what we came up with. The piano keys is my own photo used as a design element. We tried to match colors of supplied photos along with complimentary colors.

This is just one of the type of print design jobs that we can do for you.

Thanks Brian for allowing me to do this! Check out Brian on Facebook. 

 

Stuck In Traffic

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Friday I was in Detroit photographing houses. While in transit, I was stuck in traffic because of a draw bridge that was up over the Rouge River in Detroit. The Herbert C. Jackson was being tugged through the river. This is a classic Great Lakes freighter that was actually built in this very area at Great Lakes Engineering Works in 1959.

It turns out in 2006 the Jackson had to rig a hose to cool down the very bridge that I shot this picture from. Extreme heat had caused the bridge joints to expand causing the bridge to be locked in the down position. It took about 25 minutes for this ship to get under the bridge, the channel is not much wider than the ship.

Herbert C. Jackson on Rouge River • Photo by: James Lundeen

 

Detroit Photo Walk

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Back in 2012, I went with a photographer friend, David Laurence, on a beautiful day in September to downtown Detroit. Mind you, I go to Detroit often, but on this day we had cameras in tow. With problems with security at People Mover Stations, Port Authority and with a GM Renaissance Center Security Guard, we still managed to get good picture. We were cordial, and asked permission when we could. Even the security guard at GM was nice, but he was following orders.

JPL Design Group Reinventing Itself

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JPL Design Group has been idle for the last couple of years while holding onto just a few clients. However, the time has come that it needs to be brought back to life. I have been a fan of photography for a few years now. With the advent of digital photography, my interest and skill in it has really taken off.

I have always been a creative type, whether it is through architectural modeling, newsletter layout, book cover, brochure, post card or even web site design. Photography has become my most recent creative outlet. This site will feature some of my work, make it available for sale as well as continue being a print design firm. More on the print design as the site develops. 

Time For A New Web Site

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For many years I have been a designer of websites, until the world of programming passed me by. I have found that I like creating and designing things. Photography and print graphics allow me to do this. I started out in the print industry back in 1996 and getting back to those roots.

At one time, I thought I would open a business that specialized in creating bulletins and bulletin covers for churches. I also did newsletters and resume layouts. Later I worked for a small Christian publishing company doing book layout and cover design. This later developed into the creation of JPL Design Group creating web sites. 

With the advent of mobile and apps, the web space has left me behind. However, I still feel that I have an eye for design and still want a presence in this field. Currently my wife and I own InsPictures which takes pictures of houses and commercial buildings for Insurance Companies. This allows me to travel all over the state of Michigan. Every once in a while, I like to stop and actually make a picture instead of take a picture. This site will feature many of those pictures that I made.