A brief update on the current season and a look ahead to the return of the Lakescape Photography Podcast in 2027.

Hey everyone, recently I was injured and I need some time to heal and recover. Because of this, I am going to be pausing the season for now while I recover and focus on my health.

I look forward to sharing this years spring adventures and more as soon as I can.

Until then, thank you for being here, thank you for being a part of this journey, and I appreciate all of you.

Spring is one of the best times to explore and photograph waterfalls in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula, and in this episode of the Lakescape Photography Podcast, I'm joined by landscape photographer and author Jake Ring.

Jake lives in Michigan's western U.P. and has spent years exploring, documenting, and photographing waterfalls across the region. We talk about what makes spring such an exciting season for waterfalls, how snowmelt and rainfall affect flow, what to expect with road access and trail conditions, and how to think about timing your trip for the best experience.

We also get into the photography side of things: what Jake looks for when he photographs a waterfall, how geology shapes the look and personality of waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula, and why places like the Black River, Presque Isle River, Bond Falls, and the Porcupine Mountains continue to inspire photographers and adventurers alike.

Along the way, Jake shares practical safety advice for spring waterfall trips, tips for scouting in changing conditions, and insight from his new book, The Lost and Forgotten Waterfalls of Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula.

If you are planning a spring trip to the U.P., love waterfall photography, or want to better understand the landscapes that shape the Great Lakes region, this is a fun and useful conversation.

• Jake Ring's book: Lost and Forgotten Waterfalls of Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula

• Jake Ring's website

• Jake Ring on Instagram

• Previous podcast episode with Jake Ring

• Black River

• Presque Isle River

• Bond Falls

• Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

• Lake of the Clouds

• Rainbow Falls

• Manabezho Falls

• Sandstone Falls

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All Content © Nicholas Albert Photography & The Lakescape Photography Podcast - All Rights Reserved.

The Lakescape Photography Podcast name, artwork, logo, audio and associated content are property of Nicholas Albert Photography & The Lakescape Photography Podcast. Reproduction, modification, or any use of the podcast name, artwork, logo, audio, and associated content must receive prior written authorization. For inquiries, please reach out: lakescapepodcast@gmail.com.

Welcome to Led by Light.

This is a new series I've been building for a while, and I'm excited to finally bring it to the podcast.

Landscape photography is all about the light. We hear that all the time. But what does it actually mean? Simple: every kind of light has an opportunity. The goal is learning how to see it, name it, and make decisions on purpose.

Throughout the Led by Light series, we're going to explore observation and opportunity, the thought process behind making strong photographs anywhere in the world, in any season, in real conditions.

In this episode, I introduce Led by Light for landscape photographers who want a repeatable process they can use without relying on bucket list destinations. We talk about how to read the light first, define what it's doing, and let the landscape reveal the real opportunities instead of chasing landmarks. Chase the light, not the subject!

I also share a simple field checklist you can use immediately: direction, contrast, color, brightness, and mood. Those five reveal the opportunity—then it's on you to commit, so you can stop guessing and start making confident decisions.

Join the newsletter and download the free Wayfinder Field Note using the links below.

Download the Wayfinder Field Note: Led by Light | Wayfinder Field Note #1
Join me on YouTube: Nicholas Albert Photography
Share your work with the community: Facebook Group

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© 2026 Nicholas Albert Photography LLC (Nicholas Albert Photography). All rights reserved. Led by Light™ and The Lakescape Photography Podcast™ are trademarks of Nicholas Albert Photography LLC.

The Lakescape Photography Podcast name, artwork, logo, audio, and associated content are protected. No reproduction or use without prior written permission. Inquiries: lakescapepodcast@gmail.com

Slow Down: Winter Landscape Photography Trip Report from Minnesota's North Shore

A four-day winter adventure. 1,500+ miles. Brutal subzero temperatures. New ice forming by the hour. And the kind of Lake Superior conditions photographers dream about! Sea smoke, shoreline ice, and magical winter light along Minnesota's North Shore.

In the first trip report of 2026, I share the biggest lesson the North Shore taught me: slow down. Not as a motivational phrase but as a practical tool that improves your decisions in the field, especially when the cold punishes every mistake. From refining a winter workflow to building stronger compositions through patience, this episode is about earning the photograph instead of chasing it.

If you photograph winter landscapes, Lake Superior shorelines, or want more consistency in your field process, this episode will help you slow down, and come home with better work.

Related Video: Field journaling for photographers

New episodes every two weeks. Follow along for more Great Lakes landscape photography stories, education, and trip reports.

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All Content © Nicholas Albert Photography & The Lakescape Photography Podcast - All Rights Reserved.

The Lakescape Photography Podcast name, artwork, logo, audio and associated content are property of Nicholas Albert Photography & The Lakescape Photography Podcast. Reproduction, modification, or any use of the podcast name, artwork, logo, audio, and associated content must receive prior written authorization. For inquiries, please reach out: lakescapepodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode of the Lakescape Photography Podcast, Nick sits down with photographer, educator, and author Ian Plant for a practical, field-focused conversation about decision-making in landscape photography. The real stuff that separates "pretty scenes" from photographs that actually stand on their own.

Together, they break down what the decisive moment looks like in nature: recognizing visual energy, anticipating change, committing to a composition, and making confident choices when conditions are moving fast. From the rugged shoreline of Lake Superior to the chaos and intensity of the Sardine Run, Ian shares how to read a scene, simplify the noise, and build frames with intention.

If you've ever come home with a full card and still felt like you missed something, this episode will help you slow down mentally, sharpen your instincts, and start making photographs that feel deliberate.

Ian Plant

• Ian's portfolio

Photo Masters (Ian's education platform)

• Photo Masters

  • Workshops + tours

  • eBooks + videos (free + premium)

  • Webinars + opportunities to interact directly

  • Interviews with other photographers

Software / Tools Referenced

• Adobe Camera Raw

• Adobe Lightroom

• Photoshop

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Your Reality, Your Art: Editing as Expression with Blake Rudis

In this episode of the Lakescape Photography Podcast, Nick sits down with Blake Rudis. Professional photography educator, landscape photographer, and founder of F64 Academy, for a deep, practical conversation about artistic vision, editing as translation, and why your photos deserve more than "driving north" with no plan in post-processing.

Together, they unpack the tension between "purism" and creative expression, how our brains actually see a scene versus what a sensor records, and why the final image is often a gift of experience to the viewer, not a literal document of reality. They also tackle the modern landscape: AI accusations, authenticity, ethics, critique, jealousy, and how to stay grounded while still making work you're proud to share.

If you've ever looked at your RAW files and thought, "This doesn't match what I felt," this one's for you.

• F64 Academy (Blake's education + newsletter): https://f64academy.com

• F64 Academy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@f64Academy

• F64 Elite (Blake's community + critiques + roundtables): https://f64elite.com

• Recommended Ansel Adams books: The Camera, The Negative, The Print

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Finding Your Photographic Voice with Craig Blacklock (Lake Superior, Style, Composition & Creative Freedom)

Please don't forget to rate and subscribe! 🙂

Blacklock Gallery (books / store): https://www.blacklockgallery.com
Craig's fine art prints: https://www.craigblacklock.art
Singulart profile (search his name): https://www.singulart.com

Season Two kicks off with renowned Minnesota-based landscape photographer, author, educator, and gallery owner Craig Blacklock, a lifelong photographer of Lake Superior. Craig shares the throughline of his 50+ year career (from large-format landscapes to intimate projects and modern abstract work), and breaks down what it actually means to develop a photographic voice, separate from "vision," separate from trends, and often separate from what performs online.

This conversation is packed with practical field and creative guidance: how to spot your patterns, why constraints make you more creative, how to slow down and refine composition, and why social media engagement is a terrible measuring stick for meaningful work.

• The difference between photographic vision (what you want your work to do) and photographic voice (how your work sounds/feels).

• How Craig's long-term Lake Superior projects evolved:

  • Lake Superior Images (4x5 transparencies + kayak circumnavigation writing)

  • A Voice Within: The Lake Superior Nudes (metaphor, humanity, emotion)

  • North Shore / Apostle Islands / Pictured Rocks work

  • Horizons and the shift toward minimalism and abstraction

  • Light Waves and the current abstract "resistance arts" direction

• Why your best work may get less engagement online, and why that can be a good sign.

• A compositional approach that helps complex scenes read clearly: separation of elements (the "loose jigsaw puzzle" idea).

• How to stop shooting "14mm panic photos" and start making wide angles work.

Next up: "Your Reality, Your Art." A digital darkroom conversation with Blake Rudis about interpretation, style, and creating work that reflects your experience (not the internet's expectations).

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