{"id":9812,"date":"2026-07-02T06:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T10:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/?p=9812"},"modified":"2026-06-24T15:52:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:52:52","slug":"photostock-in-fond-memory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/02\/photostock-in-fond-memory\/","title":{"rendered":"PhotoStock | In Fond Memory"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A few weeks ago, an event that I first attended in 2012 had its final form. Back on the 20th and 21st of June, a group gathered to celebrate the life of Bill Schwab, who had passed away in 2025 while doing what he did best: leading a group of keen photographers to explore the world. Bill was the brains behind an event called Photostock. It started as a small gathering in the woods on his property in Michigan, far from the dirty industrial south, but in the far more beautiful northern parts of the state. And while I&#8217;m a fan of an event becoming bigger than the person behind it, Bill and Photostock were so intertwined that it had to end after he passed from this life. While I&#8217;m saddened I couldn&#8217;t attend, I wanted to share one final time my memories of Photostock as my own memorial to this amazing event that shaped my photography and my involvement in the wider community.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/7805505072\/in\/album-72157630286361848\" title=\"Photostock 2012\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/8307\/7805505072_744cbb3104_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"657\" alt=\"Photostock 2012\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>An old Lockheed T33A Shoot Star I saw along my drive to Photostock.<br \/>\nKyocera Contax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Kodak E100GX @ ASA-100 &#8211; Processing By: Old School Photo Lab<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/7442599508\/in\/album-72157630286361848\" title=\"B&amp;B\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7124\/7442599508_d2c046b065_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"733\" alt=\"B&amp;B\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I spent a bit of time around Harbour Springs.<br \/>\nPentax 645 &#8211; SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 &#8211; Ilford Delta 100 @ ASA-100 &#8211; Ilford Ilfosol 3 1+4 2:50 @ 28C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/7562120898\/in\/album-72157630286361848\" title=\"Pipe\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/8426\/7562120898_8a9d9956f4_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" alt=\"Pipe\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>One of my favourite shots from Photostock 2012.<br \/>\nNikon F4s &#8211; AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2D &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 (Dil. B) @ 20C for 4:30<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/7464113796\/in\/album-72157630286361848\" title=\"Fort Michilimackinac - 1715-1780\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7270\/7464113796_74a414ced0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"663\" alt=\"Fort Michilimackinac - 1715-1780\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Getting the chance to see Fort Michilimackinac was an added bonus!<br \/>\nPentax 645 &#8211; SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 &#8211; Ilford Pan F+ @ ISO-50 &#8211; Ilford Ilfosol 3 1+14 @ 21C 4:30<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/9255663152\/in\/album-72157634349575224\" title=\"Assembling\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7423\/9255663152_32d59d3544_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" alt=\"Assembling\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Bill and his son assembling a massive model rocket to Launch Photostock 2013.<br \/>\nKyocera Contax G2 &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 2\/45 T* &#8211; Lomography Lady Grey @ ASA-400 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 5:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/9147776832\/in\/album-72157634349575224\" title=\"Good Hart General Store\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5342\/9147776832_0051b3a4b6_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"816\" alt=\"Good Hart General Store\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Good Hart General Store along the &#8220;Tunnel of Trees&#8221;<br \/>\nGraflex Anniversary Speed Graphic &#8211; Schneider-Kreuznack Angulon 1:6,8\/90 &#8211; Polaroid Type-55 @ ASA-50 &#8211; Polaroid Instant Process<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/9181814807\/in\/album-72157634349575224\" title=\"Photostock - The Birchwood\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7308\/9181814807_207b43aef6_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"670\" alt=\"Photostock - The Birchwood\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I forget this guy&#8217;s name but he was pretty into the event.<br \/>\nNikon F4s &#8211; AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2D &#8211; Kodak Technical Pan 2415 @ ISO-16 &#8211; Blazinal (1+100) 4:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/9350863566\/in\/album-72157634349575224\" title=\"Mackinac City\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7306\/9350863566_702b039866_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"737\" alt=\"Mackinac City\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Out in the fog capturing the straights.<br \/>\nPentax 645 &#8211; SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 &#8211; Adox CHS 100 @ ASA-100 &#8211; Blazinal (1+25) 6:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>It shouldn&#8217;t come as a surprise that I first learned about Photostock through the Film Photography Project (Podcast). Matt Marash started talking about this amazing event up in Michigan that he had attended and was planning on attending in 2012. That got me thinking: if I had gone to the event in 2012, I would have known at least one person (Matt) whom I had already met a few times through my involvement with the FPP. I looked at the route, booked my hotel (not the Birchwood, sadly, that first year), and got time off work. Since it was my first time going, I decided to go on the days of the event. Back in 2012, it was still a pretty low-key event, with only a handful of speakers and lots of free time. It was a long, hot drive from Milton to Harbour Springs, Michigan. I had booked a hotel on the other side of town from the Birchwood Hotel, where the event was taking place. I know I should have booked a room there, but I had no idea what I was missing out on. The first thing that I noticed when I first got to the event the next day was how friendly everyone was. It didn&#8217;t matter that I was a new face; everyone welcomed me, especially Bill. He wanted to know all about me and my photography; it didn&#8217;t matter that I wasn&#8217;t developing my own film (yet), or that I didn&#8217;t print in the darkroom or do wet plate. I was a welcome addition to the group. I shot a lot of stuff around the Birchwood. I went out and explored on my own and with others. I got the chance to visit Fort Michilimackinac, drive the Tunnel of Trees, shoot lots of film and hang out with the group. I even made some new contacts in photography. But most importantly, I gained the confidence to start developing my own black-and-white film at home. I started as soon as I got home and got to work. I was sloppy, but I ended up with real results I did myself. Probably the weirdest thing I did at the 2012 event was shoot two rolls of Super8, which I put together <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eHTqWa8e4Mg\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">as a movie<\/a>. And I knew I had a good time because by the time the event was over, I was already looking forward to attending it the next year. But in 2013, I was going to do things differently: I was going to spend the extra money and stay at the Birchwood. And you know that made all the difference, I was welcomed back as an old friend. It also meant that I got to enjoy the entire event, and I mean the entire event. I participated in the print exchange, stayed up late at the patio parties, or caught the stunning sunsets on the state&#8217;s western shores. Even got to celebrate the opening of the new North Light Photographic Workshop Building over at Bill&#8217;s property. Got up silly early to catch the sunrise at O&#8217;Neal Lake and even got stuck down there. Well, Matt&#8217;s car got stuck, but we got pulled out by other early birds. Saw the fog of the Straits of Mackinac. And while I didn&#8217;t shoot as much as I did in 2012, I did go back and shoot some video using my Olympus E-P1, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gfwG5QtNfA0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">I also put online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/14430746407\/in\/album-72157645464799485\" title=\"Project:1812 - Battle of Lake Huron\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2925\/14430746407_8f73d236ef_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Project:1812 - Battle of Lake Huron\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>First stop of the road trip, Nancy Island.<br \/>\nRolleiflex 2.8F &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 9:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/14603572276\/in\/album-72157645073765527\" title=\"Project:1812 - Fort St. Joseph\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2923\/14603572276_789570cf5f_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Project:1812 - Fort St. Joseph\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Being able to check out Fort St. Joseph was an added bonus, despite being a bit out of the way.<br \/>\nRolleiflex 2.8F &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 9:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/14562532065\/in\/album-72157645073765527\" title=\"Eastman 5363 In Downtown Soo\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3861\/14562532065_9636efac66_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" alt=\"Eastman 5363 In Downtown Soo\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>An old bush plane outside a lovely museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.<br \/>\nNikon F4s &#8211; AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D (80b) &#8211; Eastman 5363 @ ASA-25 &#8211; PMK Pyro (1+2+100) 11:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/15327306452\/in\/album-72157645365436262\" title=\"The Island in Colour\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5572\/15327306452_9358698d10_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"The Island in Colour\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I also got to take a walk all around Mackinac Island!<br \/>\nRolleiflex 2.8F &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Fuji Velvia (RVP) @ ASA-64 &#8211; Processing By: Bor\u00e9alis Laboratoire Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/14501639575\/in\/album-72157644938099257\" title=\"52:320TXP - Week 25 - The Red Coat\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3847\/14501639575_f7a9a9ae0c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"816\" alt=\"52:320TXP - Week 25 - The Red Coat\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>And of course took in Fort Michilimackinac again, first time since 2012.<br \/>\nGraflex Anniversary Speed Graphic &#8211; Fuji Fujinon-W 1:5.6\/125 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 320 @ ASA-200 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 12:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/14470493849\/in\/album-72157645373447043\" title=\"Photostock - The People\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/3875\/14470493849_042a142b6f_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" alt=\"Photostock - The People\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Bill and his partner in photography Kerik, probably plotting something artsy.<br \/>\nNikon D300 &#8211; AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4D<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/14568979685\/in\/album-72157645373447003\" title=\"Beyond Bliss\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2923\/14568979685_88d6d8db93_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Beyond Bliss\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>There&#8217;s a small village in the area called Bliss, I guess I went beyond it.<br \/>\nRolleiflex 2.8F &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak TMax 100 @ ASA-32 &#8211; Kodak Xtol (1+1) 8:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/14556172712\/in\/album-72157645373447043\" title=\"Sunset\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5515\/14556172712_7b5c8b0946_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"665\" alt=\"Sunset\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>We always got treated to some beautiful sunsets out in that part of Michigan.<br \/>\nNikon D300 &#8211; AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4D<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>I was into the game now. I wanted my Photostock 2014 trip to be bigger than ever. I didn&#8217;t just want to attend Photostock; I wanted the whole thing to be an event for me, a proper road trip! I was deep into my War of 1812 project at this point, and there were some locations related to the conflict as far north as Northern Ontario. So I planned to do a big loop around and come to Michigan from the north rather than from the south. It was going to be a six-day adventure, with three days travelling and three days at Photostock. On the first day, I drove from Milton to Sudbury, making stops along the way at Nancy Island (HMS Nancy) and Penetanguishene (Discovery Harbour). It was a long but worthwhile drive as I didn&#8217;t spend it all on highways. Plus, it was the first time bringing a digital camera along for the ride. For the previous two years, I shot exclusively on film at the event. From Sudbury, I took a very foggy drive west along Highway 17, stopping at a plaque outside a trailer park and then at Fort St. Joseph. The one thing you need to realise about Fort St. Joseph is that you have to want to get there; it&#8217;s not exactly on the way. From there, I spent the night in Sault Ste. Marie. Again, I made the mistake of staying outside the city, far from the border. But I still had the chance to check out the downtown. I had to leave early the next day as I had a ferry to catch on the UP side of the Strait. Thankfully, the border crossing was swift, and I made it with plenty of time to spare, then headed across to Mackinac Island. It was pretty amazing to check out the forts and walk; in hindsight, renting a bicycle would have been a better idea. The next day, I crossed the bridge and checked out Fort Michilimackinac before heading to the Birchwood. I made a better effort to get out, more importantly, to photograph the people at the event, and to explore a bit more. I took up the offer to try wet plate photography for the first time under Andrew&#8217;s guidance. I chatted with all the folks I knew and shared new and old works. And while I didn&#8217;t attend in 2015 (because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/31\/the-waterloo-journal-ten-years-later\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Waterloo:200<\/a>), I made the 2016 event bigger than ever, at least for me. In 2016, I took an eight-day adventure that was my biggest Photostock road trip ever. I was going to make a big loop around Lake Michigan. There were some more War of 1812 sites I wanted to visit that I didn&#8217;t get good photos of, and some new ones I needed to check out. So I was going to drive out to Indiana, check out Jas Townsend&#8217;s storefront up through Prophetstown, before staying just south of Chicago. It was another long, brutally hot drive, but I managed to survive it all intact. The next day, I didn&#8217;t read the schedules right, so I headed into Chicago to check out the Museum of Science and Industry, a museum I had never visited before. It was amazing to see and step into a WW2 U-Boat and visit an old coal mine display. Then I wanted to check out the memorial to the Battle of Fort Dearborn, so I hopped on a train and hopped off at my stop. It was then I realised that the trains weren&#8217;t normally stopping; it was a flag stop, but there was no way to flag the train on a Sunday. I had limited time because my car was still parked at the museum. It was a long walk back from the park to the museum, but I made it back with a few minutes to spare. The next day, the long drive began again. From Chicago, I headed out to Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. It was truly in the backwater of the state, but it was well worth it to show some of the lesser-known battles during the War of 1812. After staying in Madison, I swung north. Stopping in at a Museum in Oshkosh, I crossed the state line into Michigan and stayed in Marquette. At least in Marquette, my hotel was right downtown, so I could easily stretch my legs after such a long drive. The drive to Mackinac City proved wet, but it didn&#8217;t stop me from chasing waterfalls through the UP and other small communities along the way. It pretty much rained the whole time, but sure enough, I was packing Pan F+ and got some amazing shots along the way before settling in and watching the ferries come and go from my hotel room as the rain continued to pour. I spent more time away from the Birchwood during the day at Photostock 2016 than I did at the hotel. Taking time to explore some other places in the area, including Traverse City, where I got to check out a restored Kirkbride and visit a brewery I had enjoyed in the past. And also got a solid chance to explore Petoskey better.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/27847590612\/in\/album-72157669325502350\" title=\"Crown Point :D\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7546\/27847590612_7b0013352b_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Crown Point :D\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Despite going for a trip into Michigan, being able to stop in at Crown Point was an added bonus, despite the heat wave going through.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/27235906974\/in\/album-72157670030795326\" title=\"52:500c - Week 24 - The City that Works\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7689\/27235906974_f18c626e39_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"52:500c - Week 24 - The City that Works\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Also got a chance to visit Chicago on the trip!<br \/>\nHasselblad 500c &#8211; Carl Zeiss Distagon 50mm 1:4 &#8211; Rollei RPX 100 @ ASA-100 &#8211; Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 9:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/27358640504\/in\/album-72157669582097382\" title=\"Project:1812 - The Forts of Prairie Du Chien\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7418\/27358640504_07ca792fc0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Project:1812 - The Forts of Prairie Du Chien\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Taking in the small community of Prairie Du Chien in Wisconsin.<br \/>\nHasselblad 500c &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Ilford FP4+ @ ASA-100 &#8211; Kodak D-23 (Stock) 6:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/28092724385\/in\/album-72157667824222293\" title=\" Ore Dock Brewing Co.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7483\/28092724385_15479e4699_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Ore Dock Brewing Co.\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Of course I had to find as many craft breweries along the road in this case, Ore Dock Brewing in Marquette, Michigan.<br \/>\nHasselblad 500c &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Fomapan 200 @ ASA-200 &#8211; Blazinal (1+25) 5:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/27835641280\/in\/album-72157670583266766\" title=\"Miners Falls\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7281\/27835641280_42a16637cb_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Miners Falls\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I also went waterfall hunting on a very wet drive through the UP in this case, Miners Falls.<br \/>\nHasselblad 500c &#8211; Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Ilford Pan F+ @ ASA-50 &#8211; Kodak D-23 (1+1) 8:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/27900766200\/in\/album-72157669325502280\" title=\"Steve!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/8643\/27900766200_43e842b83b_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Steve!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Steve was a regular at Photostock and a pretty cool dude.<br \/>\nSony a6000 + Konica Hexanon 1:2.8 f=35mm<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/28148374416\/in\/album-72157667470390623\" title=\"The Old 31\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/7609\/28148374416_ec9218ab0d_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"801\" alt=\"The Old 31\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>On my way back to the Birchwood I took a different route, Old US-31, it didn&#8217;t disappoint.<br \/>\nIntrepid 4&#215;5 Mk.1 &#8211; Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar-S 1:5.6\/210 &#8211; Ilford HP5+ @ ASA-200 &#8211; Pyrocat-HD (1+1+100)<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/28148376456\/in\/album-72157669582097342\" title=\"Among the Crosses\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/8886\/28148376456_281737d796_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Among the Crosses\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Of course, it wouldn&#8217;t be a Photostock without a visit to the Old Mission Church along the Tunnel of Trees.<br \/>\nIntrepid &#8211; Fuji Fujinon-W 1:5.6\/125 &#8211; Ilford HP5+ @ ASA-200 &#8211; Pyrocat-HD (1+1+100)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>My final time at Photostock was in 2018. I brought along my lovely wife, Heather, this time around and made a vacation out of it. Of course, that made for a totally different experience. By this time, Photostock had grown big, and a lot of things focused on talks and events at the hotel. But I also wanted to show Heather this beautiful area, more than sit in talks. We took a five-day trip. It was wonderfully book-ended with lots of favourite spots revisited from past events. I was also introduced to Cracker Barrel for the first time, something special to Heather as the first stop for food after we crossed the border. We also stopped in Frankenmuth at Bronner&#8217;s Christmas Wonderland. The next day, we got a chance to go across to Mackinac Island and check out the town and the fort. Like in 2016, I spent more time away from the hotel than at it, making sure to spend as much time as I could with Heather, because while I was an attendee, Heather was just there with me and was wary of the rather rambunctious group. While I enjoyed the 2018 event, I was also starting to feel tired of the event as a whole. The event wasn&#8217;t bad; I&#8217;d changed as a photographer and wanted to get back that low-key look and feel. Heather and I had other plans for 2019, and I didn&#8217;t want to spend three days without Heather, and of course, we all know what happened in 2020. But even when Photostock came back, my life had radically changed, and so had the event. The Birchwood had changed hands and was undergoing renovations, so Photostock changed and became something different. And while I regret not being able to go back one last time, it just never happened.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/28323281347\/in\/album-72157695244687832\" title=\"Famous Chicken\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/1767\/28323281347_c5e3620a9c_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"572\" alt=\"Famous Chicken\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>I couldn&#8217;t take Heather to a Photostock without stopping in Frankenmuth, we of course went to Bronner&#8217;s Christmas Wonderland.<br \/>\nNikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D &#8211; Efke KB 100 @ ASA-100 &#8211; Blazinal (1+50) 10:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/28365109377\/in\/album-72157696763745821\" title=\"Windermere Hotel\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/916\/28365109377_1886cdc797_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"670\" alt=\"Windermere Hotel\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>And of course a ferry ride and wandering around Mackinac Island.<br \/>\nNikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D (Yellow-15) &#8211; Film Ferrania P30 @ ASA-50 &#8211; Kodak D-76 (Stock) 8:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/43269364222\/in\/album-72157697975981814\" title=\"Here, Let me Show You\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/1789\/43269364222_5c3609e1e2_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"709\" alt=\"Here, Let me Show You\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>There&#8217;s always some form of sharing going on at Photostock.<br \/>\nNikon F5 &#8211; AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2D &#8211; Fomapan 400 @ ASA-250 &#8211; Kodak D-23 (Stock) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/41253315890\/in\/album-72157697975981814\" title=\"Night Skies\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/1801\/41253315890_6ebb1ba286_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Night Skies\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Plus some form of seminar, I sat through some but by this point not every session interested me.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/42414870035\/in\/album-72157697975981814\" title=\"Porch Party\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/1790\/42414870035_f2435e8c7b_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" alt=\"Porch Party\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Of course there was always an evening party out on the patio.<br \/>\nNikon F5 &#8211; AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2D &#8211; Fomapan 400 @ ASA-250 &#8211; Kodak D-23 (Stock) 7:30 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/41551405080\/in\/album-72157696830562121\" title=\"Through the Trees\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/837\/41551405080_2ef6cdf5c0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"752\" alt=\"Through the Trees\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Another trip out to Traverse City to check out the old Asylum and wander the city itself.<br \/>\nMamiya m645 &#8211; Mamiya-Sekor C 35mm 1:3.5 N &#8211; Kodak Plus-X @ ASA-125 &#8211; Blazinal (1+25) 6:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/42454005754\/in\/album-72157670778455878\" title=\"Big B!\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/1781\/42454005754_e994852b85_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Big B!\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>At the time I didn&#8217;t think 2018 would be the final time I would see Bill.<br \/>\nSony a6000 &#8211; Sony E PZ 16-50mm 1:3.5-5.6 OSS<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/42436440845\/in\/album-72157670778455878\" title=\"Good Hart\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/1828\/42436440845_27c19df1ff_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"784\" alt=\"Good Hart\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>And ending it with a shot of the famous Good Hart General Store.<br \/>\nGraflex Crown Graphic &#8211; Fuji Fujinon-W 1:5.6\/125 &#8211; New55 Atomic-X @ ASA-100 &#8211; Kodak D-76 (Stock) 7:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>Despite my falling out of enjoying Photostock, I still have fond memories of every event I went to. Because, like any event, what you get out of it is often what you put into it. I always went for the photography, chatting with peers, and seeing the amazing work that other people put out. Also, to check out the recent gear and see how people use it. Photostock also got me on the path to home development and to improving my skills with my large-format gear. I also branched out and did some landscape work and event photography, and got a chance to see places I never would have thought to visit. Getting a chance to capture War of 1812 battlefields, I would never have thought to check out when I was putting that project together. I met a lot of good friends, some of whom I have visited outside of Photostock. Another big thing is that seeing how Bill brought a community together helped inspire me to start the Toronto Film Shooters Meetup. And while Photostock is done, I hope someone is inspired to start something similar and make it their own. You can check out all my photos from all the Photostock events I attended over on Flickr (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/albums\/72157630286361848\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2012<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/albums\/72157634349575224\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2013<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/collections\/72157644963696230\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2014<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/collections\/72157670073033576\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2016<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/collections\/72157698653789925\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2018<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A few weeks ago, an event that I first attended in 2012 had its final form. Back on the 20th and 21st of June, a group gathered to celebrate the life of Bill Schwab, who had passed away in 2025 while doing what he did best: leading a group of keen photographers to explore the world. Bill was the brains behind an event called Photostock. It started as a small gathering in the woods on his property in Michigan, far from the dirty industrial south, but in the far more beautiful northern parts of the state. And while I&#8217;m a fan of an event becoming<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/02\/photostock-in-fond-memory\/\"><span>Read More &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[126,1050,22,819,182,437,100,101,2109,27,739,742,1759,283,477,290,88,115,102,327,129,476,148,78,132,353,536,32,1760,147,171,351,371,521,104,1041,288,284,600,2091,82,29,502,612,556,741,294,282,31,1915,738,865,348,1720,296],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9812"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9864,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9812\/revisions\/9864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}