Our revolving gallery in the Keweenaw Brewing Co. in downtown Houghton is ready to revolve – just in time for Winter Carnival. Between tattooed bottoms, embalming tables, and photos of our favorite scenic vistas, we’ve found ourselves apologizing a lot lately… SO – here is your chance to absolve us from any near-future “we’re sorry” posts by telling us what you want us to print at 30″. Imagine yourself in the KBC drinking an IPA, stepping on peanut shells, and wondering where you put your overpriced ski gloves. What do you want to be gracing the wall above your head? A beautiful bride on the Lake Superior shoreline? An elegant shot featuring long legs and tall boots? Aerials of the Keweenaw? Sled dogs racing through the night? Zombies? Alpacas? Look through recent content on Tumblr (NSFW), Facebook , or the website and let us know. Final selections (we can usually cram about 10 into the taproom) will be posted with a tag that says for example: “Zombies in an El Camino – selected by Adam Griffis.” Fun fun. Get your selections in by the weekend before the bartenders get irritated with us for the blank walls in there. Enjoy and thanks!

1/1600 sec at f / 1.4 ISO 1600, 50mm 2:35PM

We’ve got a fair number of fans who are pretty geeky when it comes to photography, and we get asked many questions about ‘how’ we shot something. You know us – we don’t like post-processing. We can’t remember the last time we opened up actual Photoshop, and we (and our clients) tend to think that processed / filtered photos belong on Instagram (though we’re admitted addicts!) and not in a wedding album. So – we chose this photo this afternoon to simply give the technical aspects behind the art.

This beautiful Chicago bride did her bridal prep in a very dim cabin, and even in the early afternoon, the light was quite low. The camera was set with a high ISO to be safe, in this case, 1600 on a Nikon D3. The D3 is famous for low noise at high ISO, so even pushing this higher would not have been too much of a noise-risk. The lens in this shot is a Nikkor 50mm that is opened up all the way to f/1.4 – again, because it was so dark, but also because it is a compact lens, and gives a super-pleasing depth of field – buttery almost. Its not the most cost-effective lens, and we recommend the f/1.8 for most beginner / intermediate shooters, but ANYWAY…

This shot was unplanned. The previous shot was a feature shot at 1/100 of a second in a dark part of cabin (thus the high ISO!) and when we quietly ran into the bedroom for this single, fleeting moment – the sunshine in the window forced a scroll of the shutter wheel up to 1/1600 to not blow out the whole thing. The shot was so fleeting in fact, that there are only two shots of this moment, so thanks to Nikon for the fast focus and good metering. Even if the camera had been in a non-manual mode however, the electronics would have forced an exposure that would have darkened the image more than what was intended. Much like a point & shoot trying to capture a portrait against a bright window, flagship bodies are susceptible to the same flaws. Just like the ability to drive fast in the winter requires disabling the traction control system, a camera needs to be completely controlled by the photographer to get the result they want.

In terms of post-processing, the image history on this shot includes:

- import
- a profile assignment – which includes a lens profile, some noise reduction, and black clipping
- a preset assignment – which includes a caramel tone and a contrast tweak

Vignetting is not added and is deliberately removed from the lens profile to keep the flaw in the shot. The 50mm is a film lens and the D3′s sensor is FX, which is the same footprint as 35mm film – so the effect is natural.

(And what a dress!)

Email us with questions, or if this has piqued your interest in photography, join us for a workshop!

workshop participant: before vs. after

- NEXT DATES -

Beginner Workshop – Saturday – Jan 21 – 10AM – 2PM (limit 10, catered lunch)

Intermediate Workshop – Saturday – Jan 21 – 3PM – 6:PM (limit 5, cocktail reception)

Participants for BEGINNER sessions bring their own camera for a hands-on, intensive session that will cover:

• basics on photography (light, depth, framing)
• mechanics of your own camera
• image processing, sharing, printing, and archiving
• hands-on exercises in-studio with live models
• mobile phone camera tips
• photo critiques, tips, and equipment recommendations

Participants for INTERMEDIATE sessions also bring their own camera for a hands-on, intensive session that will cover:

• controlling depth of field
• creative framing
• workflow and edits
• working with subjects
• advanced lighting (reflecting, diffusing, remote strobes)
• advanced controls (exposure compensation, auto ISO, flash sync, focus tracking)

Learn more here…

Q: I’ve looked online everywhere, and followed the advice of others but still fail to make my snow look white when I shoot on my SLR. Any tips for shooting photos in the snow? All the photos I’ve seen Adam shoot, the snow is as white as it should be. HELP!

A: Its painful to see so many blue winter photos, but it is indeed tricky. There are two ways to correct this, one at the capture stage, and one at the post stage. To capture, make sure you are NOT using an auto white-balance setting (you might see this as an “AWB” in the menu.) Cameras are smart, and getting smarter, but nothing beats being able to tell the camera what you want. Exposure & color algorithms are programmed to look for neutral colors and compensate based on what it interprets the scene and the color cast to be. Bright snow – especially in the middle of the day when the color temp. of the sun is already a rather blueish 5500-6500 deg. K – will almost always turn photos blue and under-exposed, so force the white-balance setting through the menu system or controls to the actual ambient light. Depending on the time of day, a daylight, or shade setting will give you a consistent, controllable color. If your camera allows it, just change the manual white balance setting to ~6000 deg. K. OR do this really manually by shooting a reference card. But if you are lucky, your camera has a little snowman icon as a white balance setting

The other option is in post-process, and that is to simply adjust the myriad of color temperature tools in programs like Aperture, Lightroom, and iPhoto might even do this… In Aperture or Lightroom, once you set one image to the proper (or preferred) color, you can easily sync the entire set to look the same. As a rule, as minimal amount of time-consuming-post-processing the better, so the closer you get to capturing the shot in the first place, the better!

Q: I’d love to use you guys for my summer wedding in the Houghton area, but not sure I can afford you. Do you offer variable shooting prices, etc? And can I pay you in money from the UAE?

A: And we’d love to have you as a client of ours! We start with a flat rate and build up or down depending on location / distance, number of photographers, days of shooting, etc. Each client is a little bit different, and we work with everyone personally, to make sure that we can provide what they are looking for and what is within their financial means. We’ve cut travel rates if our lodging is provided, we give discounts to military, we discount for sheer flattery, etc… While we can’t accept dirham as currency, the Brockit wine rack always looks better when it’s sagging from the weight of bottles from central Italy and northern California, hint hint…

Q: Is it difficult finding work here in the Keweenaw?

A: Yes and no. There is a cyclic nature to photography during the year, so over the years we’ve balanced ourselves between commercial / adventure, wedding and portrait work. (actually, that should read “wedding / adventure”) Having a large studio also allows us to shoot at any time, and in any weather. Our workflow is thin in comparison to larger cities, but we are happy, busy, quite traveled, and have a nimble team with some pretty stellar clients. We take none of it for granted and spend a lot of our time helping non-profits, fundraising efforts, and supporting fine arts.

Q: What makes you think everyone wants to look like a rock star? What if I want to look like me? Can you handle that?
(Sorry, that’s three questions.)

A: We know that deep down, everyone wants to look like a rock star. When people look at a photo of themselves, even on the back of the camera, and they exclaim, ‘woah! that’s me?!’ we know we’ve succeeded. Its our job to flatter by bringing out your natural beauty. If you want to look like yourself, you are probably already familiar with the sound of your blingy jewelry clanking against the side of a cocktail glass at noon in a chromed-out Prevost coach… We can handle that.

(did you know that Adam is actually terrified of heights?)

Ever wanted to know intimate things about us? Why do we shoot Nikon? Do people really pay us in whiskey? Do we make everyone get in the water for their shoots? Did one of us really jump out of a helicopter? At the recommendation of one of our favorite assistants, we’re going to open ourselves up for questions on a weekly basis. We’ll narrow the focus each week for topics on gear, modeling, workflow, weddings, assistants, etc. but to start it off – today anything goes…!

Ask us whatever and on Friday morning we’ll reply to as many as we can and post the whole Q&A here. We’ll use your first name or keep you anonymous.

*** ANSWERS ***

Deal? Go for it… Just use the form below.

Gear requirements:

reliable
weather-proof
capable
flagship / premium level
fashionable

Crew requirements:

(see above)

We pulled these two photos this morning to show how it all works together, and to show off Kora and Anabelle hard at work on a double shoot. While its rare to have two little ones on a pro shoot, its not unusual, and they’re not just playing around – they test lights, haul gear, charge batteries, make clients laugh & smile, clean backgrounds, sweep floors, and are a riot to have around. Oh – a couple organic cookies from the Co-op usually suffices as payment too….

The gear they’re holding isn’t just for looks either. The softbox is a double-diffused (for this shoot) Photoflex Octodome NXT mounted to a Photoflex LiteReach. This combo is complex, but so so so versatile and able to be collapsed, folded up, and fit neatly inside the main Crumpler bag & stuffed under the seat of any regional jet. The strobe is a Nikon SB900 or SB800 (this looks like the more compact 800…) which is mounted to one of PocketWizard’s brand new FlexTT5 transceivers, and is being triggered by a combination of MiniTT1 transmitter / AC3 zone controller. Phew…! The setup allows us to sync the strobes above 1/250 (1/1250 in this shot!) and gives some beautiful, diffused light in any location. As long as we’ve got someone to haul it & hold it that is…

Actual internet chat dialogs with Charter today:

CGI Dana :  Thank you, Adam. Do you also have your security code from your billing statement?

Adam Johnson:  um… no.

CGI Dana :  Do you remember the PIN you set up on the account?

Adam Johnson:  absolutely not

CGI Dana :  Do you, by chance, have the account number?

Adam Johnson:  82451207900xxxxx

CGI Dana :  Great, thank you!

CGI Dana :  I am showing that the current balance on the account is $95.09 with a past due balance of $44.99.

Adam Johnson:  I edited / updated the visa that is setup for payment over a week ago. this should not be a problem.

CGI Dana :  Is this the card ending in 6199?

Adam Johnson:  that sounds right

CGI Dana :  I show that it was never activated. I can activate it, however it will take a full billing cycle to debit. Did you want to go ahead and pay the balance on the account today and then the next payment be debited.

Adam Johnson:  um… what does ‘never activated’ mean…?

CGI Dana :  There is an option on the account which is ‘active’ or ‘inactive’ and the status of the auto pay on your account is ‘inactive’.

Adam Johnson:  ok. whatever. if I edited the active autopay with a different visa, I’d assume it would still be active, yes? please press the magic ‘active’ button, pay previous balance, etc, etc.

CGI Dana :  Yes, I can do all of that for you. However, in the account the card number is encrypted so I will need you to provide me with the entire card number with the expiration date, if you don’t mind please.

Adam Johnson:  I don’t mind, but the card is in my car, in the parking lot, 4 floors down. do you want to sip coffee whilst I get it?

CGI Dana :  Adam, honestly, I can only hold for 2 minutes. So, if you want to chat back when you get done or even make the payment online at charter.com thru your my account, you can do that as well.

Adam Johnson:  it will take more than 2 min. yup. is this so-called ‘activate’ button obvious when I return?

CGI Dana :  It’s already been done, so when you chat back all you got to do is request help with processing a payment.

*** NEW AGENT ***

TTD Lisette :  I will activate your internet service now, Adam. Since your services are interrupted, the system will automatically charge you $1.99 restoration fee, which will be added to your next month’s bill.

Adam Johnson:  wait… hold on. you are charging me $1.99 for not activating this when I entered visa info over a week ago? not cool. nix that please…

TTD Lisette :  No, Adam. The system will automatically charge it to your account.

Adam Johnson:  then automatically remove it

TTD Lisette :  Again, the system will automatically charge it to your account.

Adam Johnson:  on principle alone I object. I already went through this BS ‘activation’ thing today with an agent…

TTD Lisette :  Is this okay?

Adam Johnson:  um, no. there are rules. this isn’t ‘Nam. across this line YOU DO NOT…

TTD Lisette :  I will activate your internet service, Adam. To remove the $1.99 charge on your account, I will transfer you to our Billing Department.

TTD Lisette :  Would that be fine with you?

Adam Johnson:  {sighs} yes

** NEW AGENT **

CGI Elizabeth W :  I cannot credit back the $1.99 restoration fee either as it is automatic and may not be added to your account, depending on whether or not the system adds it. I will, however, note your account to credit that back considering the circumstances. If it is on your next bill, you can chat back and have that removed.

Adam Johnson:  {pondering this…}

CGI Elizabeth W :  We do not manually apply this fee. It is added to the bill (sometimes, not always) when services are reconnected. I cannot credit it back as it isn’t on your account. If it appears on your next statement, you can chat back and the agent will apply the $1.99 credit.

Adam Johnson:  lets go with that then. thx.

CGI Elizabeth W :  You are welcome. Can I assist you with anything else this evening?

Adam Johnson:  just make the sales people stop calling me. I tell them EVERY time: I’m happy with cellular, and I do NOT have a TV…

CGI Elizabeth W :  I will put you on our Do Not Call List.

Adam Johnson:  really?! that would be stellar, elizabeth

CGI Elizabeth W :  I will do that now. Can I assist you with anything else this evening?

Adam Johnson:  that’s worth the $1.99. thanks. goodnight.

Again – congrats to everyone. Thanks for the smiles, the shout-outs, the thumbs-up, and the occasional tongue out at us.

AND – it is very sad, but we had a Petzl headlamp on the side of the highway, flashing towards oncoming traffic right near our hangout. We suspect a racer grabbed it for the lost & found. If you have seen it – we miss it… thanks!

*** GALLERY ***

Did you want just see the highlights? No problem. Take a peek and join our community.

What are we unveiling?

We are *not* showcasing pretty brides, lush aerial landscapes, or cute kids. We are showing off a 5 hour, collaborative effort between our friends at the KBC and an array of confident, tattooed models under the direction of Whitney Warstler. We shot with natural light in multiple scenes at two locations: the downtown brewery, and the South Range facility. Fun, fun stuff with models who threw modesty to the wind and let us create art inside these two unique, commercial facilities. You might remember that we got in a bit of trouble with Facebook for posting a few of these (they banned our page and personal accounts for a week as punishment) so we are thrilled that the KBC embraces the project. Come on Saturday to see the work in 30″ glory. All images are available for purchase, and grab a cold beer while you are browsing.

stout

As an added incentive to see the new images, we’ve timed the unveiling during the 10th annual Art & Music Fest which is happening right outside KBC’s back door. Brockit Inc. has helped the Copper Country Community Arts Center with this fundraising effort for a number of years now, and it is guaranteed to delight you and your family. Over 40 artist booths, food, activities, and of course music will all take place on the upper parking deck from noon-7pm.

The music line-up:

12:30 Huffing Pink
1:45 Gratiot Lake
3:00 Jellikit
4:15 Uncle Pete’s All Star Barbecue Blues Band
5:45 PasiCats

The event has some great sponsors and supporters including yours truly, and all our friends at Brassard Media, the MTEC Smart Zone, Minnesota Public Radio, the Keweenaw Brewing Company, Bohemia Printing, Wicker and Willow, Surplus Outlet, Rhythm Skateshop, Pizzaworks, The Blue Iris, The Lunchbag, Chickadees, and Downwind Sports.What a collection!

As added, extra incentive – a jet-lagged Adam Johnson will be helping emcee the event as well as running the music between sets.

What a Saturday – show up and enjoy it with us!

We’re all about supporting community, and this one is no exception.

GLOBAL CITY is a student organization at Michigan Tech dedicated to addressing critical, global issues, especially those that most directly impact developing countries. Its members meet regularly to attend presentations by invited speakers (our own Adam Johnson presented recently) to give presentations, present research, and to pursue the three main goals of the organization, which are:

To foster cooperation and understanding among nationals of different countries.

To promote interest in international affairs such as the environment, human rights, technology transfer, poverty, development, and sustainability.

To provide a forum for the presentation of innovative ideas to benefit the university and the world community.

The Global City group has solicited photo contributions from its members for an exhibit at the Keweenaw Brewing Co. Why are we involved? We like community, we like photos, and we like the KBC! We’ve offered to host their photos and facilitate the voting process.

These photos offer a glimpse of where Global City members have been and what they have captured that helps us to understand our own global community.

Please view the categories and photos within each to select your favorite images. You may select up to 3 photos per category, and you can give it a Facebook ‘Like’ or just leave a comment. The group will tally the results, and pick the winners. Excellent we will vote too! The breakdown is pretty simple, the five images with the most votes per category (Culture and People, Sustainability, and Landscapes) will be selected for printing and mounting. An overall prize will be awarded to the photo with the most votes per category. Photographers names and titles have been left out, images stand on their own on the voting site.. If your photo is selected you will be contacted to provide a title and one to two lines describing the photo for the exhibit at the KBC (if you haven’t already done so).

You have until midnight on Saturday, the 23rd of April to get your vote in. Start viewing now!

We’ve used our studio as many things: lounge, dining room, movie theater, tattoo parlor, nursery, kennel, and oh yeah… a studio. Well now its time again to use it as a classroom.

On Saturday, April 23rd from 10AM – 3PM, we’ll be hosting our second public photography class for adults in our Hancock studio. Who is it geared for you ask? If you nod your head or exclaim ‘yes!’ to at least two of the below, you should join us.

You have a good eye, but are wrestling with your digital camera.
You have good gear, but an eye that needs some training.
Your kids and pets deserve better photos than what you are currently giving them.
All the buttons on the back of your camera remain a mystery to you.
You are regularly asking ‘how did you take that photo?!’
You know someone who could take great photos if they just had some basic knowledge.
Your photos look great on the camera, but are you unsure of what to do with them on the computer.
You want to spend more quality time with your favorite photographer.
You are unsure what to give your best friend for Christmas.

Enter ‘photography for everyone – taking better photos of the things you love.’

Participants will bring their own camera for a 5 hour hands-on, intensive session that will cover:

• basics on photography (light, depth, framing)
• mechanics of your own camera
• image processing, sharing, printing, and archiving
• hands-on exercises in-studio with live models
• photo critiques, tips, and equipment recommendations

The Brockit crew will provide:

• studio space
• instructor and assistants
• eclectic background music
• live models
• a variety of beverage selections
• catered lunch from our friends at the Keweenaw Coop
• a decade of photo experience to share

This is a hands-on class for adults, and limited to the first 10 participants at a cost of $250.

If you are interested, please do the following:

• Sign-up using the form below, and please indicate your equipment and diet preferences
• Wait for a confirmation from our studio, after which you will:
• Make a deposit for the class.

Hope to see you there – this will be fun!

*** See photos and comments from previous classes below ***

tricky lighting

before & after

aperture demo

adjusting for exposure

And a gallery from Brockit’s BettyJean

And what did attendees say?

Fabulous photo class today, brockit!

I had so much fun at the session and feel like I can finally grasp what I have been reading all of this time……..
there was a ton to cover, and even with my camera, I felt like I was able to improve my pictures by the end of the day…and even the ones that didn’t turn out technically great, are cool in a way!!!

thanks for the e-mail – it was a fun day. I am very interested in more classes

Thank YOU and the Brockit staff. I am interested in the “intermediate” class.

The class you held was fantastic and helped me in many areas that the online class did not. I was glad I had taken the online one just to get that step ahead on my camera before heading to the one you held.

Thanks so much for the workshop. Before I came in, I had no idea what ‘F-stop’ meant!

i had a blast yesterday and wanted to thank you again for teaching me how to finally get my camera off the P! i was messing around with shooting my daughter and got this awesome shot… on purpose; fully manual with all the settings chosen by yours truly. usually it’s just a fluke if i can get this good of a shot of her as she’s flying around the house. and even then i have to monkey with it in lightroom to get the colors and exposure looking right.

thanks for taking your time to teach us!  It was great fun, great food, and great learning!

and:

well, with a hottie like Rosie, you can’t go wrong!!

Gallery is open for prints and digital downloads. Get yours now…

We have a number of people to thank for this annual adventure, first and foremost, the CopperDog race committee. Without their faith, responsiveness, and input, we wouldn’t be even writing this thank- you. It’s a great relationship and we don’t take it for granted. Many many thanks.

Mushers and dogs who came from many many miles to compete – thank you. Your photogenic faces and smiling dogs kept us smiling too. sorry about that nasty corner on the east bluff. If you thought we were vultures, waiting for you to crash, well… we were, and you did, so…

Our next thanks really needs to go to Copper Country Rentals in Calumet. These guys trusted us with their snowmobiles for almost 200 miles of trail and backwoods, hauling gear and crew for 3 days – all without ever meeting us. How awesome is that? Their equipment never let us down and made it possible to shoot in otherwise inaccessible locations. It deserves mentioning that not only did they help our own crew out, but they supplied machines for the needs of the entire race: rabbit, sweep, trail markers, etc. If you need a rental, I highly recommend them. Hopefully they can get our stickers off the fenders…

Thanks to the following for their services and support:

Keweenaw Brewing Co. and 5th and Elm coffee for keeping us awake and motivated as necessary.

Many families in Eagle Harbor who opened up their summer home for rag tag groups of volunteers, photogs, and assistants to sleep in the middle of the night.

Johannah at Spirit of the North in Copper Harbor – whose massage skills made all the difference after riding 120 miles and hauling gear through waist-deep drifts.

The Mariner North and The Pines & Ziks bar for food, Mardi Gras entertainment, and another warm place to sleep.

Brassard Media, whose video team we worked and laughed with side by side all weekend.

Of course many thanks to our own crew: master organizer and CopperDog volunteer / coordinator Meghan McKilligan, our 2nd team BettyJean Jaehnig,Tania Levy, and Ben Wittbrodt, and 1st team assistant Andrew Musselman.

And while I’m on a roll – there needs to be a huge shout-out to the community. Between the race organization, the volunteers, businesses, and the community as a whole – again, WOW. To watch everyone work together with the time, energy, and true passion for this event – it really makes you feel the power of a community. To be immersed into this was a truly a treat.

Thank you all. Can’t wait to do it again next year. Now – someone has to finish the processing of 3200 images. volunteers…?

We do have some sneak photos up, there is a special slideshow coming tomorrow in the Keweenaw, and just watch the blog or facebook for the full sets.

To navigate, simply use your mouse to click within each scene and scroll 360 degrees. Zoom in and out as well.

All shots were taken with an 8mm circular fisheye at f/7.1 and thanks to Brockit’s helpers BettyJean Jaehnig and Tania Levy.

View 1

View 2

View 3

View 4

View 5

Historic E.L.Wright School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen Johnson, Exec. Director of Communications

Phone: 906-487-7348, E-mail: karen.johnson@finlandia.edu

Date: October 28, 2010

Jutila Center Congratulates a Different Kind of Graduate

HANCOCK, MI – Three Finlandia University graduates of a different kind have recently ventured out into the world.

The small business incubator at Finlandia’s Jutila Center for Global Design and Business congratulates these companies, each led by respected professional artists, as they launch their “incubated” businesses into the larger Hancock, Michigan, business community.

“It’s the best possible outcome of their time at the Jutila Center,” says director Bonnie Holland of Adam Johnson, Andrea Puzakulich, and Joyce Koskenmaki. “They grew, they graduated, and they have moved into the wider Hancock business community.”

Finlandia’s Jutila Center small business incubator provides an atmosphere in which entrepreneurs can learn and practice essential business skills, such as how to manage cash flow and taxes, hiring assistants, and attracting new customers.

“Knowing these skills can make the difference between just getting by as a business, or success in establishing a long-term professional career,” Holland explains.

For example, Adam Johnson, owner of brockit inc., a photography studio, moved into his Jutila Center suite in 2003. For two years previously his studio was incubating in the SmartZone on the fourth floor the Jutila Center.

Right away, Johnson took advantage of Jutila Center free business counseling with Roger Woods, which is sponsored by the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) and Finlandia. He also contracted the services of market researchers in the building.

And as an incubator tenant, Johnson was required to prepare annual business and financial plans, which he says was helpful, as well.

“My business grew steadily during my time at the Jutila Center,” Johnson says. “It was only six months before I had grown enough to hire somebody to help manage the operation.  Not too long after, I started interviewing for interns and assistants.”

The biggest advantage for us was the foot traffic,” Johnson adds. “The café, access to students, copy machines, and mail boxes really helped us. I was very satisfied with Jutila Center services, including maintenance, security, and high speed internet.”

When Johnson struck out on his own this May, there were four additional people on his payroll, two of them full-time – a studio manager, a second photographer, a graphic designer, and a set location specialist.

Johnson also took on several interns to help grow his business, some of them students in Finlandia’s Art & Design program. Johnson says he loved interacting with the art students at the Jutila Center, shooting student work, and speaking in classes

Since May of this year, brockit inc. is located in the E.L. Wright Building at 801 N. Lincoln Dr. (U.S. 41 North) in Hancock. Johnson specializes in wedding, portrait, commercial, and fine art photography. Visit the brockit inc. website at www.brockit.com.

“I think there is a lot of room for growth in Hancock,” Johnson says. “Ties with Finlandia, the Community Arts Center … there’s lot more room for expanding on these things. Art, creativity, and design have a special niche in Hancock.”

Johnson notes that recent Jutila Center tenants Andrea Puzakulich, owner of wearable and fiber art company Distant Drum, and artist Joyce Koskenmaki also stayed in Hancock and are now located in the E.L. Wright building.

Puzakulich was one of the first small business owners to sign a contract with the Jutila Center incubator. She used her four-and-one-half years there to create new product lines and change her selling and distribution strategies. She moved to her new location in January 2010.

“It was like a family in a way, especially getting in on the ground floor,” Puzakulich says of the Jutila Center. “I got to see it in its old state and new state, and my opinions on how to make it a better incubator were valued.”

Puzakulich started Distant Drum 23 years ago and worked from home for 19 years. During those years she built her customer base primarily from traveling the Midwest art fair circuit.

“When I wasn’t at art fairs, I was hidden away at my home studio. The Jutila Center gave me new exposure which inspired me to work year-round,” she says.

“My time at the Jutila Center increased my confidence and cast me in a more professional role. I felt that I achieved much greater visibility and acceptance among other business professionals,” Puzakulich says. “It’s good for me to be more independent. Now I feel like a better-defined business. I’m launched. I have a sales studio with signage on a major area highway.”

“The Jutila Center is a great idea. At some point a small business owner may want to kick it up a notch and take on that greater responsibility.  When you’re a part of something—part of a group—people are watching and that is motivating.”

“And of course, there’s the whole notion of affordability,” she adds. “I felt Jutila Center made it very lucrative for me to start a business, in particular the incremental lease rate.”

Puzakulich met with business counselor Roger Woods several times and attended other Jutila Center-sponsored small business workshops and seminars. “It only takes a few nuggets to help,” she notes. “Plus it was an opportunity to gather the other businesses in one spot to share ideas and challenges.”

“I miss the association with students,” she concludes. “I felt the students appreciated a good role model and I encouraged them to stop in.”

Puzakulich recently launched a new e-commerce website at www.distantdrum.com.

Artist Joyce Koskenmaki moved her studio to the Jutila Center in 2006. An emeritus Finlandia University faculty member, Koskenmaki says she appreciated the opportunity to show her work in the building, as well as her contact with students, both informally and in the classroom. She believes she increased her public exposure and name recognition while at the Jutila Center. Visit Koskenmaki’s website at www.joycekoskenmaki.com.

“We miss having the students walking up and down the hall,” Koskenmaki says, referring to herself, Johnson, and Puzakulich. “We invite people to come and visit us at the E.L. Wright building.”

“It’s always hard to bid farewell to the successful business owners that help make up the creative, entrepreneurial ambiance of the building,” Holland concludes “But it opens up opportunities for other creative professionals who are ready to build the business infrastructure they need to begin a long career.”

Current businesses at the Jutila Center include photography, design, health and wellness consulting, pavement engineering, orthotics, educational consulting, sewing alterations, energy risk assessment, digital cataloging, accounting, catering, and a restaurant.

Business entrepreneurs are invited to submit applications to join the Jutila Center small business incubator. Studio, office, and light manufacturing spaces can be viewed by contacting Bonnie Holland at 906-487-7344 or bonnie.holland@finlandia.edu.

The secret is out. This is it for us in the the Jutila Ctr for Global Design & Business (aka: the old hospital.) After careful planning & deliberation (sorta) we’ve decided to move the operation in the name of expansion, simplification, and spring fever. We looked at a number of sites in the area, and in downtowns of Houghton & Hancock – everything from storefronts to bank board rooms, and we’re pleased to announce that we’ll occupy the 3rd floor of the E.L. Wright school building in Hancock, right on US-41. The deal was too sweet to pass up. New windows, re-finished 100 year old hardwood floor, new ceiling, period appropiate lights, tons of parking, etc. We’ll be neighbors again with our artist friends Joyce Koskenmaki & Andrea Puzakulich of Joyce Koskenmaki Drawings & Paintings, and Distant Drum Designs both of whom we’ve had an artistic partnership with for a number of years, so naturally we’re all excited. The new space will almost triple our shooting space, and be complimented by a large dressing room & gallery – all designed to cater to our clients and provide a comfortable lounge & working area for our visitors, clients, friends, models, crew, and family. Fun stuff! We’ll be in our space sometime in May, with a Brockit-style party to follow, so stay tuned for an invite. Oh – and watch your email or facebook feed for a request to help us move all of our gear! (Those who help are guarenteed a party invite.)

Oh – if you want to see the photos of the renovation on the space, ‘like’ us on Facebook!

(And as always, thanks to our awesome graphic girl, Jenny Hamel in Ann Arbor)

Wonderful Brockit clients – thank you so much for your business, your friendship, your support, patience, and loyalty! Without you, we’d just stand around taking pictures of ourselves! With you, we push ourselves artistically and technically to provide the best imagery of you, your families, your businesses, and your art. Thank you to our hard-working crew of photographers, office staff, models, interns, and gear sherpas that make it all happen. A sincere Happy Holidays!

All, thanks so much for the emails, phone calls, txts, tweets, and facebook hits with praise for the 2009 Houghton Spring Art & Music Festival. The response has been overwhelming to say the least. Thanks to all the musicians, vendors, downtown businesses, the Scott MacInnes & the City of Houghton, Carlton Crothers & the SmartZone, Todd & Jessie from Brassard Media, Bonnie & Cynthia & the Arts Ctr, PJ Olsson, Good Times Music… I could go on and on. Thanks to Todd & Meghan for cameraphone shots in the middle of the action below. Again – my personal and sincere thanks to everyone! We’ll do this again next year!!!

Daily Mining Gazette story

PJ’s Rock Camp blog

—

Check it out, everyone. This year’s downtown festival is a little bit different from the previous 7. We’ll be setup in the middle of downtown, right in the middle of the road actually – taking up two full blocks of road. Check out the musical lineup as well. Everyone has been working especially hard on this one. Please distribute the link, the word, and the poster around.

Take a peek at the commercial that is going live today. (nice job Brassard Media! and way to get my little girl in it!

The Copper Country Community Arts Center and the City of Houghton present the 8th annual Houghton Spring Art and Music Festival on Saturday, June 13 -Shelden Avenue from noon-8pm.

The festival’s outstanding features include ~30 artist booths & demos, free family art activities, CCCAC Extreme Bake Sale, prizes from downtown businesses, and an awesome music line up. Food will be on site with T’s Taste of Chicago.

Music Line Up

Noon The Outlaws
1:20 Uncle Pete’s All-Star BBQ Blues Band
2:50 Orphans Torch
4:10 Joshua Davis and Joe Wilson from Steppin’ In It
5:30 Squeaky Clean Cretins
7:00 P.J. Olsson & Rock Camp

This year also features a “Frog Hop” activity.  We’ve received generous prizes and support from The Library, Down Wind Sports, Wicker & Willow, The Edge, The Lunch Bag, Good Times Music, The Blue Iris, and Silver Rae Bead Studio.  Stop by the Arts Center booth during the festival to pick up a Frog Hop card to take to our supporting businesses and receive a frog stamp.  Fill up your card with all eight stamps and return it to the Arts Center booth to be placed in a drawing for prizes.  Participants must be 18+ and present to win and will be announced before the final performance…

Speaking of the final performance, this year our headlining act will be P.J. Olsson who will be performing with over twelve young musicians ages fifteen and under as well as a hip-hop dance team.  Participants are in P.J.’s “Rock Camp 2009″.  Check out their website at www.pjsrockcamp.com.

Thank you to our sponsors Brockit Inc., Brassard Media, and MTEC Smart Zone!

Questions?  Call the Copper Country Community Arts Center at 906-482-2333
or e-mail ccarts@chartermi.net.

Bonnie, Adam & Todd in the studio - talking about the Festival

Bonnie, Adam & Todd in the studio - again - talking about the Festival

While Kitty covered racers in the start/finish section, Adam & #4 rocked out on getting action shots on the main course. All racers & staff are able to download free low-res images from the gallery linked in the post below. A huge thanks to Arnie & his team for allowing us to cover this wonderful Winter event!

If you don’t see your  course shots – don’t fret! Please keep checking the gallery, as more course shots will posted any minute. As I type, Adam is driving 89N to Burlington and is keeping his sites out for a place to pull over, complete uploads  & then jet off to Montreal. Adam – no driving and Facebooking, okay?

So if you are racing on March 8th, look for our crew (Emily, Rebecca, or me) on the trails, wipe the frozen snot from your face and look like you are having fun!