Merrill Photo Blog

Detritus Redefined
Of late, I’ve not only finished major projects, but have also started off in a new direction. I’m creating assemblages using a mix of alternative photographic pieces and objects found on the beach and in local waterways. The found objects? Junk, really....
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CyClick
CyClick was literally years in the making. I had a vision of an embellished bike, replete with cameras, cycling and documenting parades and various other functions. I’m also attempting to beautify the world, one rusty hulk at a time, hopefully bringing about...
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Dog Friendly Venues
The magazines are out! I spent quite some time working on this one. Dog friendly venues! Straight up my alley. Over a period of a couple of months, I traveled up and down the Grays Harbor area and surrounds, taking dog pics like a fiend. Congrats to those who ended...
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A place for everything and everything in its place.
So my friend said, “You should blog about some of these studio updates you’re doing.” And I said, “My blog! Holy shit! My blog! I forgot all about it!” Here’s an update: A couple of months ago, the hot water tank went out....
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April: A month of many camera holidays.
April is slam-packed with camera holidays and two of my favorites are: The PSPCS Camera Sale & Swap and Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. The camera show happened on the 13th. Always, ALWAYS an exciting experience! The smell of dust and Bakelite …...
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Did I photograph you a thousand years ago?
For nearly 30 years I have been honored to have photographed local families. Their milestones. Their everyday lives. I’ve got dozens of file boxes of negatives to prove it. I used to give my clients contact sheets – 8 1/2″x11″ sheets of small...
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Petoskey Universe
[Tangent alert: No photography/camera stuff in this post.] There’s a universe in a Petoskey stone. Growing up in Michigan, Petoskey stones were the holy grail of fossils. When I was a kid I could spot a Petoskey stone at 50 paces. My dad marveled at my Petoskey...
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World Peace through Junk Store Cameras
When folks ask, “How was your trip?” Where do I start? Where do I even begin? So I say, “Oh it was good … Fun.” We touched down at Heathrow. The customs agent at Heathrow asked me where we were headed and since I didn’t know I...
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Admissions of an addict.
My name is Marcy and I’m an addict. “HELLO MARCY” I haven’t been to the river in three days, fourteen hours and thirty six minutes. The scent of the earth … the mud, the brackishness of the water. The train echos across the river, gray in...
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Time is an illusion
Mark O’Brien visited me all the way from Ann Arbor! After the usual pleasantries, food … liquor, we headed out to the studio for some camera talk and more libations. He had come not only to visit but also to interview me for possible inclusion in a future...
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