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On-line ordering is available at www.michiganlighthouse.com Beacon of light
For a number of people, it's nostalgia for a simpler time when the lighthouse beacon was a signal of safety, while others are fascinated by the design and mechanical workings of the old-fashioned structures. John Wagner is a lighthouse aficionado for those reasons - and a whole lot more. Fortunately for other lighthouse lovers, he's blended a professional background in aviation with his photography skills in an artistic endeavor that offers a unique perspective of Michigan's lighthouses for everyone to enjoy. Reproductions from Wagner's book, "Michigan Lighthouses, an Aerial Photographic Perspective" are on display through April 28 at the Art Reach on Broadway Gallery in downtown Mt. Pleasant. "It's a marvelous opportunity to sponsor such a multi-talented person," Carol Rumba, executive director of Art Reach of Mid Michigan, says of Wagner's works. "He has such beautiful photographs to share." The exhibit includes a selection of framed reproductions from the book that features 175 full-color photographs of all of Michigan's lighthouses, taken during various seasons of the year and from an assortment of vantage points. Wagner shot the photos during a six-year time period, but the idea for the project was born long before he loaded film into his Bronica GSI camera. "I first started flying in 1958, and have owned and flown my own planes since 1974," the retiree from the State of Michigan Bureau of Aeronautics says, adding that his penchant for photography can be attributed to his father. "He was an officer with the Michigan State Police back in the late 1930s, and always carried a camera with him. I suppose I developed a habit for having a camera with me from my father." That knack for having a camera on board whatever airplane he was flying ultimately led to Wagner's lighthouse photography - aided by a chance comment from an old friend.
Holland Harbor South Pierhead
Lighthouse "I had a fraternity brother who owned a home near the Holland Harbor lighthouse, and I flew there for a visit," Wagner recalls of the trip in 1985 that prompted his debut effort at lighthouse photography. "His wife had a photo of the lighthouse that was taken from the usual ground-level view. I decided to take one from the air on my way home and was very pleased with the different perspective that the aerial view provided." While that photo may be the official starting point of the lighthouse project, Wagner notes that he had previously thought about taking aerial photos of Michigan's bright beacons. "A number of years before, probably in the 1970s, I was flying DNR officials along the shoreline of Lake Michigan when they were studying erosion problems in that area," Wagner says. "I had given some thought at that time about photographing the lighthouses we passed over, but never did anything about it. "Things reconnected in my mind when I took that photo of the Holland Harbor lighthouse."
Whitefish Point Lighthouse The plan to photograph all of Michigan's
lighthouses evolved in the following years, ultimately leading to the publication of the
book which has earned critical acclaim from numerous organizations like the Historical
Society of Michigan and the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. Wagner logged nearly 8,500 hours of flight time in his Cessna 172 airplane during the course of the photographic journey, enjoying every minute of the experience. "One interesting aspect of Michigan lighthouses is the unique quality of each - there are such tremendous differences in the style and design of each one," Wagner says.
White Shoal Lighthouse While he has a special affinity with all of his lighthouse subjects, he admits the White Shoal Lighthouse that graces the cover of the book is a personal favorite. "The lighthouse is particularly interesting because of its site out in the water, rather than on the shore. I've also had the opportunity to tour the inside, and have walked all the way to the top." Visitors who view the Art Reach exhibit will certainly enjoy that White Shoal scene in the icy Straits of Mackinac, as well as others like the Huron Island Lighthouse and the Port Austin Reef Lighthouse. Wagner has wonderful "before and after" photographs of the lighthouse at Port Austin and of St. Helena Island, both of which have been restored. When it is displayed in its entirely, the
exhibit totals 125 photographs - requiring more space than is typically available in most
gallery venues. Clarke Historical Library on the CMU campus will eventually be the home for that impressive collection. "They do an outstanding job there (Clarke) with any number of historical collections and had approached me with an interest in my photos - I was pleased and honored," Wagner says of the living trust that was established several years ago. The resident of East Lansing has strong ties to the Mt. Pleasant area. "My father was the post commander at the Michigan State Police post in Mt. Pleasant, and our family lived in the Clare and Mt. Pleasant areas for a number of years in the late 1930s," he says. "I still have connections with CMU." Although there are no plans currently for another printing of Wagner's book, the pilot/photographer/author still flies on a regular basis - always with a camera close by. "There's just something about aerial
photography that I really enjoy, and I know other people do, too."
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