Ernest J. Schweit, Photographer

06/15/2026

Taking a page from the book written by Ansel Adams, I reimagined this image of Windy Point along the Catalina Highway near Tucson in black and white.
The original appeared in color in my recent blog at https://open.substack.com/pub/ernestjschweit/p/beauty-for-beautys-sake?r=eapbl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web.
I actually like this version better; the textures and shapes dominate the image more than in the color version.
What about you? Reply below.
Adams famously reimagined many of his prints late in his career, including the iconic "Moonrise Hernandez."
See it here:
https://articles.anseladams.com/a-legend-in-light/

06/11/2026

"Sky's On Fire"
The detail of the mountains fades to black, but the sky's on fire at sunset in the sonoran desert near Tucson. I made this image along the McCain Loop Trail in Mountain Park, where the five mountain ranges that surround the Tucson basin are on stunning display.

06/09/2026

Definitely save date for this amazing show!

Lure of the Local 5 is on the horizon! Save the date for this year's exhibition and get an early look at the theme: "Love Letters". Whether it inspires a brand-new piece, helps you see existing work in a new light, or simply gets ideas flowing, we invite artists to begin exploring what Love Letters might mean through their own creative lens.

Lure of the Local is an annual, curated art exhibition that highlights the creative practices of artists who live and work among us – our teachers, neighbors, friends, and fellow community members.

Save the date! Join us for the opening reception on Friday, October 16, 2026. The exhibition and residency will once again take place at the Archer Business Center (175 N. Archer, Mundelein).

Applications will open by June 15, 2026, and are free to submit. Artists of all mediums and skill levels are encouraged to apply. Artist Residencies will return for a second year, with details to be announced soon. New this year, we are also seeking proposals for an interactive community artwork that engages visitors of all ages.

We are pleased to announce this year's theme: Love Letters.

From the quiet anticipation of writing a love letter to the joy of receiving one, this simple act captures something deeply human. Few things express longing, connection, and vulnerability quite like it; art offers a powerful way to explore those emotions.

Let this theme be a springboard for your own interpretation of what Love Letters mean to you. Your subject might be a person, a pet, a garden, a season, a favorite meal, or even a fleeting moment. What you love—and how you choose to honor it—is each artist's unique vision.

In this fast-paced age of texting, the idea of a love letter is nostalgic and tactile, present. What makes you pause in awe? What image or thing can truly embody love? Is love a fairy tale or fantasy? What artistic process do you lose yourself in like falling in love?

We look forward to seeing where this theme takes you! For questions, contact [email protected] or (847) 949-3289.

06/08/2026

A walk along a rocky shore can be perilous, but the peaceful solitude makes the trek worthwhile. "Walk This Way," captured last spring at Cave Point, in Door County, Wisc., a favorite spot for grandscapes in the midwest. The image is a companion piece to "The Wooded Path," posted here three days ago. More of my work at www.ejschweit.com Reach out below for purchase information.

06/04/2026

"The Wooded Path," Cave Point, Door County, Wisc. I made this image just over a year ago, but it sat unnoticed and forgotten while I worked on other compositions I made the same day. Meanwhile my photography practice has evolved, so here's how I see this rediscovered image now. I welcome any comments below.

06/03/2026

Twilight approaches in the Arizona desert, softening the distant mountains and painting the sky. The stillness of the moment is almost deafening.
More of my work at www.ejschweit.com

06/02/2026

My new blog is out with a story about a ride to the top of Mount Lemmon in Tucson, Az. and how it changed my outlook about my work...for a while. Read it at https://ernestjschweit.substack.com My blog is a reader supported publication; I'd love it if you signed up for a free subscription or became a paid subscriber at a new, reduced rate. Click the "subscribe" button for details. Subscribers get free email notices about new blogs, other writings and a look at new images. Thanks so much!

06/01/2026

"Distant Fire"
The road leads to a dramatic sunset in Tucson's Mountain Park, along the John McLain Loop Trail. What a perfect ending to a day of chasing the light at this 20,000 acre park west of Tucson.
More of my work at www.ejschweit.com
Read my blog at https://ernestjschweit.substack.com

05/29/2026

"Baja Fairy Duster," captured at the Tucson Desert Museum.
For more on this image, go to my substack at https://ernestjschweit.substack.com and click on the Notes button at the top of the page.