DoorCo Photo

07/17/2026

07/13/2026

Dark skies summer cookouts

07/09/2026

Photo 201 is here.

Photo 101 teaches you how your camera works. Photo 201 is about making it disappear.

The goal isn’t to memorize more settings. It’s to get to the point where you can walk into a scene, recognize the light, know what lens to grab, and already have a plan before you even raise the camera.

We’ll spend six weeks working on real-world photography:
📸 Manual mode confidence
🌅 Sunrise, sunset, and low-light shooting
🦅 Wildlife techniques
🎯 Choosing the right focal length
🎨 Filters and creative tools
💻 Lightroom Classic workflow
…and plenty of hands-on shooting.

If you’ve taken Photo 101 and are ready to stop thinking about your camera and start thinking about your photographs, this class is for you. Haven’t taken 101? Shoot me a message and let’s see if 201 is right for you.

📍DoorCo Photo – Sturgeon Bay
📅 Tuesdays beginning August 4
💲$125

Questions? Send me a message or email [email protected]

Thanks Casey Wied for the video work. And for taking Photo 101 last year.

07/07/2026

Some days you leave the dock with a plan.

Other days the bay has one for you.

Green Bay was so calm it looked more like glass than water, so we decided to make a quick run over to Chambers Island. We eased the little runabout onto the rocks just offshore and walked up to the Chambers Island Lighthouse.

The surprise of the evening wasn’t the lighthouse. It was meeting Leon and Sharon Zellner, the volunteer caretakers. We spent some time talking with them about the island, the lighthouse, and what it’s like helping preserve such a unique piece of Door County history.

Those unexpected conversations are often what I remember most. A calm bay, a spontaneous stop, and good people willing to share their little piece of the world.
Here are a few photos from an evening that almost didn’t happen.

📍 Chambers Island Lighthouse

GreatLakes Boating BringDoorCountyHome

06/24/2026

Three ways to photograph the same moment.

1, 2, or 3?

I’m curious which image speaks to you most and why.

Same harbor. Same sunset. Three completely different photographs.

06/18/2026

Yesterday I posted about the upcoming Photo 101 class and shared a handful of photos taken with my old trusty Nikon D7200 and D750.

Looking back through those images, I realized just how many long exposure photos I used to take. Back then, if there was any question about the light, there was a good chance I had a tripod with me. Throw on an ND filter, slow things down, and see what happened.

These days, cameras like the Z8 make it easy to leave the tripod behind. I can handhold shots that would’ve been impossible for me years ago. The downside is that I’ve gotten a little spoiled.

Yesterday morning, just off Cave Point, the fog settled in perfectly. I decided to dust off the tripod, slow things down, and see what I could create. Every photo here was a 5–10 second exposure with the Nikon Z8 and 14–24mm.

It was a good reminder that just because I don’t need a tripod anymore doesn’t mean I shouldn’t bring one. Sometimes the best tool isn’t the one that solves a problem—it’s the one that helps you create something completely different.

Photo 101 spots are still available.

Call or text: 920-860-7340
Email: mailto:[email protected]

Already too legit for Photo 101?

Photo 201 is coming soon.

06/17/2026

Think you need a $2,000 camera to take photos like these?
You don’t.
Every photo in this post was taken with a DSLR released in 2012.
Photography isn’t about having the newest gear. It’s about understanding light, composition, shutter speed, focus, and how to use the camera you already own.
PHOTO 101 is a hands-on, six-week photography class designed for beginners and anyone looking to get off Auto mode and gain confidence with their camera.
We’ll spend time both in the classroom and outside shooting together. No lectures full of technical jargon. Just practical photography you can immediately put to use.
📍 DoorCo Photo Gallery
26 S. 3rd Ave, Sturgeon Bay
📅 Wednesdays, June 24 – July 29
⏰ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
💲 $125 for the full six-week course
Requirements:
• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
• Tripod
Class size is limited.
[email protected]
📱 920-860-7340
Your skills are confined far more by your knowledge than your gear.
These can be your photos too.
WisconsinPhotography DoorCoPhoto LearnPhotography Photography101 DoorCountyWisconsin ExploreDoorCounty

06/16/2026

Not very often does a sailing vessel in Sturgeon Bay need to ignore a pier light.

A few sailors participating with Sail Training Foundation making their way through the harbor this afternoon.

For close to a year now I have been lacking a modern backup camera. These are my first shots with the Nikon Z6III. After being a vigilant Z8 user over the last two years, it’s fun to have what feels like a slightly less serious little brother.

I’ll be out the next few days in the field putting it through its paces.