Bruce Murden is a landscape photographer who specializes in subjects around Michigan. His favorite locations include Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Kensington Metropark, and the flower gardens in his own yard. Bruce’s favorite photo excursion so far was a morning trip through northern Lower Michigan’s Cheboygan and Presque Isle Counties.

“I left Mackinaw City before dawn so I could photograph Ocqueoc Falls and the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse in the golden light of early morning. Along the way, I stopped for a gorgeous pastel pre-dawn sky above the Black River, a mysterious foggy valley of pine trees as the sun was peeking over the horizon, and a wonderful field of sunflowers east of Onaway. It was a great day for shooting, and I found so many more subjects in addition to the two I set out to photograph. It truly showed how it’s the journey, not the destination, that is so important.”

Bruce’s journey in photography started when he was 11, shooting with a simple Brownie Hawkeye box camera. With his father’s help, he learned to develop and print black and white images at home. As his interest grew, Bruce moved to 35mm, primarily shooting color film of landscapes and zoo animals in his hometown of St. Louis, MO.

Photography played a smaller role when Bruce began his career as an automotive sealing products engineer in 1986, and as his other passion of water polo expanded. He has officiated collegiate and age group events across the country for the past 10 years.

Bruce credits his wife for his return to photography. In the spring of 2004, she suggested he “get a new hobby,” and that was all the nudging he needed to get back to photography. Since then, he has been improving his craft while he explores the endless beauty and variety to be found throughout Michigan, his home since 1988.

Bruce Murden lives in South Lyon, with his wife, two Great Pyrenees dogs, three cats, and only three cameras at the moment.