Josh Merrill Photography

Art Fair on the Square - This weekend - Lake Forest, IL

It looks like the weather is going to be perfect for this perennial favorite.

This will be my only show in Northern Chicagoland this year. I'll have a big double-booth set up in my usual space (77-78) at the main intersection of the show.

I've got a lot of new work to share with my north shore collectors. If you're in the area, please feel free to stop by and say hello, and check out the new work!

10am-5pm - Sunday and Monday (No Saturday!)

Foggy Concourse-

I love mornings like this, where the foggy, moody conditions point you towards smaller scenes. This one probably won't translate very well to the small screen format, but viewed large, there are lots of fun little subtle details hidden in the fog.

If you're looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I'll be exhibiting at the Lake Forest Art Fair on the Square. It's a great show, with lots of incredibly creative artists. I'll be in my usual location, with my big double corner booth at the center of the show. This is my only show in north Chicagoland this year. We're open on Sunday and Monday, from 10am-5pm (No Saturday for this show).

Color Bomb-

An incredible sunset lit up the sky above Mount Rainier, and a meadow of Mountain Heather during our recent photo adventure. It was one of those nights when you could see the clouds developing for an hour before sunset, and things looked hopeful for a real show. Definitely the most impressive sunset that I've seen over Mt Rainier. I had to do some pretty heavy desaturation here. If you prefer subtle color, this may not be the image for you.

Hope you enjoy the new work! As always, I would love to hear what you think about it.

This weekend | Come see me at the Morton Arboretum Wine and Art Walk!

This nature-themed art fair takes place around the lovely Meadow Lake. It's the perfect setting for an art fair. Having grown up right here in Lisle, IL, the Arb was one of the first places that I started on my nature photography journey. So, this show and location are extra meaningful for me.

We'll be open from 10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday. I'll have a giant double-booth set up with lots of new work to peruse. I hope that you'll stop by and say hi, checkout the new work, and maybe find a new piece of artwork for your collection.

Superterrestrial Volcano-

The core of the Milky Way erupts from Mt Rainier. It was really fun to introduce several of our workshop participants to the joys of photographing the night skies for the first time. Everyone was pretty tired the next day, but it was definitely worth it. For my image here, I used at star tracker to allow for longer exposure lengths, and lower ISO settings. One 3-minute tracked exposure for the sky, and one 4-minute, untracked exposure for the foreground under just starlight. Hope you enjoy the new work.

I'll be setting up today for this weekend's Morton Arboretum Wine and Art Walk. I hope that you'll come on out and enjoy this wonderful nature-themed art fair. I have a lot of new work to share with you.

From our recent Mt Rainier photo adventure. Rainy mornings like this are perfect for studying smaller scenes. It seemed as if every available surface was covered in the maximum amount of rain drops(Check out the closer crop in the comments below). This image is an 18-exposure focus stack.

This weekend, I'll be exhibiting at the Morton Arboretum Wine and Art Walk. It's one of my favorite events of the year. It's the perfect setting for a nature-themed show, featuring many talented artists. I'll have my big double booth, in the usual spot, with lots of new work on display. I hope to see you there!

This Weekend -

Morning Glory Art Fair, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Looking forward to an excellent show at the Fiserv forum, surrounded with many talented artists. The weather is going to be perfect, so come on out for my final Wisconsin show this year.

We'll be open from 10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

You'll find me in my big double booth, at booth #47-48

This weekend - Geneva Arts Fair

One of the best art fairs in the area. I'm looking forward to exhibiting this weekend in the lovely community of Geneva. It's been a little while since I've had a local show, and I'm really looking forward to connecting with local friends and collectors.

I'll be in booth 19, on Third St, right across from the Courthouse.

We'll be open from 10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

If you're in the area, I would love if you stop by to check out the newest work, and say hello.

Come see me at the 54th Annual Midsummer Festival of the Arts this weekend!

I’ll be one of 100 juried artists selling my artwork on the grounds of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, 608 New York Ave., in downtown Sheboygan. It’s a full weekend of art, music, food, and fun for all ages. Free admission! While you’re there, check out the free live concerts on the City Green, explore the contemporary art exhibitions inside the Arts Center, watch artist demonstrations, contribute to a community art project, or make items to take home with you. Hope to see you there!

I'll have a big double booth set up. Booth #1.

Nonesuch-

An exposed slab of fascinating Nonesuch Shale jutting out of Lake Superior, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This unique type of rock formation can be found in the Porcupine Mountains.

I'll be in Sheboygan, Wisconsin this weekend. If you're in the area, feel free to stop by and say hi. I'm booth #1 at the Midsummer Festival of the Arts.

Otherworld-

Incredible night skies above some extraterrestrial-looking formations of the sandstone jungle along the Utah/Arizona border. This place is such fun to explore. I finally dragged the tracking mount out on this night photo trip, which allowed me to get much longer exposures of the sky, at much lower ISO settings. For those of you not acquainted with the technical aspects of night photography, this just means that I am able to get cleaner results, with much more color and detail in the sky. You may not be able to see it in the social-media sized image file here, but it is a remarkable improvement. Hope you enjoy the new image!

You're invited...this weekend I'll be exhibiting at the Midsummer Festival of the Arts in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I would love it if you stop by if you're in the area. I'll be in Booth #1, with lots of new work on display.

Join us this weekend in Madison, Wisconsin for the Art Fair on the Square.

One of the Midwest’s most popular and highly regarded outdoor celebrations of the arts will return to the Capitol Square on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, 2024, as MMoCA presents the 66th annual Art Fair on the Square.

With its mix of music, entertainment, and outdoor dining, as well as over 500 artists exhibiting paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, jewelry, handmade clothing and accessories, and fine craft, the fair draws nearly 200,000 visitors to Madison’s Capitol Square.

2024 ART FAIR SCHEDULE

Saturday, July 13, 2024 (9 AM–6 PM)
Sunday, July 14, 2024 (10 AM–5 PM)

I'll be in booth 718-720.

Flame Filigree-

A really fun pattern created in the sand on a Norwegian beach, where black and white sand mix. We faced some really challenging conditions on this trip. The snow, ice, and northern lights were lacking, and we experienced high winds and rain in their place. The crew had to practice some serious flexibility.

Hope you enjoy the new image. As always, I would love to hear what you think of the new work.

See you in Madison this weekend!

Galaxy Rising-

Much like "the watched pot never boils"... the watched Milky Way never seems to rise. I ultimately would have liked it to rise another 6-8 degrees or so for this image, but I had several other shots lined up, and needed to move along to keep my shot schedule going. Technical details: (30) 8-second exposures stacked with (30) dark frames for the sky. One 30-second twilight exposure for the foreground.

As always, I would love to hear what you think of the new work.

This weekend...the Madison Art Fair on the Square. I can't wait to exhibit my newest work for the collectors at this amazing show. If you're in the area, I hope that you'll stop by and check it out. I'll be in booth 718-720.

Spirit Moves-

This lake in the Canadian Rockies has given me just about every type of conditions imaginable. Epic sunrises, misty mornings, Winter snow, smoky obfuscation, dancing aurora, wading moose, and underwater treasures. I can't help but return here on every trip to see what it's going to offer.

This weekend, I'll be exhibiting my work at Madison, Wisconsin's Art Fair on the Square. This is a big one! I'll be booth 718-720. I have lots of new work show. If you're in the area I would love if you would stop by and check it out!

This weekend - Leeper Park Art Fair in South Bend, Indiana

Come out and check my only showing in Indiana this year. If you're used to seeing me at the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in St Joe, Michigan...you won't see me there this year. This will be my closest show in the area. I'm excited to exhibit a lot of new work!

10am-6pm on Saturday
10am-5pm on Sunday.

Admission is free. Hope to see you there!

Glacial Sweep-

I was really drawn to the sweeping s-curve of the white cap on this brilliantly-blue iceberg. I'm not sure what exactly caused this. It was the first time that I had seen something quite like this, and I found it to be interesting. You never know what you'll find in Iceland!

This weekend I'll be set up at the Leeper Park Art Fair in South Bend, Indiana. It will be my only showing in Indiana this year. If you're used to seeing me at the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in St Joe, Michigan...you won't see me there this year. This will be my closest show in the area. We'll be open from 10am-6pm on Saturday, and 10am-5pm on Sunday. Admission is free. Hope to see you there!

Rebound-

After a long closure following destructive forest fires, this area of the Columbia River Gorge reopened in the Winter of 2020/2021. I was able to visit shortly after the opening. Along the trail, there are plentiful signs of the damage that was done. Large swaths of forest wiped out. Despite all of the destruction, incredible beauty remains. It feels like I'm probably due for a return trip to splash around in these rivers and waterfalls.

Hope you enjoy the new image!

Fireflies (Vertical) -

I recently had a collector looking to fill a specific space with a vertical piece of artwork. They really liked the original version of Fireflies, which happens to be horizontal, and asked if there was a vertical version available. Thankfully, I had worked the scene quite thoroughly, and was able to deliver on the request after going back into the archives. That just goes to show, that it's always worth asking, and...it's good to be thorough with exploring a scene to give yourself options down the road.

I am really looking forward to the Old Town Art Fair this weekend in Chicago. This is one of those shows that gets the best artists from around the country. So, it is full of amazing talent. We'll be open from 10am-7pm on Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sunday. You're invited!

Into the Belly-

I can't get enough of these glacial ice caves. Such special places. I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to explore landscapes like this. I feel like I'm being let in on a rare secret. This one took a couple of hours driving in a decked out Super-Jeep, across deep snow and braided rivers to access. Taken during our recent Iceland Winter Photo Adventure.

This weekend, I'll be exhibiting at the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago. It's one of the most prestigious shows in the country, and I always feel honored to participate. You'll find me in booth 235, on the corner of Wisconsin and N Orleans St. The show takes place Saturday (10am-7pm), and Sunday 10am-6pm. I'm looking forward to sharing my newest work with my Chicago people!

Workshop Announcement---

We’re really excited to announce a brand new photo workshop on the Hawaiian island of Kauai for March/April of 2025.

This workshop will take on a decidedly more tropical island feel than anything we've done previously. Join us on an exploration of Hawaii’s wild and scenic island. Beach vibes meet tropical rainforest and mountains of Jurassic cliffs. Opportunities for adventure and exploration(and some relaxation) abound on the Garden Island.

Kauai is an island that boasts dramatic scenery that beckons to be explored from land, air and sea, and there will be opportunities to do just that on this photo adventure. From the unbelievable fluted cliffs of the Nāpali Coast to the red and green of Waimea Canyon(The Grand Canyon of the Pacific) we’ll experience dramatic scenes on a large scale. We’ll have a chance to take in the relaxing beach vibes on several unique and picturesque beaches around the island, and there will be optional chances to snorkel with Sea Turtles and other marine life in the protected reefs of this Hawaiian paradise.

After making the announcement to the email list, we only have a couple of spots left between the two sections. How would you like to join us?

This Weekend-

You'll find me at the Hinsdale Arts Festival. Located at Burlington Park in Hinsdale, IL. This will be my last show in the Chicago suburbs until August. If you're in the area, I hope that you'll stop by and check out the newest work.

Saturday and Sunday - 10am-5pm.

Sandstorm #1 -

From a wild evening in Death Valley National Park last month. During a night-photography focused trip we were rolling into the park after two nights of staying up to photograph the stars, and then 7 hrs of driving in high winds from our previous location. I was exhausted, and ready to try for a couple hours of sleep before heading out for another night of photography. The clouds and light were looking like there was a chance for something special, and there was a sandstorm in the dunes. We were faced with a decision. We ultimately chose to gear up, and race into the dunes in time to catch whatever was about to happen. It was pretty wild. In a matter of about 30 minutes, we experienced so many different kinds of light. I'll have several more images to share from this night.

This weekend, I'll be exhibiting at the Hinsdale Fine Arts Show, in Hinsdale, Illinois. Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. If you're in the area I hope that you'll stop by and check out the new work!

Agape-

The world within these glacial ice caves is truly remarkable, and a very special thing to experience. However, the landscapes surrounding these caves are not without their own level of intrigue and interest. This image was a bit of an afterthought when I made it, but I'm actually liking it quite a bit.

What do you think? Any creative title suggestions?

It's time...

This weekend is the St Charles Fine Art Show in downtown St Charles, IL. Come see myself, and many other incredibly talented artists. We're all eager to show you our newest work, and who knows, maybe you'll find a new piece of artwork to add to your collection.

The art show takes place on Riverside Avenue, between Main St and Illinois Avenue.

We'll be open from 10am-6pm on Saturday, and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

You'll find me in booth # 220-222, with a big, double-booth full of lots of new work. I hope to see you there!

Windswept-

Glowy arctic light highlights the windswept flanks of these snow-packed Norwegian mountains. Sometimes it's fun to pull out the long lens to feature some of the details of the greater landscape.

The St Charles Fine Art show is this weekend, and you're invited! This will be my first Illinois show of the year, and I can't wait to share my newest work with my local collectors. If you're in the area, I hope that you'll stop by and check it out.

Edge of Darkness-

In the bottom of a narrow, dark canyon. The light finds a way to catch the top of one lone tree. Pretty amazing how life finds a way in some of the places.

This weekend is the St Charles Fine Art show. It will be my first local Chicago-area show of the year. I'm really excited to show my newest work and see my local collectors. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by!

This Weekend - I'll be exhibiting at the East Lansing Art Festival, in Downtown East Lansing.

The festival will take place: Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

You'll find me in booth 151-152, with a big double booth full of lots of new work.

This is my only show in Michigan this season. I hope to see you there!

Eye of the Needle-

A brief break in the clouds leads to an eruption of color in this Finnish Lapland Winter wonderland. I can't wait to get back to this magical place.

This weekend, I'll be exhibiting at the East Lansing Art Festival, in downtown East Lansing, Michigan. It's slated to be my only show in Michigan this season. We'll be open 10am-6pm on Saturday, and 10am-5pm on Sunday. If you're nearby, you're invited to stop by and see my newest work, along with the work of many other talented artists.