THE HIGHLANDS

Think about the closest natural area to where you live. Is it near or far? Is it close enough to walk to? Natural areas are some of the best places to disconnect from technology, be active, and connect with others. Nature is all around us, but there are only certain places where it is not mixed with the built environment.

​

Blandford Nature Center and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan purchased the former Highlands Golf Club in 2017. For over 100 years, the land was carefully maintained as a golf course. During the past three years, nature has gradually taken over. People are now able to interact with the space in new ways as a recreational area. With the help of restoration efforts, a thriving ecosystem is emerging. This series of photographs is a visual study of the landscape in the midst of that transformation. The Highlands is represented through six essential categories: earth, water, land, structure, texture, and sky. The presence and absence of humans in the environment is explored through each of those perspectives.