Contributors: May 2011

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Roy Ritchie

For this issue, Ritchie, a frequent Hour Detroit contributor, visited a creative-writing tutoring session in Ann Arbor. “I love photographing kids; they always have crazy things to say,” Ritchie says. “It brought back memories of when I was a kid, writing ridiculously silly stories that rivaled the true stories of modern-day politics.” When not on location for freelance assignments, Ritchie is at home with his latest edition, baby Piers, documenting him “learning to be abused by his big sister,” he says. Ritchie’s work has appeared in Bloomberg, Businessweek, ESPN, Time, and Fortune.

 

 

David Lewinski

Watching “the kids being surprised by my light setup” was the best part of photographing children learning to handle a squash racquet, says Lewinski, a frequent contributor. “They didn’t expect it,” he says. Lewinski, who’s not a regular squash player, says he also enjoyed getting some playing tips from Racquet Up founder Derek Aguirre. When not shooting for Hour Detroit, Lewinski freelances for a variety of clients, including photographing Kresge Artist Fellows for the University Cultural Center Association, The Smithsonian, the Michigan Municipal League, and the University Musical Society.

 

 

Jim McFarlin

After nearly 40 years covering celebrities great and small, it takes a lot to get McFarlin excited over an interview. But a chance to spend 45 minutes with a living legend like Bill Cosby was a highlight-reel moment. “I was a kid when his comedy albums came out, and I developed my sense of humor by memorizing his routines,” McFarlin says. “I’ve met him on several occasions, but this was the most time I’ve ever spent with him. We were scheduled for 15 minutes, but he cares so deeply about the struggles of black America and Detroit that he just kept rolling.” Longtime Detroit entertainment critic McFarlin rolls into our pages frequently from his current base outside Chicago.

 

 

Taryn Bickley

An assignment to style a photo shoot for a morel recipe a few years ago first piqued Bickley’s interest in the elusive wild fungi. “I never imagined there would be such a colorful local culture associated with these obscure mushrooms right here in Michigan,” she says. Morels, which are generally in season April through June, are the jewel of Boyne City, Mich., where the internationally recognized Morel Mushroom Festival is held annually. “It’s the place to be if you’re a dedicated foodie or mushroom hunter,” Bickley says. Bickley, a Chicago- and Detroit-based stylist and writer, has done freelance work for Luxe, Elle Décor, and Chicago magazines. She writes the blog “Sage & Style.”