December 2016

December 16, 2016

Blogging has been a very therapeutic monthly chore for me. I am notorious for posting my blog a month, or two, behind schedule but I still get it done. It is easy for me to feel down about my work when I shoot daily assignments that don’t have the on paper pizazz that some assignments have. But, when I compile my folder of my favorite images from a month I then have to cull them down to 20 images. While doing this I find that there are hidden gems in my take that I would have overlooked and never appreciated. I am always learning and growing but man is it hard to keep pushing through and making meaningful images at every assignment.

On that note, December was a slow month at the hub but here are some of my personal favorites. I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year! Here is to making 2017 a better year than my fantastic 2016.

A snow storm hits Muskegon County on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016 in Norton Shores, Mich. with 1-3 inches of snow expected by morning. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Mona Shores Choir Association performs during the 32nd annual ‘Singing Christmas Tree’ on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon, Mich. The tree stands 67 feet tall and is considered the largest singing Christmas tree in America, it contains 240 of 275 choir members. (Shannon Millard |MLive.com)

The audience listens to the Mona Shores Choir Association perform ‘Let It Go’ during the ‘Singing Christmas Tree’ on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon, Mich. The tree stands 67 feet tall and is considered the largest singing Christmas tree in America, it contains 240 of 275 choir members. (Shannon Millard |MLive.com)

Indoor S’mores at Table 14, a creative cuisine and classic cocktail restaurant on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 on West Ludington Avenue in Ludington, Mich. The dessert features a homemade brownie with graham cracker, whipped cream, melted chocolate and marshmallow topped with a creme de pirouline cookie. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Susan Follett breaks down in tears and indicates to Jeffrey Thomas Willis she did not like him looking at her during the preliminary hearing in the Jessica Heeringa case at the Muskegon County Courthouse on Dec. 6, 2016 in Muskegon, Mich. Willis is charged with the alleged murder and kidnapping in the 2013 homicide of Jessica Heeringa, the alleged murder of Rebekah Bletsch in 2014 and the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl in the April of 2016. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Jeffrey Thomas Willis during the preliminary hearing in the Jessica Heeringa case at the Muskegon County Courthouse on Dec. 6, 2016 in Muskegon, Mich. Willis is charged with the alleged murder and kidnapping in the 2013 homicide of Jessica Heeringa, the alleged murder of Rebekah Bletsch in 2014 and the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl in the April of 2016. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Ludington’s Trevor Whipple (55) blocks Reeths-Puffer’s Jalen Williams (10) shot during the game on Tuesday night, Dec. 13, 2016 at Reeths-Puffer High School in Muskegon, Mich. The Ludington Orioles defeated the Reeths-Puffer Rockets 73-47. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

The Grand Haven band performs during the game against Mona Shores on Friday night, Dec. 9, 2016 at Grand Haven High School in Grand Haven, Mich. Grand Haven defeated Mona Shores 69-56. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Mona Shores Ke’Vonte’a Pegues (2) battles for the ball during the game against Grand Haven on Friday night, Dec. 9, 2016 at Grand Haven High School in Grand Haven, Mich. Grand Haven defeated Mona Shores 69-56. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Big waves roll in on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016 at the Muskegon State Park in North Muskegon, Mich. Waves were reported to reach 8 feet at the shoreline in the morning. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Calumet ship breaks through the ice in Muskegon Lake on Dec. 23, 2016 in Muskegon, Mich. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

The sun breaks through the clouds at waves roll in on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016 at Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon, Mich. Waves were reported to reach 8 feet at the shoreline in the morning. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Firefighters from five departments fight to put out an apartment fire at Parkview Manor on the 700th Block of East Main Street on Thursday morning, Dec. 15, 2016 in Hart, Mich. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

A firefighter sprays hot spots from the ladder of a fire engine while fighting to put out an apartment fire at Parkview Manor on the 700th Block of East Main Street on Thursday morning, Dec. 15, 2016 in Hart, Mich. Six people were injured and 81 residents displaced as a result of the fire that started just after midnight. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Lumberjack’s Keeghan Howdeshell (11) pushes stuffed animals into a pile during the Teddy Bear Toss at the Muskegon Lumberjacks game against the Chicago Steel on Saturday night, Dec. 17, 2016 at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Mich. The teddy bears are being donated to the Muskegon Rescue Mission for Christmas. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Jason Jackson, of Muskegon points to the glass for his son, Jayce, 3 to throw his bear over during the Teddy Bear Toss at the Muskegon Lumberjacks game against the Chicago Steel on Saturday night, Dec. 17, 2016 at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Mich. The teddy bears are being donated to the Muskegon Rescue Mission for Christmas. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Tajae Gay, 7, hugs Santa at the 6th annual Clifton Johnson Children’s Christmas Party on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 in City Hall Council Chambers in Muskegon Heights, Mich. Santa met with children that received candy, gifts, and snacks at the Clifton Johnson Memorial Christmas Party, which is named for former Muskegon Heights Police Chief Clifton D. Johnson Sr., who passed away unexpectedly at age 47 in 2009. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Santa Claus greets children before the lighting of the community Christmas tree in Central Park after the 25th annual Jingle Bell Parade on Saturday evening, Dec. 3, 2016 in downtown Grand Haven, Mich. (Shannon Millard |MLive.com)

Guests eat at Mr Kozak’s Gyros before the Second Annual New Year’s Eve Community Ball Drop celebration on Dec. 31, 2016 in Grand Haven, Mich. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Fireworks explode over Dewey Hill after the second annual New Year’s Eve Community Ball Drop celebration on Dec. 31, 2016 in Grand Haven, Mich. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)

Shannon Millard Photojournalist