Visiting Artist

Many creative souls live on or frequent the island. This was evident at the July '05 Art Show to benefit the Beaver Island Historical Society to which we were asked to participate. It was at this show that we were fortunate to meet Frank Solle, a fellow photographer and remarkable friend.

Frank Solle is proprietor of the up-and-growing StillPoint Photography on Beaver Island. Almost a true Islander, Frank first moved to BI with his family in 1968 and is a proud 1971 graduate of BI Community School. 

Frank and his wife, Sue, who spent the summers of her youth on the Island while her father ran the CMU Biological Station, returned full-time in the fall of 2003 following a 26-year absence that found them spending three years in Marquette in the Upper Peninsula, 14 years in western Montana, two in downtown Salt Lake, and seven back in the western U.P. During that time they did what now seems like a successful job of raising their son, Scott.

From his first childhood camera, a classic Kodak Brownie, through a range of range finders and a series of SLRs, Frank has had a lifelong interest in photography, including nearly 10 years as a sports photographer for various newspapers in Montana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Already an avid nature photographer (living in Montana and Utah can do that), he was spurred on following a weekend waterfall shooting workshop in the U.P. In 2002 Frank made the switch from film to ones and zeroes and has thoroughly enjoyed learning about digital technology every day since.

Upon his return, Frank has embraced recording scenes of the Island. His photographs, note cards, bookmarks, and a recent black-and-white collection published in chapbook form—Between Ice and Cold—are available at a number of Island locations. This summer also has seen an increased call for family reunion and high school senior photos. During the school year Frank takes on the challenge of being advisor for the yearbook, changing it from a biannual creation to a yearly activity, completely produced by the students and published locally.

When not working with a camera—which includes plenty of exploring on foot, on bike, in canoe, or on snowshoes—Frank can be found at home (Fort Solletude), struggling to write a decent poem, clearing or improving trails through the woods, cutting firewood for the long white, or hunkered down with a good book and a fresh cuppa coffee.

Click here to view some of Frank's work.