Category: Blog

Diane Nash

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day I was helping out at the MLK event in Lansing Michigan for an audio company. One of the task was to find and mic up “lady in the wheel chair”. Hold on, I am not trying to be disrespectful. When I am working, most of the time I don’t necessarily know “who’s who”. More importantly, do the job and do it well, everyone is treated as equally important. So I did. When “lady in the wheelchair” got on stage, they played an intro video on the screen with the following photograph –

Diane Nash (Center foreground) American civil rights activist Diane Nash, 1960s. Barack Obama Presidential Library/U.S. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Diane Nash (Center foreground) American civil rights activist Diane Nash, 1960s. Barack Obama Presidential Library/U.S. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

I remember seeing that photo before. I thought: “Wait a minute! This is Diane Nash, the Freedom Rider. That’s awesome.”

American civil rights activist Diane Nash, 2026

Diane Nash is a formidable strategist and leader who served as a primary architect of the nonviolent civil rights movement. As a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), she famously led the Nashville sit-ins. She took over the coordination of the 1961 Freedom Rides when they were nearly halted by white supremacist violence.

She insisted that “the movement must not be stopped by hit-and-run tactics.” Her fearless confrontational style was evident, including a public face-off with Nashville’s mayor. Her pivotal role in the Selma Voting Rights Movement further cemented her legacy. She remains one of the most effective and courageous organizers in American history.

by dehk

Behind the Scenes of Muskegon’s City Commission Intro Video

City Of Muskegon Commission Intro Video 2021-2025. Music Credit: Get Away by Keith Thomas.

Since the City Commission’s intro video has been updated per client request, let’s go behind the scenes to revisit the original; while these intros are usually fast and “flashy,” slowing this one down allows us to appreciate the subtle details you might have missed before.

Muskegon Main Light Sunset Looking At Wisconsin
In this 2018 sunset shot of the Muskegon lighthouse, the horizon is clear enough to spot the tiny, glittering lights of Milwaukee nearly 80 miles across the open water; this iconic red beacon has guided countless vessels safely into Muskegon Lake since its construction in 1903.
McGraft Park Summer Concert
Every summer, the McGraft Park Bandshell comes alive with the sounds of the free Summer Concert Series, where neighbors gather on the lawn with lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy live music under the evening sky.
Heritage Landing Victory 1
The May 2019 arrival of the Victory I was celebrated as a major return because it brought a new line back to the city after that brief 2018 cancellation period and signaled the start of a record-breaking season.
Muskegon Labor Day Parade Montage
This montage of the 2024 Muskegon Labor Day Parade is packed with hidden “Easter eggs” for viewers to discover. While the current annual tradition was revitalized in the mid-90s, Muskegon County’s rich history of Labor Day celebrations actually traces all the way back to the turn of the century.
Frauenthal Center
If you look at the marquee, “Happy Birthday America”. Originally opened in 1930 as the Michigan Theater, a Spanish Renaissance movie palace, the Frauenthal Center was saved from demolition in 1976 and restored into a premier historic performing arts venue.
Frauenthal Center Panorama Interior

If you look at the oculus inside the Frauenthal Theater, you’ll see the Miss America Crown gobo — the fact that Muskegon has proudly hosted the Miss Michigan Scholarship Program for decades, and I was there for the live stream.
Sunset Pere Marquette
The scenic turns near the entrance to Pere Marquette from Bluffton, suggesting that “Paradise is right around the corner”.
Muskegon Lake Sunset
Muskegon Lake boasts a rich history intertwined with sailboats, from its early days as a bustling lumber port navigated by schooners to its present as a vibrant hub for recreational sailing, racing, and yacht clubs. Taken during shooting a promo on the local tour ferry on the Muskegon Lake.
Pere Marquette Beach glows at it’s finest hours, though the glow of the sodium vapor lamps (which now been replaced by modern LED street lighting); this sprawling 2.5-mile stretch of shoreline is nationally recognized for its clean, sugary sands and its status as a certified Blue Flag beach.
The USS Silversides (SS-236) is a legendary World War II Gato-class submarine museum permanently docked in Muskegon, recognized as one of the most decorated surviving vessels in the U.S. Navy’s history. The anamorphic lens flare worked well with the Full Dress (the string of light from bow to stern).
Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights Over Muskegon South Pier Head Light
Returning at last to the Muskegon South Pierhead Light, the camera pans up to reveal the magical brilliance of the 2024 Aurora Borealis, Northern Light.

by dehk

The Plenum

© 2025 DerekWongMI.com "The Plenum"

Sometimes I get to go to some pretty cool places, and a lot of times its to places with a sign outside that says “No Admittance”. In this case it’s the plenum under the historical Frauenthal Center. In architecture, a plenum is a space within a building, often located between the structural ceiling and a dropped ceiling, or under a raised floor, that facilitates air circulation for HVAC systems. Specifically, in this case, the giant cold air return space under the seats. Touching the original floor from 1929, laying on the floor before there’s a floor.

by dehk

Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights – Muskegon

October 11th 2024, Muskegon, Michigan. Several months ago I didn’t see anything when there was supposed to be northern lights, but I was able to capture some images this time around. It wasn’t quite visible with our own eyes at this location, perhaps its the light pollution, but now I know what to look for – “a faint colored haze”. But with the help of long exposure of a camera I can help it to achieve its full potential.

by dehk