I'm always inspired whenever I look at Instagram, but some photographers seem to have that extra SOMETHING that makes their photos stand out from the 737 photos that are uploaded every second (!!). One such photographer is our Photographer of the Month, Greg Viau, a Michigan photographer that truly shares the beauty in this world, photo by photo.

Lake Harbor Park Shoreline

Greg was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, graduating from Escanaba High School and Michigan Technological University (with a degree in Scientific and Technical Communication). Through the years, he has been employed as a technical writer and editor, a quality and safety manager, and an adjunct professor of writing. His love of photography has spanned a lifetime. Though he's not a pro (yet), he enjoys sharing his landscape photography through Instagram (@gregviau) and his pixels.com page (pixels.com/profiles/greg-viau.html). Greg is always willing to connect on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/gregviau) as well. He hasn't been everywhere yet, but it's on his bucket list. Greg and his wife, Roberta, reside in Norton Shores, Michigan.

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Take a look at Greg's photos - he is a master of light, as well as perspective. Seeing his photos makes me happy - and want to follow in his footsteps.

Grand Haven in the Fog

How did you get interested in photography?
I got interested in photography as a teenager in the 1980s. My Dad gave me his old Yashika 35mm camera and a handful of rolls of black and white film. I have been hooked every since!

Jordan Pond, Maine

How long have you been a photographer?
When I do the math, I have been a photographer for over 30 years. Even though I signed up at pixels.com and have my own page now, I do not consider myself as a pro. Photography has just been a hobby and an integral part of my life. It's a great way to relieve stress, and I just feel a need to document everything!

Grand Ravines South

What is your favorite place or thing to photograph?
Without a doubt, landscape photography is my favorite subject matter. Whether it's mountains, waterfalls, lakes, or forest areas, I want to capture every intriguing thing I see! I do a lot of hiking. Most of my pictures originate during a hike. Photography pushes me to see new places.

Sheep Lakes, Colorado

How can photographers be a part of change in the world?
Photographers, especially landscape photographers, capture the beauty of our world. In this digital age, I'm very hopeful that photographers sharing their work across can make a positive impact on humanity protecting our natural environment and being at peace with one another.

Bear Lake in the Spring (Colorado)

Do you have any trips planned for the future, and if so what are you looking forward to?
In addition to traveling the national park circuit, we plan on traveling to Europe at some point in the future. I have five exchange student sisters in Germany and we have one exchange student daughter in Switzerland. As I follow my former Grand Valley State University writing students as they start their careers all over the world, there seems to be never-ending choices of intriguing places to visit and to photograph!

Moraine Park, Colorado

Any photography tips you want to share?
I have only one photography tip to share. Don't freak out about the technology. You do not have to have the most expensive DSLR camera to take high quality photographs. It's more important to enjoy the process. Use whatever you have. Even today's camera phones produce higher quality images than cameras from not too long ago. Here are four taken with my iPhone:

Hoffmaster State Park, evening

Cut River Bridge

Lake of the Clouds

Kruse Park on Lake Michigan

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
I have set up my own page at pixels.com if you would like to see more of my photos. Of course, everything is for sale on pixels.com, but I love the site just for viewing photos. One can get an overflowing amount of inspiration just by clicking around the site. My page is still under development and will not be fully up-to-date for another month. I have an enormous library of photos to still upload!

Finally, I'm somewhat addicted to Instagram. There are so many wonderful photographers to discover. I'm inspired every day!

Garden of the Gods 1 & 2, Colorado Springs (above and below)

All photos courtesy and copyright Greg Viau