Some jobs are just too bizarre to pass up. When I got the call to film the removal of a massive floating island—affectionately nicknamed “the giant turd”—from Thompson Lake in Howell Michigan, I knew this was going to be a shoot unlike anything I’d done before. The job was messy, unpredictable, and, let’s just say, not the best-smelling shoot I’ve ever been on. But as always, capturing the action in the best possible way was my mission.
The Setup: A Floating Hazard Before the Holiday
Thompson Lake has three floating islands that typically stay submerged during the summer but tend to rise to the surface in the fall. Usually, they’re not much of a problem. But just days before the Fourth of July—prime boating season—one of these bad boys decided to make an early appearance. That’s when Mitch Dempsey from the Livingston County Drain Commission made the call: they needed experts in odd jobs to remove it. And I was there to document the whole process.
The Challenge: Filming a Moving Mass of Mud
This thing wasn’t small. We’re talking 25 feet wide, 30 feet long, and 5 feet thick—a massive chunk of soil and vegetation that had broken free and was now drifting like a rogue iceberg. The crew planned to use barges to push it to shore, break it apart with an excavator, and haul it away in dump trucks. Sounds simple enough, right? Not exactly.
From a filming perspective, this shoot was a challenge. First, trying to get a stable shot while standing on a moving barge is no easy task. Every wave, every push of the excavator, and every shift in weight made my footing unpredictable. I had to stay light on my feet while keeping my camera steady—no easy feat when you’re dodging mud splashes and trying not to drop gear in the lake. Flying the drone from the barge, was also a challenge.
Then there was the size of the thing. Capturing the sheer scale of this floating island was tricky. Wide shots made it look smaller than it really was, but getting too close meant dealing with flying debris and, let’s be honest, the overpowering stench of rotting organic material. The smell was brutal—like a compost pile that had been marinating for years. It was the kind of stink that lingers, sticking to your clothes and camera gear long after you’ve left the scene.
Final Thoughts
This was one of the weirdest shoots I’ve done, but also one of the most fun. The combination of an oddball subject, unpredictable conditions, and a team that knew how to roll with the punches made for a memorable experience. Sure, I had to deal with a moving barge, flying mud, and a smell I’d rather forget, but that’s all part of the job.
At the end of the day, capturing unique stories—whether it’s a high-energy music video, a behind-the-scenes business feature, or, yes, a giant floating turd removal—is what I love to do. And this? This was definitely one for the books.