Time to Roar: Detroit Lions return to the playoffs

Posted on by farlane

Sorry. This was supposed to post this morning but somehow didn’t. Can we count this as the Lions’ big disappointment and win tonight??

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Matthew Stafford, photo by Brook Ward

The Detroit Lions take the field at 8:15 PM tonight vs the Seattle Seahawks, who are 8 point favorites. This is the Lions’ first playoff appearance since January of 2015 when they were totally jobbed by the officiating crew. While I’m tempted to invite speculation on just how they will “Lions” this one, I am enough of a fan to leave it at “Go Lions!”

View Brook’s photo background big, see more in his Sports From My Perspective slideshow, and view & purchase photos on his website.

Underwater Magic

Posted on by farlane

underwater-magic

Underwater Magic, photo by Tyler Roberts

Tyler captured a pretty sweet shot from under the surface of Lake Superior with his GoPro!

View his photo bigger and follow Tyler on Instagram for more!

January 5th with Joel

Posted on by farlane

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Lilies, photo by Joel Dinda

This morning I got a note from one of Michigan in Pictures’s longtime contributors, Joel Dinda letting me know that I had coincidentally featured his photos twice on previous January 5ths. The other two were Rotten Apples: 2014 Detroit Lions Playoff Edition detailing the Lions’ loss to Dallas after the pass interference call that was and then wasn’t and a look at the Ruins of the the Old Cheboygan Point Lighthouse in 2013.

The third time is the charm they say, so here’s one that Joel shared way back in January of 2006 (taken summer of 2005) as part of his “Flower a Day” series. I think he started doing them in January and then realized somewhere along the way that as bad as Michigan winter in January can be, Februarys are worse!!

View Joel’s photo background big, see more in his  in his Flower a Day for February (x9) slideshow, and check out photos from Joel dating back a decade on Michigan in Pictures!

USS Edson at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum

Posted on by farlane

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USS Edson frozen in the Saginaw river, photo by Tom Clark

The USS Edson is located at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City. The say (in part):

The keel for the Forrest Sherman class destroyer USS EDSON (DD-946) was laid at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, on 3 December 1956. EDSON is one of the relatively few ships of the U.S. Navy named for a United States Marine, in this case Major General Merritt Austin Edson.

Edson was launched on 4 January 1958 by General Edson’s widow, Ethel Robbins Edson, who broke the traditional bottle of champagne over the ship’s bow. EDSON’S final fitting out and sea trials occupied the next ten months, and on 7 November 1958, EDSON was commissioned under the command of CDR Thomas J. Moriarty, USN. She then sailed in early 1959 to the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal to reach her original homeport of Long Beach, California, on 2 March 1959.

For the next two decades, EDSON served as a valuable member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, earning a reputation as a Top Gun ship and the nickname, “The Destroyer.” Her ship’s crest included a skull copied from the shoulder patch worn by then Colonel Edson’s First Marine Raider Battalion.

Note that the Museum itself is closed for the winter until March!

View Tom’s photo bigger and see more in his Ships & Boats slideshow.

More ships & boats on Michigan in Pictures!

 

Warren Dunes in black & white

Posted on by farlane

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Warren Dunes, photo by Mark Swanson

Warren Dunes State Park has three miles of shoreline and six miles of hiking trails on nearly 2000 acres. It is open year-round, and the centerpiece is the dune formation that rises 260 feet above the lake and offers spectacular views. It’s also our busiest state park!

View Mark’s photo bigger and see more in his Michigan – Black & White slideshow.

More about Edward K Warren & Warren Dunes on Michigan in Pictures.

Happy 2017, Michigan!

Posted on by farlane

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The Spirit of Detroit, photo by walker_bc

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.
-Rainer Maria Rilke

Happy 2017 to everyone. While there’s certainly a lot of alarming winds swirling, I hope that some of Rilke’s things that have never been make us all better, stronger, and safer.

View Walker’s photo of the Spirit of Detroit background bigtacular and see more in his slideshow.

More about the Spirit of Detroit on Michigan in Pictures.

Michigan in Pictures Top 6 Photos of 2016

Posted on by farlane

Welcome to the 2017 Michigan in Pictures year in review! I’d normally wish you a Happy New Year and fun New Year’s Eve in this space, but my timing was thrown off. Please do still have a safe & fun New Year!

patreon-supportThe major 2016 update was that I added an account on Patreon that allows folks to toss a few bucks my way once or every month if they choose. I’m up to a burger with a couple of beers every month, so thank you supporters – it’s very much appreciated! Also appreciated is all of you sharing my posts here and on the Michigan in Pictures Facebook.

Once again the most visited post was Know Your Michigan Turtles, and I added the Red-eared Slider on May 23rd in celebration of World Turtle Day. If I were a betting man, I would lay long odds on the Common Musk Turtle being added to the list May 23, 2017 as it’s the only one not yet featured.

Instead of a top 5, I added an extra one because a razor-thin margin separated numbers 5 & 6 and #5 was really more of a graphic I made than a photo. I’d also like to point out that other than the graphic, ALL of the photos have a lake in them.

#6

Sometimes the the stars align Frankfort Lighthouse

August 12 – Sometimes the Stars Align by Snap Happy Gal Photography

Flat-out stunning photo of the Frankfort Lighthouse by Heather Higham, a Michigan in Pictures regular. 

#5

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April 1 – “MU” merges University of Michigan & Michigan State University via Absolute Michigan

Historic merger to create the largest university on the planet, known simply as “MU” was announced.

#4

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October 21 – Lake Charlevoix Fall Colors by frank wulfers

Fall color was a little later than normal this year, and Frank got a gorgeous shot of late October color from the Avalanche Mountain Scenic Overlook in Boyne City.

#3

Black Rocks Summer of 16

October 21 – Black Rocks, #1, Summer of ’16 by Lake Superior Photo

Shawn of Lake Superior Photo has been a longtime supporter of Michigan in Pictures and it’s always good when one of her photos makes the list!

#2

Point Betsie Lighthouse- Ice Station Zebra Edition

January 23 – Enchanted Point Betsie by Kristina Lishawa

The winds howl, the snow falls, and the waves crash, yet Betsie stands more beautiful and enchanting than ever. ~Kristina Lishawa

#1

Chapel Rock in Winter

February 20 – Live Anywhere by Jay

FUN FACT: My absolute favorite place in Michigan is right here – Chapel Rock and Chapel Beach in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. While I have visited the Lakeshore in the winter, I haven’t made it to Chapel Rock yet.

As with so many photos I share, I do get the vicarious experience though.

Thank you everyone for your support of Michigan in Pictures in 2016!

 

11th Anniversary of Michigan in Pictures!

Posted on by farlane

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Water Spray, photo by Sandy Hansen Photography

On December 30, 2005 I posted the first photo to Michigan in Pictures. 11 years later, it’s still going so I guess I must be doing something right. Thanks to all you photographers and fans for being a part of Michigan in Pictures!!

I figured Lake Michigan popping its cork would be better than champagne.

View Sandy’s photo bigger and see more in her Northern Michigan slideshow.

The Force was strong in this one

Posted on by farlane

Aleah as Leia by Jon Clay

Aleah as Leia, photo by Jon Clay

“Someone has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, fly boy.”
-Princess Leia Organa

Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia was the first female hero I remember. Her take no crap, get the job done toughness was something rare and new and inspiring. Although female heroes are still more rare than they should be, I’m very thankful for strong women like Carrie Fisher and projects like Star Wars that recognize the value of all people.

Jon took this photo back in 2014 at Fish Ladder Park in Grand Rapids. View his photo bigger, see more in his Cosplay/Costume slideshow, and be sure to follow Jon Clay Photo on Facebook.

Icy Straits

Posted on by farlane

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Icy Straits, photo by Michigan Nut Photography

As I work on the year in review of the year’s top photos on Michigan in Pictures, I thought it would be cool to share regular contributor John McCormick’s favorite 2016 photos on his Michigan Nut Photography site. A couple made Michigan in Pictures this year and the choice of which one to feature was hard so check them all out!

View John’s photo bigger and purchase it as well and be sure to follow him on Facebook as well!