Emptiness, photo by Mike Lanzetta.
See this bigger in Mike’s “fog” slideshow and check out “fog” on Michigan in Pictures and even more foggy goodness from the Absolute Michigan pool!
Urban myPhone
Urban myPhone, photo by gatsbyj.
This photo makes me think that social media will probably replace advertising someday.
You can see this bigger in Christian’s Around Detroit slideshow (view the set).
You might also enjoy Detroit at Night from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr.
When The Gales Of November Came Early
When The Gales Of November Came Early, photo by siskokid.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
of the big lake they called “Gitche Gumee.”
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
when the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty,
that good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
when the “Gales of November” came early.
If you’re from Michigan … or Wisconsin … or Minnesota or Ontario or any place that touches the Great Lakes you probably grew up hearing Gordon Lightfoot’s commemorative ballad played (and overplayed) every November. While looking for lyrics to the song, I came across this page about the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Gordon Lightfoot’s web site.
“According to a legend of the Chippewa tribe, the lake they once called Gitche Gumee ‘never gives up her dead.'”
~Great Lakes: The Cruelest Month, James R. Gaines with Jon Lowell in Detroit, Newsweek MagazineThus began the Newsweek article in the issue of November 24, 1975. That lead and the news magazine’s dry story inspired Gordon Lightfoot to write one of the greatest “story songs” ever…
Lightfoot wrote Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald as a tribute to the ship, the sea, and the men who lost their lives that night. When asked recently what he thought his most significant contribution to music was, he said it was this song, which he often refers to as “The Wreck”. In spite of its unlikely subject matter, the song climbed to #2 on the Billboard pop charts and Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains one the most stirring topical ballads ever written and a highlight of every Lightfoot concert.
More Edmund Fitzgerald and more shipwrecks on Michigan in Pictures.
Check this out bigger and see Jim’s whole Lake Superior set (slideshow).
There’s not way I’m not going to link over to include* Joseph Fulton’s amazing tribute video to the 29 men who died November 10, 1975 aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald. If you haven’t watched this, do it. It’s one of the best videos on the internet and shows the power of the Fitz and of Superior.
*And break my own rule of “just photos” – sorry about that if it bothers you.
Above Isabella County
Bails of Hay, photo by JSmith Photo.
Jeffrey Smith says he took these during and aerial shoot over over Isabella County out of the window of a single prop Cessna on November 8th.
This photo is available bigger as are all the pics in his Frames on a Plane set (slideshow).
Big Carp River from the Lake of the Clouds Overlook
Lake of the Clouds Overlook – 1, photo by posthumus_cake.
Can’t. Resist. Lake of the Clouds.
This is the Big Carp River as seen from Lake of the Clouds Overlook in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. More of the Porcupine Mountains & more Lake of the Clouds on Michigan in Pictures.
posthumus cake has more great pics in their Keweenaw Peninsula set and you can view them bigger in the slideshow.
November in Michigan: Leaves over the path
Leaves over the path, photo by Apocaplops.
It’s been such a busy week that I almost forgot to call out the November Michigan Event Calendar on Absolute Michigan. Like the state of Michigan, it’s packed with fun things to do in November.
Check this photo out bigger in Erich’s Polaroid Portfolio slideshow (set), and I hope you get a chance to wander the woods once or twice before the bullets fly.
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Great Egret ( No. 2 ) Sepia, photo by Paul Degi Photography.
The All About Birds entry for the Great Egret says:
A large white heron, the Great Egret is found across much of the world, from southern Canada southward to Argentina, and in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It’s the largest egret in the Old World, and thus has garnered the name Great White Egret. In the New World, however, the white form of the Great Blue Heron is larger. In the United States, the Great Egret used to be called the American Egret but that was hardly appropriate, since its range extends beyond the Americas and indeed farther than other herons.
The Great Egret (Ardea alba) entry on the UM Zoology Animal Diversity Web adds that the ideal location for great egrets is near any form of water. Streams, lakes, ponds, marshes and wooded swamps and wetlands are the preferred location for great egrets and other heron species. There is (of course) more on Wikipedia and here’s a sweet video of a great egret nesting site along Lake Huron.
Be sure and check this out bigger or in Paul’s B&W set (slideshow).
Check out many more Michigan Birds on Michigan in Pictures!
Dark Mood: Basilica of St. Adalbert
Dark Mood, photo by Rudy Malmquist.
The web site for Basilica of St. Adalbert (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids) tells a little of the history of this ornate church that has always fascinated me as I’ve driven past it on the freeway going west out of Grand Rapids.
The Saint Adalbert Aid Society was formed in 1872. At that time the purpose of the fraternal aid societies that sprang up in the primarily ethnic areas of the city, was to assist new immigrants in settling in the area, finding housing, and employment. With the help of the Saint Adalbert Aid Society, and on the initiative of the many Polish people of this area, two lots were purchased in 1880 at the corner of Fourth Street and Davis Avenue, NW, and in June of 1881 construction of a small wooden church was begun. Thus, St. Adalbert Parish was soon established. In 1891 the original church was enlarged to accommodate the every growing Polish population.
In early July of 1907, work began on the present church building. The cornerstone was laid on August 18, 1907, and the building was completed in late spring of 1913 for a total cost of about $150,000, including all of its furnishings.
The basilica is one of a few Minor Basilica in the US and the only church of this rank in Michigan. Wikipedia has more about Polish Cathedrals in America and says that these ornate churches were built by Polish Catholics in rememberance of the glory days of the Polish Commonwealth in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Be sure to check Rudy’s shot out background bigalicious and see more pics in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan group on Flickr.
Exposure.Detroit November Show
take it to the bridge, photo by b.plus
The Exposure.Detroit November Photography Exhibit Opening Party takes place this Saturday (November 7) from 7-10 PM at the Bean & Leaf Cafe in Royal Oak. The show features the work of Robert Monaghan, Jim Barclay, Allan Machielse, Bethany Helzer and Brian Day.
Check Brian’s photo of the Douglas MacArthur Bridge (aka the Belle Isle Bridge) out bigger in his Interesting slideshow (set) or dive into his Flickriver.
Happy Halloween from Michigan in Pictures!
Untitled,photo by Jenny Murray.
I hope that your Halloween has more treats than tricks! Check out spooky searches like Halloween, haunted or ghost on Absolute Michigan for lots of fun stuff!
Be sure to check this photo out bigger or in Jenny’s slideshow.
Michigan in Pictures 