Distorted Reality, photo by A Dubs
Compuware Building, Campus Martius, Detroit, MI. Alan has a blog called Faded Detroit where he turns his eye (and his camera) upon decay and rebirth in the city of Detroit.
Au Sable River in Winter
Au Sable #040, photo by joelmaust.
One of several photos of one of Michigan’s premier trout rivers in winter.
Learn a little more on the Au Sable River from Wikipedia.
NOTE: Minor technical difficulties have delayed Bobby Alcott’s photographer profile – check back tomorrow!
Magic: Ice boating in Michigan
2006_01_20icebt042, photo by gretchdorian.
Gretchen Dorian has a great set of photos from a day of DN ice boating at Indian Lake State Park near Manistique. – makes a great slideshow!
Michigan has a long history of iceboating. The Detroit News’ excellent Rearview Mirror series includes Sailing on Lake St. Clair’s icy winter winds. They write that ice boating or ice yachting began over 4000 years ago in Northern Europe and was a source of entertainment in Michigan lumber camps. 
The article also relates what the “DN” you see on so many ice boat sails stands for:
During the winter of 1936-37, in the sawdust covered hobby shop of the Detroit News, master craftsman Archie Arroll along with ice boaters Joseph Lodge and Norman Jarrait designed a racing ice boat they called the Blue Streak 60. Later the craft would come to be called the DN 60, the DN standing for the Detroit News, and the 60 referring to the size of the sail. Howard Boston, whose family remains in the sailing business, helped construct the first sails. (Doyle Boston Sailmakers of Holland)
Ice Boating Timeline reminds us not to forget about the other side of the state and Gull Lake and (as usual) Wikipedia can tell you more about iceboats & iceboating.
Update: I was just sent a nice video featuring Jack Jacobs (owner of Magic) talking about ice boating.
skyed
After a too-long hiatus, we will finally be profiling another Michigan photographer: Bobby Alcott aka “UrbanTiki”, a Detroit photographer. We’ll be asking Bobby some questions next week (Monday through Wednesday) and we’d also like to ask you to give us some questions. Just post a comment below or e-mail your question to us.
You can see more work by Bobby at his Flickr page and also at Bobby Alcott Photography. Check out our past profiles of Matt Callow and Marjorie O’Brien on the Michigan Photographers profile page.
UPDATE: Too-long sadly became just a little bit longer as Bobby and others have had the unfortunate loss of a friend. We’ll be doing Bobby’s profile next Monday – Wednesday (Feb 26-28) and our condolences go out to all the friends and family of Jeffrey Colby.
Happy Valentines Day, Michigan!
Duckie Love, photo by suesue2.
This was the first picture that I saw this morning. Then I went wandering around for an hour or so looking for a picture that would somehow capture the essence of Valentines Day as it relates to Michigan.
Then I looked again and realized that all it is really about is having and showing a little more love, whenever and wherever possible.
Happy Valentines Day, Michigan!
I-96 Overpass, Southfield Freeway, Michigan
I-96 Overpass, Southfield Freeway, Michigan, photo by buckeye616.
I guess if you only have the eyes to see it, anything can be beautiful.
Found in Kerrytown … and Ann Arbor
Untitled, photo by jenny murray.
Jenny writes: Of the many delightful things at ‘Found’ in Kerrytown, my favorite by far is this bowl of old typewriter keys. I could’ve taken hundreds of shots of this bowl… Oh wait, I did. It’s true, she did.
You can learn more about FOUND (and Kerrytown in Ann Arbor) at the Found Gallery web page at Kerrytown.
…and speaking of “found” (and Ann Arbor), Ann Arbor-based Found Magazine offers a wealth of found fun. In addition to the magazine, they also have books and post daily finds from all over the world. Here’s a found photo of a Detroit Couple.
Back in time on the Fallasburg Bridge
Vintage bridge, photo by pnygirl1.
BJ writes Playing around with some techniques – liked how this effect captured the old wooden bridge…like it was captured back in time. She has more views of this and other bridges (and a ton more photos).
The Michigan Historical Markers page on the Fallasburg Bridge (includes map) has the text of the marker:
John W. and Silas S. Fallas settled here in 1837, founded a village which soon boasted a chair factory, sawmill, and gristmill. About 1840 the first of several wooden bridges was placed across the Flat River, but all succumbed in a short time to high water and massive spring ice jams. Bridge builder Jared N. Bresee of Ada was given a contract in 1871 to build the present structure. Constructed at a cost of $1500, the bridge has lattice work trusses made of white pine timbers. As in all covered bridges, the roof and siding serve to protect the bridge timbers from rot. Repairs in 1905 and 1945 have kept the bridge safe for traffic for one hundred years.
You can learn a bunch more about the bridge from Michael Frazier’s Covered Bridges of Michigan, get a surprising amount of information and links from Wikipedia’s entry on the Fallasburg Bridge and get details on Fallasburg Park from Kent County Parks.
Diego Rivera With Patrons
Diego Rivera With Patrons, photo by anikarenina.
anikarenina asks Is your cultural institution incendiary?
I assume that’s a reference to the incendiary art of Diego Rivera. The Detroit Institute of Arts is home to one of the most famous collection of Diego Rivera murals. The Diego Rivera Web Museum writes that:
Diego Rivera’s legacy to modern mexican art was decisive in murals and canvas; he was a revolutionary painter looking to take art to the big public, to streets and buildings, managing a precise, direct, and realist style, full of social content.
We interrupt this winter to bring you the following special bulletin
run~~~~~~~~~~~~, photo by noxipoo.
According to the DNR’s Park List, Warren Dunes State Park provides 1,952 acres of recreational opportunities along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan in southwestern Michigan. The rugged dune formation rises 260 feet above the lake and offers spectacular views and excellent for hang gliding. The park has three miles of shoreline, six miles of hiking trails and is open year-round.
So you could go out there and enjoy the dunes in winter too … just be sure to dress a little warmer. This photo makes an excellent background for seasonally affected desktops as well!
Michigan in Pictures 