Michigan Writers … and the Mighty Mac

Posted on by farlane
Mackinac Bridge, Michigan by Dennis Sparks

Mackinac Bridge, Michigan by Dennis Sparks

My “real job” is building websites for Leelanau.com, and I love it when I have a chance to bring Michigan in Pictures into it!

I was recently contracted by the Michigan Writers nonprofit organization to build a new website that will help them them bring their mission of building community for writers. The geek in me is excited about how the new site allows the organization and members to post events, announcements & opportunities that help them grow the craft of writing, while the lover of Michigan in me is amazed at how the simple inclusion of this photo by longtime Michigan in Pictures contributor Dennis Sparks perfectly transformed the look & feel of the website. In this age where AI images are supplanting actual photography, I think it’s a good thing to remember that authenticity whether in images or words or actions never loses its value.

While we’re talking about the Mighty Mac, don’t forget that the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk happens this Monday, September 7th!

Dennis took this photo back in September of 2022. You can see more in his Water gallery including this great photo from the beach at Ludington State Park and follow him on Flickr for his latest!!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Grandfather Sturgeon

Posted on by farlane
Lake Sturgeon by Dave Brenner, Michigan Sea Grant

Lake Sturgeon by Dave Brenner, Michigan Sea Grant

Michigan State University researchers found evidence that lake sturgeon may routinely live well beyond 200 years, with some approaching 300 years — far longer than scientists previously believed:

Using decades of capture-and-recapture records from five Great Lakes populations, researchers found that in some populations many lake sturgeon may routinely live well beyond 200 years, with some approaching 300 years.

“Scientists have long recognized that lake sturgeon are among North America’s longest-lived freshwater fish,” said Scott Colborne, assistant professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. “But the new study suggests they may live far longer than previously appreciated. These fish are a living connection to history”.

…One conversation during the project particularly resonated with Colborne. While discussing the research with a tribal community member, he learned that some Indigenous communities had long believed lake sturgeon could live as long as 400 years. “That was one of those goosebump moments,” Colborne said. “Here we were using modern analytical approaches, and they were pointing us toward something that Indigenous communities had long understood — that these fish live incredibly long lives.“

If you have followed recent Native-led efforts to restore Lake Sturgeon you will unquestionably have heard of nmé referred to as Grandfather Sturgeon. Speaking of those efforts, if you’re near Traverse City on September 12, you can join the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians 3rd Annual Sturgeon Release. If you’re near MSU on September 25, you can celebrate 25 years of the Black River Sturgeon Rearing Program.

Michigan Sea Grant’s Dave Brenner took this shot back in 2009. See more in their Great Lakes Fish gallery on Flickr.

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Happy National Lighthouse Day, Michigan!

Posted on by farlane
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse by Peter Tinetti

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse by Peter Tinetti

The American Lighthouse Foundation reminds us that it was on this day in 1789 that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers. 200 years later, they established August 7, 1989 as National Lighthouse Day. Pure Michigan shares that Michigan has more lighthouses than any state, so hopefully we’ll be celebrating harder with donations & visits to some of Michigan’s 129 lighthouses!

This beauty is the Eagle Harbor Light on the Keweenaw Peninsula, first constructed in 1850. The Keweenaw Historical Society shares that some great history & the hours of the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse & Museum (open June – October). So many more Michigan lighthouses on Michigan in Pictures!

Peter took the photo above in September of 2017 & wrote that the mood of the lake can change from day to day and even hour to hour. I included one from an October storm where you can really see the sweet paint job on the Light’s iconic red brick tower plus a photo of the “Schoolhouse Light” on Grand Island off Munising. Head over to Flickr for his highlighted photos & hug a lighthouse today!!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Michigan Supreme Court ruling blocks Line 5 pipeline

Posted on by farlane
Pyramid Silhouette by Andrew L McFarlane

Pyramid Silhouette by Andrew L McFarlane

“Yesterday, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that state regulators failed to fully consider the environmental impacts of Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel. This was a landmark victory for Tribal nations across the area thanks to the hard work of Earthjustice and the Native American Rights Fund along with the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.

“The Sault Tribe firmly believes that culturally and environmentally, there should be no oil pipeline underneath the Straits of Mackinac. We applaud our sister tribes for challenging the state’s permitting system.” -Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairman Austin Lowes

I would like to applaud all five Tribal nations for standing up on behalf of the waters & people of Michigan. You can read about the details of the 58-page ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court to vacate a key permit for the Line 5 pipeline across the Straits of Mackinac on environmental grounds in Bridge Magazine. I’ve also included some informative images & a simulation of a spill from the good people at Oil & Water Don’t Mix who have been fighting this extremely risky pipeline.

Today’s photo is one that I took of my daughter on Pyramid Point in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore back in 2005. You can see Lake Michigan & North Manitou Island in the background. I decided to use my own photo because this issue is intensely personal for me given how much of my life has revolved around the Lake Michigan half of the world’s greatest lake. Relaxation, wonder, income, peace – I love this mighty lake and feel so blessed to have the Native people of this land standing strong to fight for it. Feel free to share a photo in the comments below of why you love Lake Michigan/Huron!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

That Michigan Vibe is not AI

Posted on by farlane
Michigan Vibe by Heather Aldridge

Michigan Vibe by Heather Aldridge

“By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.” —Eliezer Yudkowsky

Heather took this picture 5 years ago when she rode her bike to the pier in Frankfort for sunrise & was delighted with the Michigan cloud next to the bluff as was I because – WOW! 😍

Reposting even though it will have some people shouting about AI, just as they were about suspicions of photoshop when I originally shared it. I do this in hopes you will feel the truth that none of these AI reimaginings have an iota of the impact that seeing a marvel like this in real life holds.

View Heather’s photo on Facebook & here’s hoping you have a magical day!

Check out more Michigan amazingness on Michigan in Pictures.

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Sunrise, Sunset, Solstice

Posted on by farlane
Untitled by Etzel Noble

Lake Erie by Etzel Noble

The summer solstice happened at 4:24 am on Sunday morning, and our friends at EarthSky explain that in addition to heralding the longest days of the year, the longest sunsets of the year happen around the summer & winter solstices:

That is, it takes more seconds for the body of the sun to sink below your western horizon around the solstices, and fewer seconds around the equinoxes. It’s true whether you live in Earth’s Northern or Southern Hemisphere … At more northerly temperate latitudes, the sunset duration is greater; and at latitudes closer to the equator, the sunset duration is less. Near the Arctic Circle (65 degrees north latitude), the duration of a solstice sunset lasts about 15 minutes. At the equator (0 degrees latitude), the solstice sun takes a little over 2 minutes and 15 seconds to set. Regardless of latitude, however, the duration of sunset is always longest at or near the solstices.

As it turns out, the sunset and sunrise are a tad longer on the December solstice than they are on the June solstice. That’s because the sun is closer to Earth in December than it is in June. Therefore, the sun’s disk looms a bit larger in our sky in December, and so it takes slightly longer to set.

Read more in EarthSky & for sure subscribe to their newsletter for all kinds of understanding about what’s up there

I originally shared Etzel’s tasty sunrise photo back on June 22, 2020 a few days after he shared it. Here’s a couple more great shots, but for sure check them all out in his Chasing SunRise/Set gallery on Flickr.

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Spectacular Skies over Ludington

Posted on by farlane
Falling Skies in Ludington by Todd and Brad Reed Photography

Falling Skies over Ludington by Brad Reed

Ludington photographer Brad Reed shared a selection of absolutely incredible shots of the skies over Ludington & Lake Michigan on Wednesday. Click either pic to view them all!

Follow Todd & Brad Reed Photography on Facebook and view & purchase their work on their website or in their gallery in downtown Ludington!

Spectacular Skies by Brad Reed

Spectacular Skies by Brad Reed

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Happy Birthday, US Coast Guard Icebreaker Mackinaw

Posted on by farlane
New USCG Cutter Mackinaw by Skip Barnes

New USCG Cutter Mackinaw by Skip Barnes

The USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a 240-foot multi-purpose vessel with the primary mission as a heavy Great Lakes icebreaker. In addition to heavy icebreaking, the Mackinaw has state of the art systems and multi-mission capabilities that include maintenance of aids to navigation, search and rescue, as well as the ability to deploy an oil skimming system to respond to oil spill situations and environmental response. The cutter was launched the year before it was officially commissioned on June 10, 2006, the same day her namesake (pictured below) was retired.

The Mackinaw WAGB 83 is now the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum in Mackinaw City. With a self-guided tour of the original, it is well worth a visit if you’re in the Mackinaw City area!

Skip took these photos way back in 2007 – see more in his Ships gallery on Flickr.

Old USCG Cutter Mackinaw by Skip Barnes

Old USCG Cutter Mackinaw by Skip Barnes

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Have an awesome summer, Michigan!

Posted on by farlane
Awesome day at Sleeping Bear Dunes by Craig Sterken Photography

Awesome day at Sleeping Bear Dunes by Craig Sterken Photography

Sharing Craig’s awesome photo of the awesome Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to ask you all of you what is the ONE PLACE you feel is essential for a truly awesome summer in the Great Lakes State? I’ll feature some of them to help everyone get the most out of Michigan!

Follow Craig on Facebook for his latest and view & purchase his work on his website.

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

St. Joseph Summer Sunset

Posted on by farlane
June Sunset by Scott Glenn

June Sunset by Scott Glenn

Who else is ready for summer sunsets?

Scott shared this incredible sunset shot of the St. Joseph Lighthouse ten years ago. See more in his Lighthouses gallery & check out his latest photos on Flickr.

Many more Michigan sunsets on Michigan in Pictures. Sunrises too!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon