Sunrise and ice sheets on Lake St. Clair

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Ice Sheets on Lake St Clair

Lake St. Clair, Michigan, photo by radiospike.

This photo is part of a set of photos of the annual ice break-up on Lake St. Clair. Spike writes:

The ice started making deafening cracking noises and “glass shattering” noises as the sun’s first rays hit it. This was probably the last day to catch the ice blowing over from Canada as today was expected to reach 65 degrees.

The ice starts as a sheet on the lake’s surface, forming with days of sub-freezing temperatures. Strong winds crack the ice and break it into large floating pieces. Then the winds push the ice until it hits something to stop it… in this case, the Michigan shoreline. Some of the ice floes were standing 15 feet up in the air. What you see is entirely frozen lake. I’m standing up on the bank in Grosse Pointe Farms where the ice completely shattered and moved the concrete barrier.

Spike says that the Freakish Freeze feature in the Freep inspired his trip to the shore of Lake St. Clair. I confess that the same article has inspired me to keep an eye on photos from that area!

Pinorama & The Silver Dreams of Plastic Cameras

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Michigan Theater Pinorama

Michigan Theater Pinorama, photo by Voxphoto.

Pin-o-rama Painted HouseIf you’re going to be in the Ann Arbor area next Friday (March 23) or any time through April 6, consider taking in the Cheap Shots Photographic Exhibition at Gallery 4, 212 Nickels Arcade in Ann Arbor. It is the first-ever exhibition by the Ann Arbor Area Krappy Kamera Club and is intended to celebrate the messy unpredictability and dreamlike imagery that only a truly rotten camera can provide. In addition to the Friday opening, there will also be talks on toy camera history, “orphaned” cameras (Argus, Brownies, old SLRs) and a free pinhole camera workshop taught by Vox (Ross Orr) and Matt Callow.

Now that we have that bit of business out of the way, how about the pics produced by Ross’s Panoramic Pinhole Camera? Ross has an article on building the pinhole cam used to take these photos in the latest issue of MAKE: Magazine. You can see more shots from his camera at the pin-o-rama tag, and be sure to click the links to make them bigger.

Saginaw Train Bridge

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Saginaw Train Bridge

Saginaw Train Bridge, photo by n8xd.

Keith DeLong writes: This is a train bridge near St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw, Michigan.

I recommend you check this one out bigger.

A Holga, Lake Erie and Sterling State Park

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Lake Erie

Holga: Lake Erie, photo by Matt Callow.

I wavered back and forth between this one and Matt’s other photo of ice on Lake Erie. The photo was taken at Sterling State Park between Monroe & Detroit Beach, and Matt has helpfully placed it on a map.

Wikipedia says that William C. Sterling State Park is:

…the only Michigan state park located on the shores of Lake Erie. The park encompasses 1,300 acres. The park sits just north of where the River Raisin empties into the lake. The park boasts many lagoons and marshes, providing good habitat for a variety of wildlife and bird life. The park is situated in Monroe County just south of Detroit Beach/ Sandy Creek and north of the city of Monroe. It is the fourth busiest state park in the state. The park is located less than a mile from Interstate 75, which provides easy access from the neighboring areas of Detroit and Toledo. The main attractions at the park include the beach, a boat launch, and shore fishing. Over two miles of asphalt surface are available for bike riding. Hiking trails are also available.

Distorted Reality

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Distorted Reality by A Dubs

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.

Magic: Ice boating in Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

2006_01_20icebt042

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. DN IceboatThe 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

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

skyed

skyed, photo by UrbanTiki.

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.

I-96 Overpass, Southfield Freeway, Michigan

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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

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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.

Lawndale Market: Detroit’s Polaroid Paradise

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Lawndale Market by Ryan Keberly

One of my goals with Michigan in Pictures this year is to bring in more photos and photographers from all over Michigan and I can’t think of a better place to start than at Lawndale Market. Ryan Keberly writes:

Every inch of the Lawndale Market was covered in Polaroid photos — the bottle return, deli counter, ceiling, refrigerators and cigarette racks.

Each Polaroid (approximately 10,000 total) was preciously customized in ball-point pen with the date, subject’s name and the title “Gold Loves Me.”

You can see more photos at Lawndale Market on Ryan’s site, read an article about Lawndale Market from Metro Times Detroit or use this map to Lawndale Market from the Google to drive there.

Ryan Keberly is a freelance photographer and web designer who has put together some great sites including Snowsuit.net (on permanent hiatus but still amazing) and Spouse Notes (postings of notes from one loved one to another). Find a bunch more sites and photo collections at Ryan Keberly Photography.

Like all photos on Michigan in Pictures, this photo is copyrighted to the photographer. As Ryan’s site so simply reminds us: “Don’t steal. Ever.”