Michigan Courthouses: Van Buren County Courthouse

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Van Buren County Courthouse (Paw Paw, Michigan)

Van Buren County Courthouse (Paw Paw, Michigan), photo by courthouselover.

Jordan writes:

The Van Buren County Courthouse was erected in 1901 with the designs of Claire Allen of Jackson, Michigan. It is similar is appearance to the Classical Revival courthouse in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Wikipedia’s entry for Claire Allen says that he was was a prominent architect in southern Michigan in the early twentieth century. He was head of the firm of Claire Allen & Sons and his resume includes the Chelsea Clock Tower.

Be sure to check this out bigger and in his Michigan County Courthouses set (slideshow)

More Michigan courthouse shots on Michigan in Pictures.

Silver Lake Sunset

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

DSC_0387

DSC_0387, photo by Jennifer Kleinheksel.

Like many lakes along the Lake Michigan shore, Silver Lake is a bay of the prehistoric Lake Nipissing that was closed in by coastal sand dunes. The Silver Lake Dunes Area’s fishing page says that Silver Lake is great fishing hole for Walleye, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Black Crappie, while you enjoy the scenic beauty of the Sand Dunes. It’s part of Silver Lake State Park and you can see the view looking back at the lake from the air on Wikipedia.

Be sure to check this out bigger and also Jennifer’s Silver Lake set (slideshow).

Your photo contest begins at Michigan.org

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Holland, Michigan Lighthouse

Holland, Michigan Lighthouse, photo by Tony Tanoury.

The Pure Michigan Photo Contest is open until June 29, 2009 and offers you a chance to win prizes including a stay at the Gran Hotel on Mackinac Island!

You can get all the details at the link above and check out submitted photos on their map.

Tony took this photo of the “Big Red” lighthouse in Holland last May. Be sure to check it out bigger and also in his Michigan set (slideshow).

Strawberry Season, 1940

Posted on by farlane

Migrant girl, strawberry picker, Berrien County, Mich.
Migrant girl, strawberry picker, Berrien County, Mich., photo by John Vachon

Today’s photo from summer of 1940 is courtesy the Library of Congress. Be sure to check it out bigger and try a search for Michigan Strawberries to see more shots from Berrien County’s strawberry farms.

Ann Arbor blogger (and certified Michiganhead) Edward Vielmetti notes that strawberry season in underway in southern Michigan. He’ll post a field report when he goes! You can get all kinds of information and recipes about these tasty treats at Michigan Strawberries Are Ready to Pick on Absolute Michigan.

Swan Origami

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Swan Oragamy

Swan Oragamy, photo by MudPhish.

…it’s apparently all the rage these days.

Be sure to check it out bigger.

Jumping into summertime

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Camping - P.J. Hoffmaster State Park

Camping – P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, photo by plounsbury.

Summer is here – jump off!

Memorial Day, Michigan Style on Absolute Michigan has lots of Memorial weekend fun.

Check it out bigger and on the P. J. Hoffmaster State Park entry on the Absolute Michigan map.

No Swimming … yet

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

No Swimming.

No Swimming., photo by telemudcat.

Also swimming is out for all but the thermally insensitive today, sand castle building is A-OK!

Get this photo bigger right here or in Kevin’s Big Blue Marble set (slideshow).

Blossomtime in Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Untitled, photo by Christina**.

We’re headed into the season where trees explode with color in Michigan. It’s celebrated in events like next weekend’s Blossomtime Festival. It happens the first Saturday in May every year in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph and is Michigan’s oldest multi-community festival.

You can view this photo larger (and more blossoms) in Christina’s Natural set and also in her slideshow.

For even more blossoms, check out the blossom slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool!

Garage Sale Culture: I’m one of those Americans

Posted on by farlane

david-mcgowan-garage-sale-culture

I’m one of those Americans, photo by David McGowan

David says that in the summer of 2008, he started shooting an essay on the culture of garage sales in Michigan as we moved deeper into recession.

Now his essay is one the fantastic photography site Burn. Burn is curated by notable Magnum and National Geographic photographer, David Alan Harvey, and was established to be a platform for emerging photographers online and in print. Do yourself a favor and check out David McGowan – Garage Sale.

I’m serious – do not miss this one.

I have to also say thanks to David for introducing me to Lux Land,  Michigan songstress and wife of Brian Vander Ark who I had heard of but never really heard. Her song, Touching a Legend is the soundtrack and you can can check her music out at Luxy Land or MySpace.

St. Johns, Michigan Bicycle Band

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

St. Johns, Michigan Bicycle Band

St. Johns, Michigan Bicycle Band, photo by Seeking Michigan.

I thought I’d follow up yesterday’s rant with something from the Archives of Michigan. A number of people have assured me that the Archives and Michigan’s broader arts & cultural support will remain following whatever reorganization happens. I hope so.

This photo made me think about how much more attention early photographers had to pay to lighting and composition. I can’t imagine getting this shot with the cameras they had in 1890. It was the December 2005 Image of the Month and you can read a lot more (and see another picture) there:

According to the Clinton County Republican-News Centennial Issue (published in 1956), the St. Johns Bicycle Band existed from 1886 to 1891 and usually consisted of about twenty pieces. The Republican-News Centennial Issue includes this photo of band members (pg. 6) and identified the drum player above as George Woodruff.

More at seekingmichigan.org and in the Seeking Michigan Fickriver.