exposure.detroit Selective Focus photography show

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

MexicanTown Safari (59)

MexicanTown Safari (59), photo by Auberon.

The above photo is part of Auberon/Merlin Elsner’s Show Pictures set (slideshow). Merlin is one of five excellent exposure.Detroit photographers who will make up the SELECTIVE FOCUS Photographic Exhibition on Friday, July 20th, 2007 from 7 PM – 10 PM at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in Royal Oak, Michigan

exposure.detroit is a photography group (based on Flickr) with the stated mission to EXPOSE the unknown Michigan photographer to a network of artists and friends who share in the same passions for art, photography and fun. When I checked Michigan in Pictures, I realized that of the photographers in the show, Merlin was the only one who I hadn’t blogged something of.

If you can make it to the D on the 20th, do go – they’re all wonderful folks who will make you feel welcome and provide a rare treat for your eyes and soul.

Um … I thought for SURE I had blogged a photo from Tina … apparently not. I’ll have to remedy that soon!

Michigan Fireworks Extravaganza … now with added Northern Lights

Posted on by farlane

Copper Harbor Fireworks, with Northern Lights

July 4th, 2006 by aragirn

This morning I looked at fireworks photos from this year’s Independence Day fireworks displays at Sylvan Lake, Muskegon, Schoolcraft, Detroit, Traverse City, Lansing, Bay City, Jackson, Wyandotte, Lost Lake Woods, Rockford, Ann Arbor, Flint, West Branch, Kensington Park, Detroit and even my hometown of Leland. They came in classic red, white and blue,  understated yellow, even black & white. There were photos of the crowd, the fireworks barge, photos from who knows where and even one in my inbox from Saginaw. Had I had the link for the Michigan Fireworks page, I could have driven around to some of them!

In the end, I thought it best  to wait until next year to allow folks to upload their photos from July 4, 2007 (and the 3rd, or whenever your town celebrates) and look to last year.

When I did, I realized that there’s nothing that can compare to watching the July 4th fireworks celebration at Copper Harbor, Michigan and having the Northern Lights come out.

Happy 4th of July, Michigan!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Lan July 4th parade 127e

Lan July 4th parade 127e, photo by indefinitejourney.

Fourth of July, July 4th, the Fourth or Independence Day – call it what you will, this is our day. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

I doubt Adams envisioned the star-shaped sunglasses, but bring on the pomp, the parades (the picnics!), the sports and games (best leave the guns at home), the bells, bonfires and brilliant, booming illuminations. Somewhere amidst all of that if you can, think about the acts of devotion that could be made towards making this nation and state ever more worthy of celebration and love.

I should point out that this photo is part of an awesome set of Lansing 4th of July Parade photos (slideshow!!)

Backyard tree swing

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

II

II, photo by Caselet.

Taken in a Kalamazoo backyard with a Hasselblad, I believe. View it bigger.

Steel

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Steel

Steel, photo by MxPx.

Construction in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Be sure to look at it bigger.

Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains State Park

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Lake of the Clouds by Night

Lake of the Clouds by Night, photo by SpringChick.

Spring Chick writes: Lake of the Clouds at dusk. I love the mirrored, mystic look to the lake in this photo. I also found it interesting that the sky colored in the east. I could visit this place every day and never tire of it. Porcupine Mountains, MI.

This photo is part of her Porcupine Mountains set (best as a slideshow) and yes, it makes an amazing background for your computer.

Lake of the Clouds is in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, which was established in 1945 and is Michigan’s largest state park. The “Porkies” are located 15 miles west of Ontonagon in the western Upper Peninsula, and the 60,000 acre park features virgin timber, secluded lakes, and miles of wild rivers and streams. If you it that link above you can get trail maps (they allow mountain biking too) and backcountry camping information.

The Wikipedia Porcupine Mountains entry says that the Porcupine Mountains were so named by the native Ojibwa people because their silhouette had the shape of a porcupine. Also see Exploring the North’s Porkies page, this cool Ski the Porkies site and a map to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Michigan Orchard in Snow

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Michigan Orchard in Snow

Michigan Orchard in Snow, photo by coonjamm.

Today’s photo of a cherry orchard near near Paw Paw from February will hopefully remind those of us tempted to complain about the heat of other things we could complain about.

I’d also like to call attention to Van Buren County, Michigan our latest Michigan shoreline county article on Absolute Michigan.

Modern Day Detroit … from above

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

modern day Detroit

modern day Detroit, photo by paulhitz.

Paul says that this photo of Comerica Park and the Detroit skyline was shot Sunday from a helicopter tour around Detroit during the Detroit International River Days Festival (held late June every year). I was going to ask Paul how the heck he managed a helicopter ride, but apparently helicopter rides from Walton Helicopter Charter were part of River Days this year.

Paul encourages you to view this picture bigger (yes, it makes a great computer background). You can also view more helicopter-eye photos of Detroit.

Michigan Shoreline Tour: Van Buren State Park

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Van Buren State Park

Van Buren State Park, photo by Paladin27.

A little over a year ago, I blogged another photo from Paladin27’s Flying to South Haven set.

It might be cheating to go to the well twice, but it’s hard to find a way to convey the awesome scope of Michigan’s shoreline dunes without getting above them (and moving along them). Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of his video on YouTube of the flight.

The official page on Van Buren State Park (which makes the park look like it recently escaped from prison) says:

Van Buren State Park offers approximately 400 acres of land located along the Lake Michigan shoreline in northern Van Buren County. The focal points of the park are its high dune formations and one mile of sandy beach. Van Buren became a state park in May of 1965 when the original 167-acre plot was purchased from the Harry LaBar Drake family. Since then two other land purchases have been made to make up the current park.

The Wikipedia entry for Van Buren State Park needs some help as well. Anyone have some knowledge about the park and a little time?

The park has camping on over 200 sites, hiking on miles of trails and great sandy beaches. Here’s a Flickr photo map and also the Google Map for Van Buren State Park (looks like they caught a boat on the satellite flyover!)

Standing behind all those Michigan graduates…

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The World Is Your Oyster Now

The World Is Your Oyster Now, photo by mischiru.

This great photo of Spring Commencement at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor made me think about the tens of thousands of Michigan students who graduated from high school or college this year, the teachers who taught them and the administrators who helped to keep it all running.

At commencement ceremonies across the state, the graduates were congratulated and the teachers and administrators were thanked, but there’s another group of people whose contribution is oftentimes overlooked.

As a parent, school board member and business owner who depends upon an educated workforce, I’d like to extend a very heartfelt thanks to the Michigan taxpayers who have helped to fund our state’s fine system of public schools, colleges and universities.

This photo is part of a cool set of Michigan photos.