Many fish will bite if you got good bait…

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Fishing in Bay

Fishing in Bay, photo by ETCphoto.

Betcha goin’ fishin’ all of your time, baby’s goin’ fishing too
Bet your life, your sweet life, catch more fish than you
Many fish bites if ya got good bait, here’s a little tip i would like to relate

Big fish bites if ya got a good bait, I ‘a goin’ fishin’
Yes i’m goin’ fishin’, and my baby’s goin’ fishin’ too.

~Taj Mahal (check out this sweet video)

There’s a boatload of Michigan fishing information at www.michigan.gov/fishing. They note that Michigan has about 146 kinds of fish, ranging from tiny minnows to giant lake sturgeon – hope you get a chance to tell a couple fish stories this year!

Check this out bigger than the one that got away and in Terry’s West Bay slideshow

Kent Lake in Kensington Metropark … and a photowalk

Posted on by farlane

Panorama Kent Lake

Panorama Kent Lake, photo by ansonredford

In the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr, Charles posted an announcement of a spring photo walk taking place this Saturday (April 16) at Kensington Metro Park in Milford:

The walk is hosted by Southeast Michigan Digital Photography group and will take place on the Kensington nature trails with a raffle and optional lunch afterwards. Spring is a beautiful time of year for local photographers to enjoy photography together. The event is free though a permit is required to enter the park, permit prices can be found in the event details at Southeast Michigan Digital Photography or at our Facebook group site.

I have hazy but fond memories of my grandmother taking me here to feed the carp Ritz crackers when I was little. The Huron-Clinton Metroparks page on Kensington Metropark says:

Kensington’s 4,481 sprawling acres of wooded, hilly terrain surrounds beautiful Kent Lake, and is home to an abundance of wildlife and waterfowl. Kensington Metropark offers a multitude of recreational activities throughout the year, from biking and boating to cross-country skiing and tobogganing. In addition to striking sunrises and sunsets, 1,200-acre Kent Lake offers plenty of fun activities: swim at Martindale or Maple beaches, get soaked at the Splash ‘n’ Blast, or just spend the day fishing, boating or picnicking along the water. Take a tour of the lake aboard the Island Queen II in the summer and fall. Or, enjoy a winter day ice-fishing or skating on frozen lake waters.

This first-class recreational area also features an 18-hole regulation golf course, 27-hole disc course, nature center, farm center, beautiful picnic areas and scenic hiking and biking trails for hours of enjoyment. With two and a half million visitors every year Kensington Metropark is a favorite place to enjoy Michigan’s natural treasures.

Donald took this photo a couple of weeks ago. Check it out background big and see a lot more photos in his Kensington Metro Park slideshow!

There’s even more photos that show the diversity of wildlife and scenery in this slideshow from the Absolute Michigan group!

NMU Attempts to Break Skateboard Record

Posted on by farlane

Here’s some shots from the day!

Superior Dome Skate, photo by Tim Rossland

The North Wind at Northern Michigan University in Marquette reports on an attempt this Sunday (April 10) to break the Guinness world record for largest skateboard parade:

The parade is sponsored by NMU Skate & Snow and the Marquette Informal Longboarding Federation. NMU President Les Wong will be the Grand Marshall.

The current record is 250 riders. Co-founder Jeremy Johnson believes that number will be shattered.

…The parade will start near the Thomas Fine Arts building, running through the Academic Mall, along parking lot 17 toward Whitman Hall before finishing on Elizabeth J. Harden Drive. Riders can register in the Academic Mall and at Whitman Hall the day of the event starting at 11 a.m. and are encouraged to bring extra longboards and skateboards for other participants.

The organizers have planned a big day with live music, prizes, free stuff and after party. You can get the details on Facebook where over 1400 are attending or maybe attending.

You can see this photo bigger right here and see more photos from their skate at the Superior Dome here.

jurrasic station

Posted on by farlane

jurrasic station

jurrasic station, photo by hardyc

You never know what you might find when urban exploring these days. More photographic fun today on Absolute Michigan.

Make sure to check this out big as a brontosaur and see some of Chris’s other work in his creative – modified slideshow!

Detroit Tigers Opening Day 2011

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Opening Day

Opening Day, photo by Dave Hogg.

“You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.”
~Joe DiMaggio on Opening Day

Today the Tigers open the 2011 Major League Baseball season in New York at Yankee Stadium at 1 PM. Get all the details on Detroit Tigers Opening Day 2011: Play Ball! from Absolute Michigan.

See this  big as baseball and see more in Dave’s Opening Day 2008 slideshow.

There’s a whole bunch more Detroit Tigers photos from Michigan in Pictures – Play ball!

Get (April) Foolish at Festifools in Ann Arbor

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

tibihxE deeF toN oD esaelP

tibihxE deeF toN oD esaelP, photo by jenny murray.

This Sunday (April 3, 2011) is the Festifools parade in Ann Arbor. It’s annual street festival of “HUGE PUPPETS and random acts of April Foolishness”. New this year is FoolMoon – April 1 from dusk to midnight. It’s a FREE event that invites you to bring your luminary (or kazoo / chicken suit / saxophone / what have you) to one of their three “Constellation Stations” and join fellow frolickers for the Foolish stroll! More updates about this Foolish weekend on Facebook!

If you’re not already familiar with FestiFools, you can get a sense of what we’re about by watching some videos on the YouTube FestiFools channel and at photographer Myra Klarman’s blog that includes a neat look behind the scenes at Festifools!

Jenny says that this was Anorexicsaurus or TyrAnorexicsaurus … from the Starvaceous Period. Check it out big as a bulemiasaur and in her Festifools slideshow.

There’s a ton more foolishness to be found in the flickr FestiFools group!

Death and Dying

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Death and Dying

Death and Dying, photo by SCOTTS WORLD.

Scott writes:

An urban school abandoned and falling apart. Someone else had placed this book here, but I thought it made a great shot, both on its own and as a symbol of the death of this once great place.

Check it out background big and see more shots from schools that didn’t make it in Scott’s Schools slideshow.

More Black & White photography on Michigan in Pictures.

Real Michigan Maple Syrup: Step One

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

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110314_4339A, photo by jsorbieus.

One of the signs of spring in Michigan is when you see buckets on the maple trees. Jim writes that the first step to a delicious breakfast is real michigan maple syrup! Check it out bigger than a bucket and see more shots in his Syrup Slideshow!

For more about how syrup is made, check out The Cycle of Sweetness: From Sap to Maple Syrup. You can also read a little about how Native Americans made maple sugar on Michigan in Pictures.

As always, Absolute Michigan has more Michigan maple syrup features & links.

Five Things You Need to Know about Michigan in Pictures

Posted on by farlane

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Untitled, photo by ansonredford

Yesterday was the busiest day ever on Michigan in Pictures thanks to Pure Michigan featuring us on the PureMichigan.org Facebook. It’s so great that they noticed us and I wanted to post a little note of thanks and also to let new folks know a thing or two about Michigan in Pictures, so (stealing a page from Absolute Michigan) here we go with Five Things You Need to Know about Michigan in Pictures:

  1. Founded in December of 2005 by the same folks who produce Absolute Michigan, Michigan in Pictures has been around for a while, longer even than Pure Michigan! In that time, we’ve posted a photo a day (except for Sunday), and that means we have hundreds of posts – 1654 to be exact – about just about everything, including the Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Wilderness State Park.
  2. In addition to searching for photos, you can also click the categories in the right bar or below every photo to see pictures of everything from Michigan parks to lighthouses to historical photos to wallpaper for your computer background!
  3. A common question is “How do I get my photos on Michigan in Pictures?” You can click here for the long answer, but the short answer is that most of the photos come from the Absolute Michigan pool on the photo site Flickr. If you want a chance to see your photo featured here, add them to that group on Flickr!
  4. One of the things that we feel pretty strongly is that photographers need to be recognized for their work, so we always try and give you something about the photographer and links to other places you can see their work. We always respect copyright and urge you to do the same!
  5. You can also share your photos with us and our readers on the Michigan in Pictures Facebook.

Anyway, thanks for reading Michigan in Pictures and please feel welcome to subscribe to Michigan in Pictures for new posts by email using the form at the top right!

Anson took this photo in September of 2006 – check it out background boomtacular and in his Porcupine Mountains slideshow!

Celebrate the Great Lakes at the Benzie Water Festival!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The Beach at Green Point Dunes

The Beach at Green Point Dunes, photo by jimflix!.

The 2011 Benzie County Water Festival takes place next weekend (March 19-21, 2011) in Frankfort. The Water Festival moves around Michigan, bringing the message of the vitality of Michigan’s water all around the state in different seasons.

We have an in-depth feature on Absolute Michigan about the festival that includes a number of videos featuring Water Festival presenters including Tom Kelly of the Inland Seas Educations Association; Derek Bailey Tribal Chairman of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; Hans VanSumeren, Director of Northwestern Michigan College’s Water Studies Institute and musicians Seth Bernard & May Erlewine.

This will be a unique event designed to engage folks in the stewardship of the Great Lakes, the global freshwater crisis and the cultivation of a vibrant and sustainable local culture. A family-oriented, community-centered program will feature Michigan musicians, speeches from water luminaries, interactive multimedia projects and presentations, artisan foods and beverages, workshops, visual art, theater and dance, children’s activities, an ice fishing contest, as well as connections to campaigns and projects protecting our water locally and/or addressing global water challenges.

The Benzie County Water Festival is co-sponsored by the Benzie Conservation District and Absolute Michigan. For more information, check out the Benzie Water Festival Facebook

Get much more information about performers, presenters and special events at water-festival.org!

Jim took this shot at the Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve, a gorgeous nature area that is part of a huge swath of Lake Michigan shore that has been protected. If you check it out bigger, you can see the Frankfort Lighthouse in the distance (and yes – Jim has one or two shots of that!).