December Sundown, photo by Steven Karsten
Sunset at “Big Red” aka the Holland Harbor Lighthouse taken back in December of 2012.
View Steven’s photo background bigilicious and see more in his slideshow.
The Force was strong in this one
Aleah as Leia, photo by Jon Clay
“Someone has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, fly boy.”
-Princess Leia Organa
Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia was the first female hero I remember. Her take no crap, get the job done toughness was something rare and new and inspiring. Although female heroes are still more rare than they should be, I’m very thankful for strong women like Carrie Fisher and projects like Star Wars that recognize the value of all people.
Jon took this photo back in 2014 at Fish Ladder Park in Grand Rapids. View his photo bigger, see more in his Cosplay/Costume slideshow, and be sure to follow Jon Clay Photo on Facebook.
Icy Straits
Icy Straits, photo by Michigan Nut Photography
As I work on the year in review of the year’s top photos on Michigan in Pictures, I thought it would be cool to share regular contributor John McCormick’s favorite 2016 photos on his Michigan Nut Photography site. A couple made Michigan in Pictures this year and the choice of which one to feature was hard so check them all out!
View John’s photo bigger and purchase it as well and be sure to follow him on Facebook as well!
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple, photo by Matt Burrows
I hope that you have the day off today. If not, I hope you’re doing better than the reindeer who’s missing his horn.
About the photo Matt writes:
Taken with an iPhone 3GS (ShakeItPhoto app). This was just as it appears in the basement of a Christmas party my wife and I attended. This very well could be the photo Santa points to whenever one of the reindeer refuses to oblige with his commands. Tis the season?
View it background big and see more in his Most Interesting slideshow.
Snow Glow
Snow Glow, photo by Jerry James
It’s not Rudolph, but I think the Grand Haven South Pierhead will be enough light for anyone navigating the Michigan skies tonight.
Jerry took this from the North Pier with an Olympus OMD EM5 Mark II with a 40-150 f 2.8 pro lens. View it bigger and see more in his slideshow.
Holly Jolly
Saugatuck Fall 2009, photo by Richard Deming Photography
I’d like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season, which includes Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, St. Stephen’s Day, Festivus, New Year, and of course general good will and fortune. If an inclusive wish of holiday cheer is in any way offensive, I’d mention the giving and loving spirit of the season and wish you the very best of it!
View Richard’s photo bigger, see more in his Saugatuck Fall 2009 slideshow.
Snowy Barn
Red Barn … snowy’d, photo by Ken Scott
For all their possible danger when you’re driving too fast for the conditions, our winter roads can be lovely at the right speed!
View Ken’s photo bigger, see more in his Barns slideshow, and if you’re looking for a last-minute gift, how about his 2017 Best of the Back Pages calendar.
An Ode to the Winter Solstice
An Ode to the Winter Solstice, photo by Cherie
EarthSky’s page on the winter solstice says:
The solstice happens at the same instant for all of us, everywhere on Earth. In 2016, the December solstice comes on December 21 at 5:44 a.m. EST. That’s on December 21 at 10:44 Universal Time. It’s when the sun on our sky’s dome reaches its farthest southward point for the year. At this solstice, the Northern Hemisphere has its shortest day and longest night of the year.
…At the December solstice, Earth is positioned in its orbit so that the sun stays below the north pole horizon. As seen from 23-and-a-half degrees south of the equator, at the imaginary line encircling the globe known as the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun shines directly overhead at noon. This is as far south as the sun ever gets. All locations south of the equator have day lengths greater than 12 hours at the December solstice. Meanwhile, all locations north of the equator have day lengths less than 12 hours.
For us on the northern part of Earth, the shortest day comes at the solstice. After the winter solstice, the days get longer, and the nights shorter. It’s a seasonal shift that nearly everyone notices.
View Cherie’s photo background big and see more in her Michigan can be a Winter Wonderland slideshow.
Saxon Falls on the Montreal River
Saxon Falls on the Montreal River, photo by Marty Hogan
GoWaterfalling’s page on Saxon Falls says (in part):
Saxon Falls is located on the Montreal River just a few miles upstream of Superior Falls, about 10 miles west of Ironwood. The Montreal River forms part of the border between Michigan and Wisconsin so the falls is technically in both states. It can be visited from either side, but both require a bit of work.
Like Superior Falls there is a dam and power plant here and the water is diverted. Unlike Superior Falls there is no visitor friendly viewing area for the falls. The falls are large and complicated. I visited the Wisconsin side where trees obscure most views of the falls. There are more drops than the one pictured. This is the upper drop. The lower drop is best seen from the Michigan side.
Read on for visiting tips!
View Marty’s photo background bigilicious and see more in his 2016 October Photo Trip slideshow. Seriously, do it – some awesome photos there!
Bonaparte’s Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull, photo by Zach Frieben
All About Birds has this to say about Bonaparte’s Gull:
A small, graceful gull with bright white patches in its wings, the Bonaparte’s Gull winters near people, but breeds in the isolated taiga and boreal forest (north of us in Canada)
The Bonaparte’s Gull is the only gull that regularly nests in trees.
The English name of the Bonaparte’s Gull honors Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who made important contributions to American ornithology while an active member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia during the 1820s. The scientific name philadelphia was given in 1815 by the describer of the species, George Ord of Philadelphia, presumably because he collected his specimen there.
View Zach’s photo from Noah Lake in Three Rivers background big and see more in his Migrating MI Birds slideshow.
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