Flaming Red Oak

Flaming Red Oak, photo by CaptPiper.

Julie aka Piper asks: Did you know oaks could get this bright? I know I’ve never seen an oak that brilliantly red. Not even sure that I had seen that shade of red before seeing this photo!

One of the things I really like about the photo sharing site Flickr (where I find most of the photos seen on Michigan in Pictures) is the ability to search for photos based upon what Flickr calls “interestingness”. Interestingness is based on how many people have viewed (7,906), marked as a “favorite” (302) and commented (a bunch). This pic (taken October 26, 2005) is the most interesting ever on a search for “Michigan + Fall“.

Anyway, probably more than you want to know, but I think that the collective wisdom of the crowd nailed it with this one. Hope you get outside the next few weekends and see a lot of gorgeous fall color!

Autumn @ Chene Park

Autumn @ Chene Park, photo by DetroitBikeBlog

Mac says: When the frosts come they’ll drain the lake, but until then … . If you like color, head over to Detroit Bike Blog for some great photos of Detroti Street art & grafitti.

I’ve been looking at tons of Detroit photos from the Absolute Michigan pool over the last week. I’ve been making something that I really hope I can finish making and show folks soon!

Way after the fact update: I finished it. Check it out.

Chapel River Scene

Chapel River Scene, photo by jsorbieus.

This photo is part of a set of photos that show the beginnings of fall color on the UP’s rivers & waterfalls.

The color is coming people!

Through the viewfinder: Detroit at night

Detroit at night, photo by caterpillars

I was linking to “TTV” photos on Michigan in Pictures and noticed that the photo that had been here was lost in the mists of the internets. Fortunately, that lets me feature one of my all time favorite (if fake) TTV shots. You can (and should) check out Laura’s fake TTV slideshow.

Some resources for TTV photography:

• Through the Viewfinder (TTV) has some great basic information
• The Through the Viewfinder group on Flickr lets you see a bunch more pics
• Through the Viewfinder Discussions (the Contraptions one was particularly useful!)
• If you end up getting into this form of photography, you may want to submit your photos for consideration in the Through the Viewfinder Book

Michigan State Capitol & other Michigan Landmarks

Michigan State Capitol, photo by Larry the Biker.

Of his set of 50-odd photos titled Michigan Landmarks, Larry the Biker writes: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice — “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” Things you will only see in the Great Lake State!

In addition to famous landmarks like the Mackinac Bridge and the Tahquamenon Falls, the set includes some lesser known landmarks like the Horton Bay General Store and the Pontiac Silverdome. With many of the photos, Larry also includes links to information about the subject. Click the barn to view the set!

Orchestrated

Orchestrated by Jimtown

Kim took this photo on Friday in the Stonington area of Michigan’s Delta County (near Escanaba in the UP). Kim has taken a ton of great pictures of rural abandonment as well!

Red Skies over Muskegon

Untitled, photo by EVOgraphy

From the Small World Files: on Monday evening (at just about the time this picture was taken) my wife and I watched small tornados drop from the clouds over Lake Michigan (about 150 miles north of where this photo was taken).

Pinhole: Clock

Pinhole: Clock, photo by Matt Blackcustard.

Where does one cross the line from photography to fine art? Somewhere around 1:15, I’m guessing. I love the details on this photo: Paintcan pinhole camera, 4×5″ Fomapan 100, 5 elephant exposure, contact print onto expired Kodak Polycontrast Rapid II, developed in Dektol applied with a paintbrush. 5 Elephant exposure. Nice to see that the rigors of scientific photography are not being overlooked!

While we’re on the subject of pinhole photography & fun, Matt writes:

I ran a pinhole workshop for teens at the Ann Arbor District Library back in August. They made pinhole cameras from paint cans and cookie tins and then ran around outside taking pictures of each other for a couple of hours. It was lots of fun. Well now it’s time for the show! (click for event info)A selection of the work they made that afternoon (plus some photos of the workshop in action) is now on display at the AADL Malletts Creek branch, running until October 30th. There’s a reception Friday 22nd (that would be TONIGHT) from 5 – 6:30pm.

From the Shore of McLean State Park (Keweenaw Upper Entrance Lighthouse)

From the Shore of McLean State Park, photo by Mrs. Terry.

Terry Forrest lives in Boston but has taken quite a number of photos of Michigan lighthouses. She has photos available for sale at her photography web site, and you can see a bunch more photos of this lighthouse by clicking the thumbnail below!

If you’d like to see this lighthouse up close, Keweenaw Excursions offers a boat tour of Keweenaw lighthouses.

Lighthouse expert Terry Pepper writes:

With the meteoric growth of copper mining in the Keweenaw between 1843 and 1968, increased shipping access to the twin cities of Houghton and Hancock became increasingly important. To this end, the Portage River Canal was cut through a tamarack swamp at its western end in 1860, creating a channel 10 feet deep and 80 feet wide, opening full Portage River navigation for the largest vessels of the day from western Lake Superior…For reasons as yet undetermined, the original lighthouse was replaced with the existing fifty foot square steel Art Deco style tower at the end of the breakwater in 1950.

In the photos below you can really see the Art Deco influences.

Meet Alone at Night on the Basketball Courts

photo by Giancarlo Rinna

View this larger (along with many more photos) at Giancarlo’s photoblog.