There are several facebook pages and Instagram accounts that share photos from Michigan Photographers, probably the most famous is Pure Michigan. One thing I have noticed, is when a photo is featured, people never seem to click on the link to the photographers social media pages.  So I am asking you a kindness. When you see a photo you like check out the photographer that took the photo and visit their galleries.

here are some of my favorite Michigan landscape Photographers, I hope you will click on the links and check out their work, I think they create truly spectacular photos, better than the photos I take.  On their websites you will find links to facebook and instagram, I am sure they would love it if you followed them.

Michigan Nut Photgraphy – John McCormick

Neil Weaver Photography

Michigan Nature Photos – Greg Kretovic

22 North Photography – Brian Edward

Todd and Brad Reed 

Craig Sterken Photograhy

Gary R. Ennis Photos

C & C Fritz Photogaphy – Curt Fritz

Beek Brothers Photography – Michael and Lee Beek

Daniel Frei Photography 

Snap Happy Gal Photography –

Lake Superior Photo

 Pure Saginaw this is a shameless plug for my other website, if your from Saginaw, I hope you will check it out

I hope you will Subscribe to Lost In Michigan 

[fbcomments]

You know what they say in Michigan. “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it will change”. I thought I would do a post on how I deal with the weather when taking photos. Not so much as camera settings and weather proofing, but what and where to photograph when Mother nature gives less than Ideal conditions.

the Davenport House in Saline, the sun was directly behind the house when I took this photo. It would have been nice to take this pic in early morning or late evening but It was what it was when I was there. It was to beautiful of house not to stop and take a photo

 

When it’s nice and sunny, I like to photograph big open spaces that show a lot of sky, such as farm fields or the shoreline of a lake. The best time is sunrise or sunset, but I still like to take pics all day long. The mid-day sun is harsh and most photogs will tell you to stop taking photos but I don’t want to stop taking pics just because its not perfect, what in life is perfect. In bright sunlight It’s best to have the sun at your back so you are taking photos of buildings so if the sun is in the east then take pics of buildings facing west. If I find someplace I really like I will take a pic of it no matter what and then remember to go back and get a pic when conditions are better.

When it’s cloudy, I like to photograph downtown areas, that way I don’t have to worry about shadows on buildings. On a sunny day you could have half a building in sunlight, and the other in shade. I will make for a difficult situation when photographing. I also like to convert the cloudy day photos into black and white since the color captured on a cloudy day tends to be a little blah.

Seven Bridges in Kalkaska on a rainy day. I used to dispise the rain, I would only get one weekend to get pics of the the fall colors and it would rain. I have gotten some of my best photos on rainy days and I wish for them when I am doing waterfall photos.

 

When it’s raining out I like to photograph trails and streams in forest and parks. Leaves and grass are nice and saturated when they are wet, and since the sky is nothing but gray, it’s hidden by the trees. Rainy days are the perfect day to get photos of waterfalls if you are near one. If you have a tripod rainy days are the perfect day to use it.

The Strand in Lansing. I like taking photos of downtown areas on cloudy days to avoid harsh shadows. I also like converting the pics to black and white on cloudy days.

 

I love taking photos in northern Michigan, but since I can only make it up there a few times a year Mother Nature likes to challenge me with not so perfect weather, but I still photograph anyways. I have learned that you can still get some beautiful photos, even if they are not of sunny skies and sunsets, you just have to go with what you are given and not “force” a photo that’s not there. Check out my blog post HERE if you want to know how I find the places I photograph 

It would mean a lot to me if you Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

The Richard C Burtis house in Watrouseville, also known as “The Wedding Cake House”

When I go out on a whirlwind tour someplace I am not familiar with to get photos, I think of it as similar to fishing. I make some plans, but I never know what I am going to get. I usually start my trips with a little research, and have a destination in mind, that way if I am going to drive an hour or two, I know I will have some photos I like. I usually plan on visiting well known landmarks, like a lighthouse or waterfall, I also check and see if there are some historical markers I can take pics at. I try to drive one route on the way there, and a different route on the way back to see as much as I can and get the most out of my trip since gas is so expensive.

I try to take back roads that go thru towns, instead of the interstate, sure the interstate is faster, but it’s kinda boring. I try to take back roads also from town to town, sometimes there is an obvious road that will take you to the next town, it was probably a wagon trail before there were cars, but the highway system made it obsolete. It’s usually along these roads I find old cemeteries, churches and schools. As long as we are on the subject of cemeteries, I have found that around old cemeteries, I see some of the most interesting things, like old houses and buildings. Most likely, the people buried in the cemetery, lived and worked in the places I find. I also like to travel down roads that run along rivers, besides the scenery of the river, most early settlers in Michigan built along the rivers, probably as lumber towns to float logs to the mill.

Old General Store in Kilmanagh

Since I live in Saginaw, and it’s hard to make it up to the U.P. and other well known natural Michigan landmarks, I photograph in central Michigan a lot. Central Michigan can be a real challenge in winter, ponds and rivers are frozen and snow covered and when I photograph them, they just look like snow covered fields. The towns have snow piled up on the sides of the roads, and are not attractive, that’s why I tend to photograph old houses and barns in the countryside. I take all my photos from public roads and sidewalks and do not trespass.  As the snow melts and spring approaches I will start taking more pics of downtown areas. I want to get some pics of Detroit and other large cities this spring.

I hope that gives you a little insight as to how I find the places in my photos. Some of it’s planning and sometimes it’s just plain old luck, but as they say “Chance favors the prepared” and I always have my camera with me.

It would mean a lot to me if you Subscribe to Lost In Michigan

Old Michigan Bean Elevator in Henderson