Hi everyone...I hope you are all having a great spring and enjoying the birds, wildflowers and--------- rain-----grrrrrrrrrr! ( but I think that the weather is on the way back to where it should be this time of year---warmer!)
I have been visiting some other regional areas here on NPN recently. Some of them are really very active and offer some good information.
We have some really good photographers here in this area. I would encourage you all to share some of your recent shoots here with us and maybe some good locations and other info that offer opportunities we might not other wise know.
For example--check out the Pacific N.W area here on NPN. These folks are really active and have some great interactive "happenings" here on NPN.
I don't think that we ( me included) take advantage of all our NPN dues offer sometimes.
Me to. Problem is I haven't clicked a shutter for landscapes in the midwest since last fall!!! Had a trip to the Smokies recently and have an upcoming one in Utah/Arizona/Colorado though...so I have been shooting.
Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Park near Empire, MI. Momma dune at 450 feet high, looking down from the lookout point...that's Lake Michigan at the bottom of the dune.
Best time to visit is/was the last two weeks in May before the tourist rush, or in the fall. Spectacular views of the lake and both North and South Manitou Islands (the baby bears) from atop the dunes.
Ok, let me play. Midwest landscape images seem hard to find. I'm always looking for images that do not say midwest when viewed. I find a few here and there, only to have something man made in my comp that really makes me I have been very active in my searches as of late and if my plans turn out well this week I will make others aware.
The posted image was taken at Turkey Run State Park. There were hundreds of Dogwoods in the park and I swear I tried to compose just about all of them and never found a striking image. I did come across this little cascade that I had not seen flow like this, but with all the rain I guess it had to go somewhere. The image is small since I don't feel like opening up PS to resize the larger version ( it's been a rough couple of days ).
Tony, I like your shot it makes me want to check out the area for possible sunrise/set shots, especially since it appears the view should be outstanding.
Everybody wake up now
Posted by Toni Lankerd on May 28, 2006 at 12:11 AM
Thanks! That would be sunset from this side, Robert, but if you go to another lookout spot within this same area, you can get the sunrise. There is a national park campground not far away....nice place to stay if you camp out.
WOW! this looks like something out of Florida or the Caribbean! The hue of the( blue) water is wonderful. How far up in Michigan is this? Maybe we can have a get together there in the fall? Dan????????
Robert, I also like isolating water going over rocks etc that are all over the place. Is Turkey Run in Indiana?
It's good seeing activity here !
Both images are great. We really DO have a lot of good photog's here!
Jack.......all the lakes up in that area, including Lake Michigan, look like that! Crystal clear and cleeeeeeean! SBD is a 3 hour drive from the Grand Haven/Muskegon area, longer if you take the lake route from Manistee and make numerous stops.
Maybe half hour west of Traverse City? By the way, it's the Platte River campground that's nearby, one of the better ones and run by the NP system.
Robert, I do like your image and should have mentioned it in my previous post (I was too tired to think! ). Finding any type of waterfall in the Midwest is difficult, unless you go to the UP!
Here's another....this one of Crystal Lake, south of SBD on M22.
That's neat, Jack. I remember seeing these when I was at CVNP a few years ago, but didn't have the chance to shoot them.
As far as I know, there are only one or two decent falls in the Lower Pen. of MI and more than likely not in the western portion due to all the sand which sucks up the water.
As for fall colors in the northern portion of lower MI, peak is around the 10-15th or so of October in a normal year. We had better fall colors last year in the Muskegon area then they did, due to shortage of rainfall up there.
Toni, first let me apologize for mis-spelling your name. Like I mentioned it has been a very rough week for me -please forgive my lack of attention.
Jack, Turkey Run is in Indiana. The park itself is not all the large, but I do go there as well as Shades State Park since they are close together. I usually go for exercise more than photography. There are images here and there to take at both, but like I mentioned I'm always trying to look at things different.
Also, Jack that waterfall is nice, what I find ironic is that I could take a pic of a waterfall we have here at McCormicks Creek SP that is very, very similiar looking. I think I have a slide of it here someplace; if I come across it I'll give it a scan and post
The Sleeping Bear Dunes area is very nice, and includes much more than dunes. There are nice small inland lakes such as Glen Lake (shown here), and a large collection of historic farm buildings sprinkled around the National Lakeshore. It's well worth a visit, and is easy to reach; it's about 4 hours north of South Bend, as point of reference.
Not a problem,Robert...it's not the first nor will it be the last time that my name is mispelled.
Danny..your posted image threw me for a loop for a second...I just edited one of mine which is darn near identical! Taken from Inspiration Point on Pierce Stocking Drive, right?
Port Oneida has been designated a historical area where the farms are. Quite a few of them have now been restored and there are some south of Empire which I have yet to find. The farms make for excellent B&W and IR subjects.
And oh yes....around mid May just south of Empire you will find the woods and roadside blanketed with Trillium! Something to remember for next spring.
Posted by Robert Helms on May 29, 2006 at 10:41 PM
Toni, Turkey Run is just east of US41and just south of Crawfordsville. I'll post a shot of it in the fall I took last year, but was about 5 days late on the color. I may not go out of my way to visit Turkey Run but if are somewhat close, I can't recall exactly where you live, but know it is close to Holland, MI., Turkey Run and Shades State Parks may be worth a visit.
I'm planning on a photo trip to Starved Rock State Park in ILL soon. This trip will be very short notice since I'm going as soon as the weather forecast shows 2 or 3 good consecutive days.
Nice shot, Robert! I like the warmth of the image and the reflections of color in the water.
That's quite a ways down from here. I'm in the Grand Haven/Spring Lake area just north of Holland and it's a two hour drive to the border of MI/IN alone....probably a good five hour drive to Turkey Run.
I'm off to Cincinnati tomorrow until Sunday or Monday to visit my youngest son. He and I are going to play tourist for a couple days, at least, and hope to come away with a few good images.
Enjoy Oregon, Jack. Not sure what my fall plans will be this year, but maybe we can get together and shoot somewhere. If this humidity continues I'm going to be begging for fall to get here, already.
Robert, if all else fails, make a trip up here....there's plenty of fall color in this area too, without driving all the way to SBD.
Hot and humid here too, and I'm heading south??? I must be crazy!
Posted by Robert Helms on May 30, 2006 at 11:38 PM
Toni, you are definitely crazy. I completely hate this weather; the absolute only good about it is the fact that when the sun first rises it creates some good sunbeams.
I took a trip up to the Upper Penisula, during the fall a couple years back. My dates weren't flexible I got there just a day after a wind storm caused all the leaves to fall. That was about as bad a drive and heading out west along I-70 through Kansas. I did get a couple sunrise images along Lake Superior, but I went for fall color. At least I came home with something. This year I am on vacation in Oct. I would like to be able to head north and work my way down. Last time I tried leaving the state during the fall I ended up missing the peak here, but I'm willing to try again.
Enjoy your visit to Ohio, and I hope the weather is better for you in Ohio than it currently is here.
Robert, by the first of October, most likely the UP will be in full peak color, of not already heading towards past peak. Mid Michigan is at peak around the middle of October, so take it from there.
I did have fairly good weather in OH, thanks! Quite warm the first day, but then it cooled off a bit. After rain on Friday, the rest of the weekend was superb, weather wise!
By the way, for those close to the MI/IN border.....heading north on US 31 yesterday almost as soon as I came into MI, the grassy areas on both sides of the highway and the median was totally covered with purple flowers. What a beautiful sight that was!! Too bad I was running late and didn't have time to stop and get a few shots.
Well, Toni I don't think I'll be close to the border in order to take advantage of the flowers, though I do appreciate the info. I'm almost ready for fall and that's sad I'm so willing to get back into the colder months so soon. The weathers been a lot less humid the last few days. Now if I could just get the right conditions to shoot the waterfall I been eyeing lately I'll be pleased ,and willing to postpone my desire for fall color.
Glad you enjoyed your trip.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on June 10, 2006 at 8:44 AM
Robert, If you have the chance, especially if the weather is too warm, head for Lake Michigan. Even near the border of MI and IN you'll find dunes and many other interesting subjects to shoot....plus, if the wind is coming across the lake, it will be about 10 degrees cooler near the lake.
Now wait for a cloudy day and shoot those waterfalls!
Discussion
24 repliesI have been visiting some other regional areas here on NPN recently. Some of them are really very active and offer some good information.
We have some really good photographers here in this area. I would encourage you all to share some of your recent shoots here with us and maybe some good locations and other info that offer opportunities we might not other wise know.
For example--check out the Pacific N.W area here on NPN. These folks are really active and have some great interactive "happenings" here on NPN.
I don't think that we ( me included) take advantage of all our NPN dues offer sometimes.
Just my $0.02. Thoughts?
Good shooting!
JG
Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l Park near Empire, MI. Momma dune at 450 feet high, looking down from the lookout point...that's Lake Michigan at the bottom of the dune.
Best time to visit is/was the last two weeks in May before the tourist rush, or in the fall. Spectacular views of the lake and both North and South Manitou Islands (the baby bears) from atop the dunes.
The posted image was taken at Turkey Run State Park. There were hundreds of Dogwoods in the park and I swear I tried to compose just about all of them and never found a striking image. I did come across this little cascade that I had not seen flow like this, but with all the rain I guess it had to go somewhere. The image is small since I don't feel like opening up PS to resize the larger version ( it's been a rough couple of days ).
Tony, I like your shot it makes me want to check out the area for possible sunrise/set shots, especially since it appears the view should be outstanding.
Everybody wake up now
Outstanding viewpoints is right!
WOW! this looks like something out of Florida or the Caribbean! The hue of the( blue) water is wonderful. How far up in Michigan is this? Maybe we can have a get together there in the fall? Dan????????
Robert, I also like isolating water going over rocks etc that are all over the place. Is Turkey Run in Indiana?
It's good seeing activity here !
Both images are great. We really DO have a lot of good photog's here!
JG
JG
Maybe half hour west of Traverse City? By the way, it's the Platte River campground that's nearby, one of the better ones and run by the NP system.
Robert, I do like your image and should have mentioned it in my previous post (I was too tired to think! ). Finding any type of waterfall in the Midwest is difficult, unless you go to the UP!
Here's another....this one of Crystal Lake, south of SBD on M22.
We have a few waterfalls here in Ohio too. here's not as many and where you are, but the ones that are here are pretty good!
I have a pretty busy October. When is peak color up there? Anything going in late September?
This is BLUE HEN FALLS here in the CVNP. Taken last fall.
JG
As far as I know, there are only one or two decent falls in the Lower Pen. of MI and more than likely not in the western portion due to all the sand which sucks up the water.
As for fall colors in the northern portion of lower MI, peak is around the 10-15th or so of October in a normal year. We had better fall colors last year in the Muskegon area then they did, due to shortage of rainfall up there.
Jack, Turkey Run is in Indiana. The park itself is not all the large, but I do go there as well as Shades State Park since they are close together. I usually go for exercise more than photography. There are images here and there to take at both, but like I mentioned I'm always trying to look at things different.
Also, Jack that waterfall is nice, what I find ironic is that I could take a pic of a waterfall we have here at McCormicks Creek SP that is very, very similiar looking. I think I have a slide of it here someplace; if I come across it I'll give it a scan and post
Danny..your posted image threw me for a loop for a second...I just edited one of mine which is darn near identical! Taken from Inspiration Point on Pierce Stocking Drive, right?
Port Oneida has been designated a historical area where the farms are. Quite a few of them have now been restored and there are some south of Empire which I have yet to find. The farms make for excellent B&W and IR subjects.
And oh yes....around mid May just south of Empire you will find the woods and roadside blanketed with Trillium! Something to remember for next spring.
I remember that place now and also McCormick. I went to IU in Blooming ton ( grad in 1975).
JG
I'm planning on a photo trip to Starved Rock State Park in ILL soon. This trip will be very short notice since I'm going as soon as the weather forecast shows 2 or 3 good consecutive days.
That's quite a ways down from here. I'm in the Grand Haven/Spring Lake area just north of Holland and it's a two hour drive to the border of MI/IN alone....probably a good five hour drive to Turkey Run.
I'm off to Cincinnati tomorrow until Sunday or Monday to visit my youngest son. He and I are going to play tourist for a couple days, at least, and hope to come away with a few good images.
You'll loves Starved Rock. It can be crowded in the summer. Maybe we can get together at TRun this fall.
I am off to Oregon today to do a workshop next weekend. There ARE waterfalls there!
Cheers,
Jack
Bring back some great images!
Hot and humid here too, and I'm heading south???
I took a trip up to the Upper Penisula, during the fall a couple years back. My dates weren't flexible I got there just a day after a wind storm caused all the leaves to fall. That was about as bad a drive and heading out west along I-70 through Kansas. I did get a couple sunrise images along Lake Superior, but I went for fall color. At least I came home with something. This year I am on vacation in Oct. I would like to be able to head north and work my way down. Last time I tried leaving the state during the fall I ended up missing the peak here, but I'm willing to try again.
Enjoy your visit to Ohio, and I hope the weather is better for you in Ohio than it currently is here.
I did have fairly good weather in OH, thanks! Quite warm the first day, but then it cooled off a bit. After rain on Friday, the rest of the weekend was superb, weather wise!
By the way, for those close to the MI/IN border.....heading north on US 31 yesterday almost as soon as I came into MI, the grassy areas on both sides of the highway and the median was totally covered with purple flowers. What a beautiful sight that was!! Too bad I was running late and didn't have time to stop and get a few shots.
Glad you enjoyed your trip.
Now wait for a cloudy day and shoot those waterfalls!