by pArt of Life Photography | Feb 24, 2021 | Fine Art Photography, Nature Photography, Travel Photography |
Took a road trip this week-end for Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography! And boy, Upper Peninsula Nature Photography did not disappoint! The ice formations against the gorgeous and rugged rock is a site to behold. So, in case you didn’t know I’m a huge fane of Michigan, the state and especially the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! If you’re planning a trip and have any questions let me know. Just today a friend asked if they could fill a week around Munising. I quickly replied with an itinerary that should keep them all busy for a week, and then some. What started out as a trip to see the Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice quickly transformed to extending our destination to Munising. I can’t get that close to the UP and not go and stay for a bit. Even though I went to Michigan Tech in Houghton there is still quite a bit that I have not explored. We planned on going to the Eben Ice Caves in Eben Junction but doing a little more researched I switched out main destination the Ice Curtains in Munising.
So after a stop at the Mackinac Bridge and Tahquamenon Falls we spent the night in Munising. In the morning we drove to H-58, the road towards Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and took the turn off for Sand Point Road. We parked at the lot for Marsh Trail. This is also a popular spot for ice fishing out on the bay so it fills up and the day we were there people parked along the road even though it is technically not allowed. We walked back along the road until we saw the first sign (about 12″ square) noting the trail to No Boundaries. The trails are well travelled so the snow is backed but it’s not the easiest trek. This year there are fallen trees so we were climbing under and over them. The packed snow gets slick when there is an incline so even before you make it to the ice, ice cleats are pretty much a must have. People also slide down the trails where the decline is steep so so spots are really slick. At No Boundaries we watched some ice climbers. There were ice climbing lessons by Downwind Sports going which was cool to watch. Downwind Sports is a great store and the perfect place to buy your ice cleats, or rent equipment.
We returned to the road and continued back to the next signs for Amphitheater, then Dryer Hose then Curtains. Dryer Hose features a 35′ frozen waterfall, with more ice climbers. Grand Island has amazing ice formations and ice climbing but requires more time and logistics to get there and the ice is not as thick this year, although people are still making the trek. Next was Curtains Ice Formations. This place was especially amazing as it was the widest expanse, with such a variety of frozen ice flows, they look like works of art. It really shows off where and how much moisture seeps out of the rocks the rest of the year. The walk back to the car is only about 3/4 of a mile. I have links to my other Upper Peninsula Nature Photography at the bottom of this post. I plan to come back and hike more of the Marsh Trail in the summer, that follows along the top of this rocky bluff.
Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography
No Boundaries, first ice formation south of Sand Point Marsh trail parking lot
Dryer Hose, 35′ tall ice formation Munising Ice Curtains
Thanks for checking out my Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography. After lunch we took a tour with Lake Superior Ice Cave Tours to Miners Falls and Miners Castle in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Here are my summer Pictured Rocks photographs.
Upper Peninsula Travel Photography
Are you into hiking? If so, the North Country Trail in Michigan travels along the top of this rocky bluff. What a wonderful place to hike and take photographs. It’s on my bucket list to plan a hiking and photography trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and other fabulous spots in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Comment below if you want to keep in touch about future hiking and photography opportunities!
Upper Peninsula Nature Photography
Here are some more nature photography posts from my latest Pure Michigan Upper Peninsula winter photography trip to the Mackinac Bridge, Tahquamenon Falls and Munising. It was amazing!
Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice
MIners Castle Nature Photography
My nature photography is available in prints, metals and canvas, as well as custom creations. I’ve added most of the images from this trip if you are interested in new art for your walls or as a gift. Feel free to send me a message regarding custom orders or multiple purchases. I’d love to hear your comments or questions below. Thank you!
by pArt of Life Photography | Feb 23, 2021 | Fine Art Photography, Nature Photography, Travel Photography |
Blue Ice doesn’t happen in Michigan every year so when the Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice is there it’s time for a photography road trip! The ice looks blue when the air bubbles get squeezed out. However it happens it sure looks cool and is really something to partake. On my way north on the I-75 towards Mackinaw City Blue Ice the blue sky kept popping out but the clouds looked solid on the horizon so I figured it would be grey at the bridge, just like the forecast said. I kept driving and kept seeing blue skies! We arrived to a beautiful blue sky and a very cool cloud line as the backdrop for the afternoon. I didn’t realize just how much blue ice there was to see. Even though there were people around it was easy to find a spot with just you, blue ice and the Mighty Big Mac bridge. We walked west along the shore and checked out under the bridge. It was cool to get a closer look, standing on what was usually a few feet of water.
Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice
Thanks for checking out my Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice photography. After crossing the Mackinac Bridge we drove on to the upper Tahquamenon Falls, then Munising to explore the ice curtains along Sand Point Road, then a snowmobile sled ride to photograph Miners Castle and Miners Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. We also checked out Munising Falls. Pack your ice cleats, it’s time to hit the road!
Miners Castle and Miners Falls Nature Photography
Coming Soon:
Munising Ice Curtains
My nature photography is available in prints, metals and canvas, as well as custom creations. I still need to add all the image from this trip so I’d love for you to check back or feel free to send me a message for updates. I’d love to hear your comments or questions below. Thank you!
by pArt of Life Photography | Feb 22, 2021 | Fine Art Photography, Nature Photography, Travel Photography |
I took a photography field trip this week-end for some Miners Castle Nature Photography in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I really wanted to go back to this amazing spot in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In the winter the road to Miners Falls and Miners Castle is not plowed so getting there takes a long walk, with or without snow shoes or cross country skis, or a snowmobile. For me the choice was an easy one since it’s quite a long walk and we had other places we wanted to see on our too-short visit to Munising. By the way, every visit to the UP is too short in my book!
We booked a tour with Lake Superior Ice Cave Tours for their Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore Tour to Miners Castle Overlook and Miners Falls Trail Head. One of these years when the ice is right I’d love to go on one of their tours to Grand Island to see more fabulous ice formations. They pull sleds with seats behind their snowmobiles so you can bring along a camera bag, snow cleats, snacks, etc. The first stop on our tour was the trail head for Miners Falls. The walk is .6 miles through a snow laden forest. We were lucky to a have a sunny day, about 25° in February, just perfect! The trail is easy and the last half is slightly rolling and winding. The upper lookout is easily accessible. For the stops down to a better view you will really want ice cleats. It makes walking on the snow packed steps easy instead of treacherous. This was not the first time that day that ice cleats saved the adventure. With ice cleats you can also walk down to where these climbers were. There is an impressive rock overhang to the right. I love seeing where water seeps out of the rocks and freezes. At the top of the darker area of the falls you could see the water flowing underneath a layer of ice. It was so cool to see the rush of water!
Miners Falls Winter Photography
Miners Castle Nature Photography
We headed back up the steps then hiked back to the trailhead to hop back in the sleds for a ride to Miners Castle. There are few viewing spots to view the iconic Miner’s Castle. You’ve probably seen this view often in the past but to see it in the winter is another treat! Here she is in all her glory!
Don’t miss the lower overlook as well, just follow the fence line back towards the woods. The trail winds back and forth and is marked by a wooden railing. We did not need our ice cleats here. From here you are treated to a view of the Pictured Rocks and you get a close up view of Miners Castle.
Thanks for checking out my Miners Castle Nature Photography. It was a fabulous trip and with a ride from Lake Superior Ice Cave Tours you can fit more great adventures into your day. That morning I did some Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography along Sand Point Road. Here are my summer Pictured Rocks photographs.
Here are some more nature photography posts from my latest Pure Michigan Upper Peninsula winter trip to the Mackinac Bridge, Tahquamenon Falls and Munising. It was amazing!
Mackinac Bridge Blue Ice
Munising Ice Curtains Nature Photography
My nature photography is available in prints, metals and canvas, as well as custom creations. I’ve added most of the images from this trip so I’d love for you to check back or feel free to send me a message for updates. I’d love to hear your comments or questions below. Thank you!
by pArt of Life Photography | Sep 9, 2020 | Fine Art Photography |
I suppose my first love of photography was Fine Art Nature Photography. Nature photography was the subject of my first formal photography classes. I grew up obsessed with cameras and photography. I made my first camera out of cardboard and a spool of paper around a pencil so I could roll up the film. I would pull out a section of paper and draw a picture of what I saw. Luckily a real camera came into my life, and now the count is pretty high for how many cameras I’ve owned over the years. I also grew up with a darkroom in my house. I’m a second generation photographer. My dad was a World War II photographer on an aircraft carrier in the Navy. Later he took portraits and photographed some weddings since his full time job was elsewhere. He had a good friend that was a full time wedding photographer. I was a big fan of his as well.
Fine Art Nature Photography
So when I’m not photographing people and houses, which I love, I do find time for fine art photography. Both being out in nature and enjoying nature photographs on my wall and framed on shelves bring me such joy. I would love it if you took some time, sit back and relax while you are at it, and enjoy my fine art nature photography. My nature images are available in many different formats. I personally love canvases and you will love the quality of the products I offer, even after the years go by. Maybe I have some photographs of a favorite place of yours too. Or maybe it’s a photograph of a place that you would love to look at every day. Hopefully one of my sunflower photographs can brighten a spot in your home, even on a chilly day. A favorite gallery of mine is photographs of the Pictured Rocks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I can’t believe I waited so long to take a boat tour of the Pictured Rocks. If you haven’t been I highly suggest you add it to your list of places to go and experience. Photographs of Rochester Michigan’s Big Bright Light Show make great gifts. I have some metal ornaments and small prints, perfect on an easel, on hand and ready for you. I think the sunflower photos are fabulous printed on metal and mounted on barn wood and I have just that product available!
Here are a few of my fine art nature photographs. I look forward to more adventures around Michigan and beyond to capture more of the beauty of world and share it with you!
Fine Art Photography for Businesses
Did you know that stock photography on your website gets dinged by Google for your SEO (search engine optimization) rating. It’s best to use original content. My fine art nature photography can be licensed for web use. Local Photography is also a great choice grace the walls of your business, either by purchasing it or working out an agreement to borrow some wall images.
Thanks for looking! I’d love to help you find what you are looking for! I’m always happy to help with custom wart art or collections. Whether you like gallery wrapped canvases, metal prints, framed prints or even a coffee table book, I am happy to help.
by pArt of Life Photography | Jun 5, 2016 | Fine Art Photography |
I took a break from working on my website to go and capture my beautiful peonies before they are gone. The rain was really beating them down so I had to cut almost all of them. I filled three vases to overflowing and delivered vases to two neighbors. When the rain cleared I went out to capture some of the few remaining peonies on the bush. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
I must say I kind of took my peonies for granted until I learned last week that my mom’s parents would plant them in every place they lived in Canada. How cool is that?!? So here’s to my grandmother Melina, my daughter’s namesake.
So, which one is your favorite??
Did you know pArt of Life Photography offers Fine Art Nature prints? I’ll add my peonies as well.
by pArt of Life Photography | Sep 24, 2014 | Fine Art Photography, Travel Photography |
Life on the Rocks, macro nature photography in Michigan’s upper peninsula. I missed a couple months in the Life by Lens blog circle that I participate in. My awesome photographer friends have not given up on me so I’m back! These posts are a chance for me to try new things and showcase some of my personal work. This summer I spent a week in the north west corner of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. If you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of Michigan. Sure I love the lower peninsula, especially the northern part, but I do have a special place in my heart for the upper peninsula, especially the Keweenaw peninsula. I lived in the UP for five years when I attended Michigan Tech. For a few years I returned once or twice – it’s a long drive dontchaknow! But over the past four years I’ve just had to go back every year. This year we spent a week on Lake Superior in a ‘suburb’ of Eagle Harbor. It was divine! I’ve always loved the rocky dramatic shore here and it was great to really spent some time here. I had the idea to go out with my macro lens and capture ‘life on the rocks’ to show just how many living things have overcome the elements to survive on these rocks. If you know the UP you know the elements can be extreme, from wind, to frigid cold and an abundance of snow! Of course after scanning the water all week for loons, and spotting a couple at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, I was startled by the call of a loon behind me as I was out photographing the rocks one morning. Pretty ironic, when it was the only morning I wasn’t out checking the water. I’ve got so many more images to edit from my trip so you’re in luck – I’ll be sharing more soon! If you want to see more now I’ve added a Keweenaw gallery to the Nature page on my website… Michigan Upper Peninsula nature photography.
And please visit my friend Nghi of Nghi Le Photography, who is next up in the Life by Lens blog circle!
Awesome strength and textures on the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior
Some of the finer things that grow in the upper peninsula
Nature with determination in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula
Every evening of the week we were treated to a new variety of sunset. I will be sharing many more of them but one will have to suffice for now! Maybe you should subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss out! This image will be looked at daily for the next couple years since I jsut ordered a phone cover with this image. This image was taken with a Canon 8mm-15mm L fisheye lens. Update: some more Keweenaw landscape photos are up in the second gallery on Nature page. Michigan Upper Peninsula Nature Photography
Lake Superior Sunset, in all it’s glory!
Thanks for looking! I’d love for you to share your comments if you have a minute. If you haven’t explored Michigan and the UP let me know if you have any questions.
