Frigid Smiles!

Here's some better scenery than my previous post. Warm, happy smiles all around despite the frigid 21° temperature! Over a thousand runners participated in the charity run and raised more than $200,000 for the Childrens' Tumor Foundation. 

Cupids' Run 2014

Still gripped in the effects of the Polar Vortex, metro Detroit saw sunny skies and a high temp of 21° Saturday. Despite the frigid conditions, more than a thousand brave souls stripped down to their undies and raced through the streets of Motown...All in the name of charity! Over two hundred thousand dollars was raised for the Childrens' Tumor Foundation. 

Near Record Ice Cover

The NASA satelite image above shows the near-record ice cover over the Great Lakes as of Valentine's Day 2014. Ice cover is estimated to be at 88.4%. Lake Superior and Lake Huron are nearly entirely frozen over. Lake Ontario is only about 34% frozen over. The 1979 record of 95% ice cover may be safe as warmer temps are expected this week (finally!). If you have hopes of getting out on the frozen lakes this winter there's no time like the present!

Badger Olds

Travelling with some friends through Wisconsin last summer, we happened by a used car lot on the side of the road and stopped to explore the old relics with our cameras. It was a pretty interesting stop for a variety of reasons. When I pulled over to stop there was some grumbling among the group that the scene wasn't very interesting. "It's just a bunch of old, rusty cars." It was just a quick stop and after about twenty minutes we were on the road again. What was interesting is that everyone came away with some pretty cool images. Most in the group admitted they would have kept on going and missed an interesting photo opp…By stopping and investing just twenty minutes of time we were able to have some fun, make some interesting photos and learn a valuable lesson: you can't get the shot if you don't take the time to stop!

Rust "Seeps"

Yesterday I posted a photo of some "mineral seeps" along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Pictured here today is a close-up from an old rusty car I shot on the side of the road. The similarities are obvious and are just one example of patterns and designs repeating themselves in very different contexts throughout both the natural and man-made worlds. Design-wise, what works in one often will work in the other. Perhaps this is the best proof that there is an element of "truth" to the business of design!

Superior Mineral Seeps

While kayaking along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore I was constantly amazed by the variety and beauty of the many mineral seeps that give the famous rocks their name. On this particular morning the lake was amazingly calm and I was thrilled to capture the emerald green water and seeps in the same shot. 

View From the Lake

There are many beautiful hikes in and around the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigans' Upper Penninsula. The views can be spectacular. But here's a dirty little secret: the best views are from out on the lake! There are many ways to get out on the water but my favorite is to kayak. Sea kayaking is not for the faint of heart but the beautiful views and intimate perspectives are well worth the effort. If kayaking is not your thing then renting a pontoon boat is a great alternative.