Aimless Aiming 9/10/2010

I love Thursdays.  That’s the day I get to look through my camera memory card and pick and choose from hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of photos I’ve taken over the last week that don’t fit into any particular category.  These are pictures that happened because I saw something interesting and had my camera handy to capture it – totally spur of the moment photography.  If I kept my camera in its case – deep inside my purse, I would never get these shots.  Too much trouble!  But I have taken to either squeezing my caseless camera into my pants pocket (making sure the pocket is deep enough – my camera hit the pavement last week at 25 mph as I biked down Cadotte, simply because my jean capris have very shallow pockets) or the pocket of my jacket or sweater. In one simple motion, I can take the camera out of my pocket, turn it on, aim, shoot, turn it off, and slip it back into my pocket – 15 seconds tops!  Well, unless what originally drew my eye continues to be interesting from another angle.

Below are photos shot this week – mostly downtown and up Cadotte around the Grand Hotel.  Enjoy!

The world of Mackinac Island - over the shoulder of the carriage driver.

 

The Visitors Center, where Ted was working today, is getting a new coat of paint. After Labor Day, when crowds are smaller, maintenance begins on buildings all over the island. There is a small window of opportunity to get the work done before the weather is too cold, and the snow drifts are too high.

 

A private carriage tour horse gets a mid-afternoon treat from his driver.

This flower planter runs the entire width of Doud's market. No one has told it yet that fall is here, and summer is over.

A Grand Hotel omnibus driver chats with his passengers in the street beside the Arnold dock.

Nancy, an island friend and hostess at the Seabiscuit Cafe, stands at the entrance to the restaurant.

Things are slowing down on the streets. Moms and dads have returned home to put children in school. Next to come will be parents with pre-school children and retirees eager to see beautiful Michigan in the Fall.

The roofline of a lovely home across the street from the boardwalk.

Windemere Point on the west end of town. Visitors can sit at picnic tables and watch the ferries and freighters come and go.

Fall has a way of making the most simple scene into something astonishing. The light is just different - turning clouds into skyscapes.

The color of this tree is different than it was last week. Summer is slipping out of its green dress and preparing to slip on the carnival colors of Fall.

Will I ever tire of photographing Round Island Light? No.

A flower garden spotted through a white picket fence.

Monarch butterflies were everywhere today. I've never seen so many anywhere that I've ever lived. Are they migrating through Michigan right now?

A Shepler's Ferry races to the island to pick up daytrippers and carry them back to the mainland . . .

. . . a moment later its route took it parallel to a freighter, giving another perspective of the enormity of those ships.

A single, perfect hollyhock . . .

. . . stands guard over the Straits of Mackinac.

A tiny hint of color in the Grand Hotel shade garden.

A view of Cadotte from under the trees in front of the Grand.

The setting sun kisses the tops of the trees at Surrey Hill.

My favorite photo of the week. This sweet little senior couple was sitting on the boardwalk bench, watching the sun's play on the water. In the lady's lap were several types of fudge, spread out on a napkin, and they were taking turns feeding each other the samples. So dear I almost cried.

As I was about to publish the blog Thursday evening, I received three photographs from Mary of The Grand Hotel.  She photographed these Monarch butterflies in the Burroughs lot (between the Grand and the Island school) yesterday afternoon.  Totally awesome!

 

 

Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!  I hope that some of our cooler weather is reaching down into the southern part of the U.S. by now.  If so, I know you’ll all be out enjoying it!  Stay safe, and I’ll see you back right here on Monday morning, good Lord willing.  God bless.