Winter in the Midwest

Anyone interested in a winter shoot somewhere in the Midwest? I'm not a regular poster on the forum although I read the posts quite often and offer information when I can.

Looking through my portfolio-winter images of the Midwest are seriously lacking. I think it would be good to put together a short trip to some good shooting location/s for winter scenes. I'm in Eastern Iowa which doesn't have much to offer during the winter but would enjoy getting together with others to photograph some winter scenes.

I'd like to meet and photograph with the members of the group so if there is some ideas out there let's hear them.

Rob Haman

Southern WI and MI should both be good places for images to add to your winter portfolio. In fact...we (Southwest MI) received our first measurable snowfall today....a good 4-5 inches....with more in some other places.

Not sure what you are thinking of for images but I am up to get togather some time. You are in Eastern IA I am in Western IL so we can't be too far apart. I didn't catch much Fall color so I am waiting for Snow.

Well, I never know when I'll be there but here is where I'd go. Head to the NE part of the state around Effigy Mounds Nat Mon and from there up and down the Mississippi river bluff country. You get some nice scenics in the area.

Have fun and stay warm.

And if I do get back there this winter I'll post here and see if we can throw a quick get together on.

Rob, thanks for posting this topic. I'm in the same category (not enough winter files) and would love to meet up with other members here to so some winter shooting. I was thinking along the lines of northern MI where there are miles and miles of snowmobile trails/and or snowshoeing opportunities. A long weekend in January perhaps? I'll be checking back here to see what develops. Thanks again,

Brian

I may be interested in some winter shooting as well, I need to add some snow to my portfolio...

Depending on the date/location I might be in.

I was thinking along the lines of northern MI where there are miles and miles of snowmobile trails/and or snowshoeing opportunities. A long weekend in January perhaps? I'll be checking back here to see what develops. Thanks again,




One of the places I've thought of is Michigan, I've been to the UP many times during late summer and fall but never winter. Northern Michigan proper is a location I've never been to at all so ideas are welcome.

I've been to Yellowstone a couple of times on snowmobile and loved it, if there's some interest in northern MI and someone familiar with the area and snowmobile routes this could be a good trip.

Let's keep talking

FYI: I'll most likely have limited access through the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm off to SW Utah for some photography.

Rob

Chicago is midway to everywhere, so dependent on dates, this sounds like a "cool" idea. Actually getting some sleds would make covering that area alot easier and offer better vistas than in a car on a slick 2 lane. I've been to the UP for skiing before going out west to real mts. many, many years ago, I'd love to go back, just needed a reason. (if you'll have me)!
I'll be watching

Brian,
You mentioned Northern Michigan as a destination, I've never been to the northern part of the state proper - just the UP. Is this an area you've been to?

Rob

Wherever ya'll decide to go, it's usually best to try to time it with good ole sticky snow blizzards, so the tree's have that beautiful silver lining, and all the old foot prints are hidden.
Door county will provide plenty of beautiful barns.

Rob, I've been to all corners of the state. We use our hands a lot here as maps. If you look at the palm of your right hand, northern MI would be anywhere in the fingers as far as the lower peninsula, and of course the entire UP is included. Snowfall amounts vary from region to region due to the lakes. In the lower peninsula, the snow belt is along Lake Michigan. The UP always has more snow, but some regions have a lot more than others. The best/deepest snow is along Lake Superior, but there are trails all across the UP. My preference would be in/around Munising (Alger County UP) as a base. You have Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to the east, a lot of undeveloped inland lakes to the south, a high concentration of waterfalls and all around is the Hiawatha National Forest. These are all reasons why Canon/Outdoor Photographer named this area in its 100 best photo locations in the world.

There are a lot of photo workshops conducted in this area in summer and fall, but I don't know of any in the winter. I would like to use this trip as for scouting the possibilities of offering a winter photo workshop in this area. Below are some links that help flesh out what I'm proposing:

http://www.upsnowmobiling.com/
http://www.munising.com/Snow/

The latest snow report says Alger County had 12" of snow in the past 24 hours!

Brian

South Haven and that area along Lake Michigan in SW MI will also have at least a foot of snow on the ground by tonight, thanks to lake effect.

Hey all,
It sounds like the UP may be a good location, I've been there many times for fall color and have thought winter would be interesting. I heard that some of the falls create very nice ice forms along with the flow of water.
When- is the next question. For myself taking a long weekend during the winter is pretty easy so I'm flexible.

Rob

My schedual is filling up. I want to catch Eagles here and would like to get South to MO to catch some Swan& Eagle shots. When we get some snow I want to get back to Fall Creek.

I will be doing alot of eagle shots all winter along the mississippi from bellvue iowa to the quad cities. Have gotten a couple recently but they wont get thick here until january when theres ice on the river.