RSS Feed- A Tribute to Dune Succession December 6, 2024The Cowles Bog Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park exemplifies dune succession, a concept pioneered by Henry Chandler Cowles. The process begins with marram grass, which stabilizes sand and enriches soil over time, allowing diverse flora, from flowers to oaks, to develop. This ecological transformation highlights the area's significance in American ecology. Continue reading → […]Mike MacDonald
- A Bunny’s View of a Springtime Woodland November 18, 2024In the woodlands of early May, shy waxy white blossoms of mayapples hide under their umbrella-like foliage. Continue reading → The post A Bunny’s View of a Springtime Woodland appeared first on The Heart of Nature™ by Mike MacDonald.Mike MacDonald
- It Can Take Decades September 22, 2024The image here showcases a hanging fen and a sedge meadow, two unique wetland habitats Mike has been trying to photograph for over twenty years. The fen, fed by a gravel hill's seep, features rare plants like Ohio goldenrod and sphynx lady tresses orchid, adapted to its alkaline water conditions. Continue reading → The post […]Mike MacDonald
- Go With the Blow February 1, 2024Go With the Blow Well, I did my first below-zero photo shoot of the winter season on January 15. It was one below, so it qualified. Most of the time, the wind is my nemesis. But on this bitter afternoon, … Continue reading → The post Go With the Blow appeared first on The Heart […]Mike MacDonald
- Winter Red January 31, 2024Winter Red So far this winter, the magic of frozen white was nowhere to be found. So, I tried to photograph it, anyway. With dense fog predicted for the morning of Dec. 24, I visited Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in … Continue reading → The post Winter Red appeared first on The Heart of Nature™ […]Mike MacDonald
- From Dreary to Dreamy February 11, 2022From Dreary to Dreamy Just in case you’re unaware, all of my images are available as big, beautiful photographic prints. More than just pretty, they tell elaborate stories that celebrate Chicago’s wondrous habitats and inhabitants. Click here for more information. … Continue reading → The post From Dreary to Dreamy appeared first on The Heart […]Mike MacDonald
- Sometimes You Just Need A Little Distance February 11, 2022Sometimes You Just Need A Little Distance The great blue heron is one of Chicago’s most recognizable and elusive birds. Pass by any wetland, and you’ll probably see one off in the distance, hunting motionless, like a statue in the … Continue reading → The post Sometimes You Just Need A Little Distance appeared first […]Mike MacDonald
- The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary” February 3, 2022The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary” I am both haunted and fascinated by a phrase that’s often used to praise and describe my work. It all came to a head one day after I performed my one-man show about Chicago nature. … Continue reading → The post The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary” appeared first on The […]Mike MacDonald
- The Boy and the Waterfall: A Photographer’s Story and Message of Hope January 1, 2021This is an inspirational true story about photographer Mike MacDonald, who unwittingly gives a little boy a deeply needed gift. Continue reading → The post The Boy and the Waterfall: A Photographer’s Story and Message of Hope appeared first on The Heart of Nature™ by Mike MacDonald.Mike MacDonald
- Light in Landscape Photography: A Matter of Life & Depth June 25, 2014Good light can bring shape and depth to a photograph. In particular, low side-lighting or “glancing light” can be used to transform your landscape photographs and make them come to life. In Photo A (below), the feathery June grass, yellow flowers of hoary … Continue reading → The post Light in Landscape Photography: A Matter of Life & […]Mike MacDonald
- A Tribute to Dune Succession December 6, 2024
Category Archives: Nature Photography
A Tribute to Dune Succession
The Cowles Bog Trail at Indiana Dunes National Park exemplifies dune succession, a concept pioneered by Henry Chandler Cowles. The process begins with marram grass, which stabilizes sand and enriches soil over time, allowing diverse flora, from flowers to oaks, to develop. This ecological transformation highlights the area’s significance in American ecology. Continue reading
Posted in Biodiversity, Chicago Nature, Digital Photography, Indiana Nature, Indiana Nature Photography, Lake County Indiana Nature, Landscape Photography, Landscape Photography, National Park Service, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography Lessons
Tagged autumn, beach, chicago nature, Cowles Bog Trail, dune, dune succession, dunes, Eastern cottonwood tree, ecological succession, foredunes, grasses, Henry Chandler Cowles, Lake Michigan, landscape, landscape photography, marram grass, plant succession, sand, sand dunes
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A Bunny’s View of a Springtime Woodland
In the woodlands of early May, shy waxy white blossoms of mayapples hide under their umbrella-like foliage. Continue reading
Posted in Chicago Nature, Digital Photography, Illinois Nature Photography, Lake County Illinois Nature, Landscape Photography, Landscape Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography Lessons
Tagged flowers, forest preserve district of will county, landscape, landscape photography, raccoon grove
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It Can Take Decades
The image here showcases a hanging fen and a sedge meadow, two unique wetland habitats Mike has been trying to photograph for over twenty years. The fen, fed by a gravel hill’s seep, features rare plants like Ohio goldenrod and sphynx lady tresses orchid, adapted to its alkaline water conditions. Continue reading
Go With the Blow
Go With the Blow Well, I did my first below-zero photo shoot of the winter season on January 15. It was one below, so it qualified. Most of the time, the wind is my nemesis. But on this bitter afternoon, … Continue reading
Posted in Chicago Nature, Digital Photography, Illinois Nature Photography, Lake County Illinois Nature, Landscape Photography, Landscape Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography Lessons
Tagged below zero photography, Dead River, Illinois Beach State Park, Lake Michigan, landscape, landscape photography, wind photography, Winter Photography
1 Comment
Winter Red
Winter Red So far this winter, the magic of frozen white was nowhere to be found. So, I tried to photograph it, anyway. With dense fog predicted for the morning of Dec. 24, I visited Illinois Beach Nature Preserve in … Continue reading
Posted in Chicago Nature, Digital Photography, Illinois Nature Photography, Lake County Illinois Nature, Landscape Photography, Landscape Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography Lessons
Tagged holly, Illinois Beach State Park, landscape, landscape photography, Winter Photography, winterberry
Leave a comment
From Dreary to Dreamy
From Dreary to Dreamy Just in case you’re unaware, all of my images are available as big, beautiful photographic prints. More than just pretty, they tell elaborate stories that celebrate Chicago’s wondrous habitats and inhabitants. Click here for more information. … Continue reading
Sometimes You Just Need A Little Distance
Sometimes You Just Need A Little Distance The great blue heron is one of Chicago’s most recognizable and elusive birds. Pass by any wetland, and you’ll probably see one off in the distance, hunting motionless, like a statue in the … Continue reading
The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary”
The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary” I am both haunted and fascinated by a phrase that’s often used to praise and describe my work. It all came to a head one day after I performed my one-man show about Chicago nature. … Continue reading
The Boy and the Waterfall: A Photographer’s Story and Message of Hope
This is an inspirational true story about photographer Mike MacDonald, who unwittingly gives a little boy a deeply needed gift. Continue reading
Light in Landscape Photography: A Matter of Life & Depth
Good light can bring shape and depth to a photograph. In particular, low side-lighting or “glancing light” can be used to transform your landscape photographs and make them come to life. In Photo A (below), the feathery June grass, yellow flowers of hoary … Continue reading