There are many ways to absorb the astounding fall color enveloping the beautfiul Au Sable River, especially if you take River Road National Scenic Byway out of downtown Oscoda. It’s peppered with trails and overlooks, including the one shown here — Highbanks Trail. The river is considered a blue ribbon fishing stream, and is teeming with trout.
Photo Courtesy of Jeffrey/Jess Dobbs
Wagner Falls, just south of Munising, comes to life with vivid oranges and golds starting in September. The falls are nestled among old-growth trees, adding to their draw.
The warm russets, vivid yellows, and verdant greens of autumn pop against brilliant blue skies at Munising Falls, which is located in the westernmost portion of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The falls drop about 50 feet.
Meander over to Little Sable Point Lighthouse in Mears, south of Pentwater, during an autumnal sunset and you’ll take in quintessential Michigan. The light was originally built in 1874 and has undergone a few changes over the years. Located in Silver Lake State Park, the towering sentinel invites you to climb its 139 steps.
Rustic Negwegon State Park takes on a quiet vibe in the fall, and, actually, it’s quite quiet througout the year. Located off U.S. 23 north of Harrisville near Black River, the park features 8 miles of pristine Lake Huron shoreline that’s home to a mix of lowland areas, small ridges, and pockets of open meadows. The park is a great spot for finding bald eagles, Blanding’s turtles, and other special things we won’t divulge.
Peeking out of the Huron Natonal Forest is Alcona County’s Reid Lake Foot Travel Area’s Little Trout Lake. The very essence of this still ambience is exactly why our featured photographers wanted to call peaceful northeast Michigan their home.
Get to Tahquamenon Falls State Park (between the Upper Peninsula’s Newberry and Paradise) early in the morning if you want to observe the attraction’s ethereal, misty vibes. Thirty-five-plus miles of trails and multiple overlooks to the Upper and Lower Falls await in this special spot that’s part of the North Country Trail.
Photo Courtesy of Clayton Striker
Husband-and-wife team Jeffrey and Jess Dobbs chose to live in Glennie, in northeast Michigan, because they say it’s the most U.P.-like region in lower Michigan. “We initially wanted to move to the U.P., but we didn’t want to be that far from our family downstate,” Jeffrey says. “So we compromised and settled in Alcona County. We’re so blessed to live among endless natural beauty and vast forests.”
The Dobbses run Michigan.Photography (michigan.photography). While they’re both avid nature photographers, they’re also professional wedding and portrait photographers, as well as business and marketing photographers, through their company Framed by Nature Photography (framedbynaturephotography.com). They also own Intrigue Digital Services (intrigue-digital.com), through which they create websites, SEO, social channels, video, and more for dozens of clients.
For travel and nature photography, Jess’ favorite camera is her Nikon Z5; her preferred lens is a Sigma 135mm F1.8 Art. Jeffrey says he tends to be sentimental and often uses his 13-year-old Canon 6D and his slightly newer Nikon, but he admits that he can’t live without his Tamron SP 35mm F1.4. Jeffrey says he’s been interested in photography for as long as he can remember. When he was a child, back in the days of film, his grandmother helped him learn the basics on her old Minolta. In 2012, when he married Jess, he received a digital SLR as a wedding gift from his bride.
“That’s when we really got into it,” Jeffrey says. “She stole my camera so often, I had to get one for her, too. Taking photos of landscapes and nature really is what got us interested and passionate about learning the art of capturing light. The ‘people’ aspect came along secondarily, but opened the door to us becoming professionals.”
Jess’ path is similar. Her grandmother was a good photographer and inspired her granddaughter’s journey into learning the craft. “My can’t-live-without lens is my Tamron SP 35mm F1.4,” Jess says.
