A Place with No Cars

The first time I went to Mackinac Island, it was a brief stop in the itinerary for a summer trip up north with my nephew and two nieces.

They were seven, four, and two, so there were limits to what we could do at the time. We walked the main thoroughfare, got food, ice cream, and hiked a little. That was the extent of our visit before boarding the Star-Line back to the docks in Mackinaw City and heading back to our cozy little A-Frame in the woods.

Five years later, I had an opportunity to go again with Lauren Hom to get some behind-the-scenes shots of her shoot with Thrillist in collaboration with Pure Michigan. Lauren was a guide for viewers in the final video, which showcased some popular sights, sounds, and flavors of the island. Tagging along was a blast because I saw so much more of the island than I did back in 2017 with the little ones and I had plenty of time to take photos. 

There are lots of great ways to capture Mackinac Island, but in my years as a photographer I’ve found a deep appreciation for the small and quiet details of a place. The magic of a destination for me isn’t always in the big structures or grand views—it’s in the way a space receives the light, a well colored nook, a serendipitous moment. These are some of my favorite shots from the place with no cars. I hope you enjoy them.