Midwest Nature Photographers

Welcome!

Welcome to Midwest Nature Photographers (MWNP). We are a regional group of the Nature Photographers Network (NPN), a worldwide internet-based group of nature photographers.

Midwest Nature Photographers welcomes nature photographers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky (photographers from western Pennsylvania are also welcome to feel at home).

From the lakes of Minnesota to Hocking Hills in Ohio, our interest is in sharing the beauty of a part of the country that is often overlooked. We are blessed with four distinct seasons, abundant wildlife, uncrowded woodlands, lakes and prairies—and the most spectacular fall colors in the country!

Anyone interested in nature photography is welcome to join our discussion and attend events, all of which are free of charge. The forum on this site features members' photos and associated critiques. While anyone may view this material, only registered members may post photos or critiques. NPN members may post an image every 24 hours. Non-NPN members may post an image every 72 hours. MWNP encourages you to join NPN for many other benefits!

Our intent is to offer a variety of services to our members. As you browse this site, be sure to visit our pages for current and past events, member information, useful links, and area photo locations. If you would like to contribute information to any of these pages, please contact your webmaster.

Each season we update the MWNP banner with images reflecting that time of year. Keep an eye on the forum for quarterly calls for images.

Midwest Focus: Toni Lankerd

Each month we feature the photography of one of our members; we advance to the next member alphabetically.

This month's focus is on Toni Lankerd from Spring Lake, Michigan.

I have lived in southwestern Michigan for most of my life, immigrating to the United States at a young age from the Netherlands. After acquiring my first camera at the age of 12, my interest in photography grew (as did I through the years). I purchased my first 35mm SLR (a Pentax ME Super) in 1981 which I mainly used to record family milestones and vacations.

After taking a short course in photography, and with encouragement from the instructor, my interest in photography deepened. I began focusing my photographic compositions on scenic and landscape images due, in part, to my love of Nature. Knowing I needed to spread my wings, I stepped out of the box, so to speak, to move on to other subjects in the natural world: macro/closeups, flowers, avian and other wildlife. Living along the shores of Lake Michigan provides me with the endless opportunities for nature photography...from sand dunes to wildflowers and waterfowl.

In addition to Nature's creations, I also enjoy shooting man-made subjects, such as architecture, lighthouses and my favorite man-made subject at the moment...the beautiful tall sailing ships which occasionally grace the waters of the Great Lakes. I have used various film media to record my subjects: slides, B&W, and infrared film. In 2005 I acquired my first DSLR, which renewed my interest in photography.

I have been published in a few magazines: Yankee Magazine, Lakeland Boating, Sejer Publishing (out of France), and have done apartment model units for IPA Management. Having a wide variety of subjects helps! Some of my images are displayed in a local frame/matte shop, including a poster print of our local lighthouses and pier. Other images have been sold through Acclaim Images, an online stock agency, to various buyers. One of my best sales, believe it or not, was a simple shot of the State of Michigan flag, to be used on a Lansing area tv station for advertisement for 30 days. It just goes to show, you never know what will sell!

You can view more of my images at www.tjsimages.com.