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Rainy Night in Mackinac Pic Wins Patch of Michigan Photo Contest Week 7

A reader shared a photo of Mackinac Island on a rainy evening with Patch and took the prize for week 7 of our photo contest.

Reader Kathie Noonan captured rainy evening on Mackinac Island this spring during the Lilac Festival. She is the winner of , which saw about 100 entries.

Noonan won a $50 gift card to , located at the corner of Crooks Road and South Boulevard in Troy.

Want a shot at winning? . 

At the end of the summer the weekly winners, like Kathie, are entered to win the grand prize—a certificate for a two-night stay at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island (to be used before Oct. 31, 2013, and blackout dates and other restrictions may apply). The approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is $600. We've had !

Here's how Kathie got the winning picture: "The picture was taken on Main Street, Mackinac Island, during the June 2012 Lilac Festival. It was just before midnight and not much going on at that time of evening (even for a Friday night). So I started taking pics and walking through town. The rain had chased everyone inside and it was rare to get pics of Main Street so empty.  Mackinac Island is one of my favorite Michigan getaways—always beautiful and super relaxing with plenty of bars and restaurants to keep entertained."

Our judges liked her picture because it showed a tranquil evening on the busy island. And the rain. As one put it: "Yes, the rain says 'Michigan.' For most of my life, you always get at least one rainy day while on vacation in Michigan."

And that's the truth.

Want to enter the weekly contest? It continues each week all summer at on Michigan Patch.com sites. You 

A.W. July 23, 2012 at 03:49 pm
Are you kidding me? Composition is so amateur and I don't like the colors. A rainy day scene is so depressing. Who paid off the judges to make this one a winner?
Mark July 23, 2012 at 04:38 pm
No one is kidding you. It is pretty much amateurs sending in their photos to a community website for fun. Quit being such a flatliner.
Holly Awwad July 23, 2012 at 05:03 pm
That is a very rude thing to say. Obviously this person isn't a professional photographer... but that doesn't mean they can't capture a great Michigan moment. The rules clearly state you don't need to be a pro. It's a fun contest for everyone.
I think it is a very interesting image. It tells a story... which is what it's all about. My advice to you is if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
Stephanie Saffold Woolridge July 23, 2012 at 07:38 pm
Great photo! Love it. Poor Kathie Noonan, someone, possibly a disgruntled neighbor or ex-spouse wants to be a hater. Congratulations, Kathie and thank you for submitting.
Elaine Godlewski July 23, 2012 at 07:57 pm
I love this photo. Great job, Kathie!
Mark Itall July 23, 2012 at 09:59 pm
A worthy winning shot of a Michigagn icon. Well done.
EBC July 23, 2012 at 09:59 pm
This photo makes me want to go to Mackinac Island :) I can see myself strolling down the sidewalk hand in hand with my spouse on a night just like this.
gjh July 24, 2012 at 06:03 am
This is a beautiful scene, the rain gives it a glow with the reflected light - Makes me want to go to the island whether it is raining or not; plus it is difficult to get this kind of a photo in lighting like this in the evening when it starts to rain.
Yolanda Jefferson July 24, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I agree with A.W. This is too gloomy. I wouldn't wish rainy days for vacationers on Mackinac. In fact, I went there one weekend and the entire time was ruined because of rain and I could have sat home for the whole weekend inside instead my trip was not good. It is disrespectful too for people telling AW to not say anything. I respect opinions. The photo is not a winner, and should not have been selected. Who wishes for a rainy day on Mackinac?
Holly Awwad July 24, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Yolanda,
You are right - no one wants rain when they are on vacation. But I think this photo shows she is trying to find beauty in an otherwise bad situation. We all know that living in Michigan means unpredictable weather.
Yolanda Jefferson July 24, 2012 at 12:41 pm
This is an awful, gloomy, depressing and ugly scene. Who want it to RAIN while on vacation or visit to Mackinac island? It do not show Michigan and its sunniest and brightest.
Holly Awwad July 24, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I respect opinions as well. But there is a thing called tact. There isn't any reason to be rude to someone. You could find a nicer way to give feedback - or if you don't like it you can also keep it to yourself. The first thing we learn growing up in school and church is treat others the way you want to be treated. This image meant something to the person who posted it and she obviously loves it enough to show it off. There isn't any reason to rip it apart. This isn't a National Geographic photo contest. It's supposed to be fun... not a means to bring people down.
I agree with you that no one wants rain on their vacation... but if life gives you lemons make lemonaide.
Yolanda Jefferson July 24, 2012 at 12:43 pm
This photo say "Visit Rainy Mackinac Island" and do not do any justice for tourists or any visitor for that matter.
Yolanda Jefferson July 24, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Holly, you are rude. You may not like other people's opinion but telling them not to say anything because you don't find it nice....who made YOU queen?
Yolanda Jefferson July 24, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Really? In the RAIN? I do not want to vacation on Mackinac on a rainy day. What's there to do then, sit in your hotel and watch tv?
Holly Awwad July 24, 2012 at 12:53 pm
No Yolanda, I am not rude. I didn't say you couldn't express your opinion. I'm saying that you can give feedback without completely ripping someone apart. I very much respect everyone's right to have an opinion. I just think that the way it was done was too harsh. How would you feel if someone criticized something creative that you did and were proud of in a way that was purely hateful? Also - if you fully read my comment - I didn't say "don't say anything"... I said you don't have to be rude and completely negative. If he thinks he knows something more about photography that would make the image better... he could offer tips on composition etc. He could point out what could have been done for better exposure. I NEVER said I was a queen... but clearly you think that you are better than everyone and that you and AW are entitled to hurt people's feelings without regard.
Yolanda Jefferson July 24, 2012 at 12:54 pm
I hope you have a prettier time too than this picture represents, as Mackinac a gloomy and dismal and gray place.
Kristi July 24, 2012 at 01:05 pm
Perfectly captured rainy night! Reminds me of the song "I love a rainy night...yes, I love a rainy night" And, oh, how we need a rainy night!! My lawn is a fire hazard!
Stephanie July 24, 2012 at 01:06 pm
Depressing, losing photo reminds me of that one awful summer weeken we spent our time on Mackinac Island, it rained the whole time, we even got caught in it and my fudge got wet.
Holly Awwad July 24, 2012 at 01:07 pm
Yolanda... surprise! It rains in Michigan. It's true - no one wishes for rain on vacation. I went to Hawaii a few years ago and the first three days we were there it rained... alot. Did I stay in the hotel and watch TV? No way! I went out and explored and guess what... I saw rainbows! Never let a little rain stop you from having fun - you'll miss out on some great moments!
Stephanie July 24, 2012 at 01:12 pm
Holly, you DID write "don't say anything" in your comment here dated July 23, at 1:03 p.m.
Holly Awwad July 24, 2012 at 01:20 pm
Stephanie.... I said you can give feedback in a nicer way. I did say don't say anything if you are going to be mean. "My advice to you is if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." and "You could find a nicer way to give feedback - or if you don't like it you can also keep it to yourself."
Please don't take pieces of what I said and twist it out of context.
Will Anderson July 24, 2012 at 01:27 pm
Yolanda, you may be one of the strangest people I have ever seen leave comments. Did you know that it rains everywhere? What a weirdo
KC July 24, 2012 at 02:52 pm
There is something wrong with Yolanda's life to make her like this. Not a weirdo, just a miserable person
Greg Thrasher July 24, 2012 at 02:58 pm
I love the photo!!!..Great Job Kathie!!!!!
Greg Burks July 24, 2012 at 03:26 pm
I think this is a great picture and congratulate Kathie for winning. There were lots of great pictures from last week; it couldn’t have been easy to pick a winner.
I truly feel sorry for the people that hide behind the anonymousy of the internet that will never contribute any real value to a subject or life and obviously have nothing better to do but finding great personal pleasure in criticizing and complaining about everything then trying to engage people and bring people down to thier level of incompetency for a worthless debate.
Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey (Editor) July 24, 2012 at 08:45 pm
Greg you are absolutely right: It's in no way easy to pick a winner. There are so many great pictures. I'm impressed each week by our readers' camera skills and the beauty and love for our state. It's really fun to look through them, but it's very tough to pick just one winner.
I respect that some people may not agree with the choice, because judging something like a photo contest is subjective. If you think you have a better picture, by all means enter it in the next contest. We have a few more weeks left in the contest and lots of great prizes ahead!
Mary July 26, 2012 at 02:50 pm
LOVE the picture, but why did she win a prize from a salon in TROY??? Any prize should be from somewhere in NOVI!!!
Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey (Editor) July 26, 2012 at 03:18 pm
Hi Mary, I'm guessing you are a Novi Patch reader. Thanks for your question. We have Patches in many cities in Southeast Michigan and this contest runs on sites in each of those cities. Our weekly prizes come from businesses all over the area. This week's just happens to be from Troy.
Tara Roth August 4, 2012 at 02:56 pm
There is so much more to give us happiness than what the weather happens to be doing in that moment. I love this photo. The way there is bright, vivid points of light along the damp street and sidewalk--the reflection offers such a interesting contrast.

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