Mike MacDonald
Nature photographer, public speaker, comedian, computer programmer, author, mathematician, educator, and Chicagoan. These are some of the words that describe the background of Mike MacDonald. But only one word is needed to describe the man: passionate. And Mike is passionate about Chicago nature.
Mike MacDonald is passionate about celebrating Chicago’s natural wonders through his art. Here, he concentrates his energy on the prairie landscape at Theodore Stone Preserve in Hodgkins, Illinois.
Chicagoland is home to wondrous habitats: kaleidoscopic prairies, sublime oak savannas, and magical fens. Yet these remarkable places remain a secret to most Chicagoans. As an ambassador of Chicago’s natural wonders, Mike is on a mission to change that. Playing the role of “nature matchmaker,” he introduces Chicago’s natural beauty and biodiversity to people in the hope of sparking love affairs. Through passionate public speaking, inspirational writing, and breathtaking photography, Mike conveys the marvels and magnificence of a wild Chicago that rivals any place on Earth.
For over twenty-eight years, Mike has been photographing Chicago’s natural wonders. As Chicago Wilderness magazine’s most prominently published photographer, his images have been nationally and internationally featured in many publications, including Outdoor Photographer, Petersen’s Photographic, Boy’s Life, and BBC’s Gardens Illustrated magazine. Read Mike’s article in Outdoor Photographer about how to photograph the prairie. And his landscapes of Chicago nature continue to be showcased in the Sierra Club Wilderness Wall and Engagement Calendars.
In 2015, Mike photographed, authored, and published the literary coffee-table book entitled My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago: A Celebration of Chicagoland’s Startling Natural Wonders. The book earned national acclaim when Publishers Weekly described the photography as “glorious” and the writing as “celebratory, soulful, and poetic.” (Read full review.) Building upon the book, Mike then created ChicagoNatureNOW!—a free website that helps Chicagoans discover the natural beauty that surrounds them.
Mike is also the creator of The Chicago Prairie Style of Landscape Photography, an immersive style of landscape photography, designed to give the viewer the feeling of being in the scene. The technique also emphasizes simplicity and sensitivity as a way of communicating the essence and emotion of complex panoramas—the hallmarks of Mike’s work. According to Mike, “This system allows my spacious landscape images to embody both a depth and an intimacy that give the viewer a hyper-realistic sense of being part of the scene.” Our nature matchmaker explains the practical side of this, “My photographs are part of a diabolical love plan—a magic spell to entrance you into making a date with nature. After all, once you meet, how can you not fall in love?”
MEDIA APPEARANCES:
TV:
Watch story about Mike & ChicagoNatureNOW! on WTTW Chicago Tonight.
Watch Mike’s interview about his book on WTTW Chicago Tonight.
Watch Mike talk about Chicago nature photography on ABC 7 Eyewitness News Sunday Morning.
Watch Mike give photography tips on FOX 32 Chicago’s Good Day Saturday.
Watch Mike share his love of nature on WGN-TV Midday News.
Watch Mike’ talk about Chicago nature on CBS 2 Chicago’s Sunday Morning News.
Radio:
Listen to Mike’s interview about winter magic in Chicago nature on WBEZ’s Morning Shift – Jan. 7, 2019.
Listen to Mike’s interview about his book on WBEZ’s WorldView – Feb. 8, 2016.
Listen to Mike’s interview about ChicagoNatureNOW! on WBEZ’s Worldview – Apr. 18, 2017.
Listen to Mike talking about Chicago nature on WBEZ’s Morning Shift – Oct. 17, 2016.
Listen to Mike talking about photography on WCGO-Radio – Dec. 2, 2018.
Print:
Daily Herald – Jan. 17, 2019
The Herald News – Dec. 6, 2018
Make It Better magazine – Aug. 5, 2016
Chicago Sun-Times – Mar. 26, 2016
Chicago Tribune – Jan. 17, 2016
View some of Mike’s published work:
Outdoor Photographer – March 1997
Petersen’s Photographic – October 1999
UIC Alumni Magazine – July/August 2000
Chicago Wilderness – Fall 2005
Chicago Wilderness – Winter 2006
Garden’s Illustrated cover photo – January 2009
Outdoor Photographer – November 2011