Mike MacDonald is making a name for himself, not by traveling and recording the world's most exotic places, but by creating images of the stunning natural beauty near his Chicago area home. Mike is capable of finding a wealth of beauty in the simplest and most everyday of subjects without having to travel to every corner of the earth.

Because of this commitment, Mike has become one of Chicago's most noted nature photographers, as evidenced by his many covers and full-page photos published in the award-winning Chicago Wilderness Magazine. In addition to his local achievements, Mike's work has also been featured nationally in Petersen's Photographic Magazine and, on several occasions, in Outdoor Photographer.

With degrees in mathematics and physics combined with careers as a scientific programmer, professional comedian, entrepreneur, and nature photographer, Mike's background may seem quite complex. On the other hand, simplicity and emotion are characteristics of a Mike MacDonald photograph, which are often compared to paintings.

Like a painting, that illustrates a perfect moment from the imagination of the artist, Mike's photographs communicate the emotion and experience of a perfect real moment in time. It has been said that a Mike MacDonald photograph allows the viewer to enter the scene and to experience the experience.

Mike's photographic playground includes many wild locations across the Chicago region such as Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Spears Woods in Willow Springs, Orland Park's McGinnis Slough, Lockport Prairie, and Wolf Road Prairie in the town of Westchester.

Born in Chicago, Mike lives with his wife Cordula near Belmont Prairie in the suburb of Downers Grove.