Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Algoma
Sunrise Sedation
To me, the burnt-orange tone of this sunrise seems more appropriate for a sunset…like it’s the end of a day…when it’s time to dial down and relax. This image doesn’t inspire a bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed response in me.
So, as the artist who holds the copyright on this image, you have my written permission to view it as a sunset if that works better for you. I’m sure we could find a clinical study somewhere that proves a little self-delusion, at times, is healthy.
For the staunch realists of the world – that sun, peaking through the lens of the Algoma, WI pier light is, in fact, rising . Algoma is situated on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
On a side note: I’m always working to increase the number of regular visitors to this website. If this image appeals to you, please share it with friends. Thanks.
Algoma Lighthouse Rainbow
These images are some of my earliest, serious photographic attempts to capture of one of my favorite subjects – the Algoma, WI harbor and lighthouse.
This photo dates back to September 28, 1996. It was taken with my Kodak Easyshare DX7590 – a moderate step above a point-and-shoot camera that had a whopping, 5 mega-pixel sensor and a 10x optical zoom.
After a day of working at the church, I started for home. As I drove by the harbor, I noticed the rainbow. I grabbed my camera and a new toy I had just received as a birthday gift a couple of weeks before – a circular polarizing filter. It’s the filter that really brings out the colors of the rainbow.
A couple of things I remember from that shoot… The rainbow was strong and lasted a long time. I was able to take several photos from different locations around the harbor. Usually, about the time I get the camera out and the filter on, the beauty has faded.
I also remember being concerned about my camera, since there was a light drizzle falling. I remember crouching under a very small tree to try to keep it dry.
For a larger view, click on any of these photos.
Keeper of the Lighthouse
This view of the Algoma, WI lighthouse was taken early in the morning. I believe the bird is a cormorant.
This was taken a good distance from the subject. To make the cormorant the focus of the shot required a pretty aggressive crop. There’s quite a bit of digital noise in the image. I decided I liked it and did nothing to diminish it.
Sunrise Brushstrokes
This was an image I snapped on my way to church Sunday morning, September 11, 2011. The clouds reminded me of the strokes from an artist’s paintbrush.
These are is the piers and lighthouse of the Algoma, WI harbor. The sun, rising above a calm Lake Michigan.
Early morning fishermen are starting to populate the piers as salmon begin their annual to come in to spawn up river. I took this photo around 6:30 am.
If this image appeals to you – by all means – share it with your friends. (Thanks.)
Click the image to view a larger version.
Bathed in Beams
On more than one occasion, I’ve heard or read Algoma, WI has one of the most photographed lighthouses (technically a “pier light”). I always considered it more wishful thinking than fact. But if I just count the number of pictures I’ve personally snapped and posted, I might have misjudged.
This magical scene was captured early on a Sunday morning while on my way to church. (As the pastor, I get to the church hours before the service to prepare.) Since I always have my camera with me, it’s not unusual for me to stop near the harbor and step out to take a few photos of the lighthouse if I see something I like.
On this morning, when I stopped, it was starting to sprinkle and I didn’t want to expose my camera or suit to the rain. So, instead of jumping out, I jumped in…to the backseat of our minivan. I set my tripod and camera up, slid the side door open and snapped away, staying comfortable and dry. As the sun continued to rise and the clouds shifted, changing the angle of the beams, I had jump back to the drivers seat and move my van 3 times.
I posted a B&W photo from the same morning a few days ago, entitled Too Wonderful for Me.
Here’s a panoramic scene, taken just a few minutes later the same morning, when the sunbeams weren’t so intense.
Click on either image to see a larger version.
Power from On High
A month ago I managed to snag a number of striking B&W images of the Algoma, WI lighthouse. I posted a few of them and moved on to other subjects. Yesterday’s interaction on this blog – comparing color and b&w images (Thank You, to all who commented) – reminded me of the bunch I had neglected. This image is from that forgotten bunch.
The powerful contrast between the upper right-hand corner and the lower left-hand corner, and the range of monochrome tones between, make this a favorite for me.
Fell free to share your own thoughts below and if you like what you see, by all means, share it with others.
To see a larger version of this image, simply click on it.
Too Wonderful for Me
There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I cannot resist photographing. The rise of a morning sun, the set of an evening sun, majestic sunbeams piercing the darkness and the form of a rainbow in the sky. (Pops Digital paraphrase of Proverbs 30:18.)
I captured this image of the Algoma, WI harbor, on the western shore of Lake Michigan, while on my way to prepare for a Sunday morning service at the church where I serve as pastor.
I always have an eye on the sky. As I was driving to Algoma I could see that there might be a worthwhile photo op developing. This is the scene I found when I reached the harbor – just a few blocks from the church.
The sunbeams poured through for about ten minutes. I captured several appealing images and will share more in upcoming posts. Check back often.
You can see a larger version of this image by clicking on it. And, as always, if you enjoy the images you find here, please share them and this site with others.
Strange Fire
This is one of the most unusual fireworks effects I’ve photographed. It was an arch of white light that sparkled for several seconds and then finished with a bright flash (the orange-ish ball above it) and loud boom. Almost as impressive is the reflection that it created on the lake and the wet beach between the effect and my camera.
This is the last of the fireworks photos I’ll post from Algoma’s Shanty Days festival. You can look over all my fireworks photos from this year by selecting the “Fireworks” Category in the left margin of this site or clicking HERE. There are 11 different images in the collection.
As always, if you find an image you like on this site, please share it with others.
(If you have a large monitor, you may be able to see a larger version of this photo by clicking on it.)
Spider in the Sky
The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this image was, “That looks like a green spider on its web!” This might be my favorite photo of Algoma’s Shanty Days fireworks show.
As long as I’m using a bit of imagination, the two white star bursts remind me of flies caught in the web.
Of course, I didn’t and couldn’t have planed it. I just accidentally captured it. Right place + fluke timing = pleasant surprise!
Well…am I right? Do you think it looks like a spider and web? Is this cool or what?
Bonus Photo: another multiple burst, Shanty Days fireworks image.
If you find these images interesting, please share this post with your friends. I’d like to increase the number of regular visitors to PopsDigital.com.
(If you have a large monitor, you may be able to see larger versions of these photos by clicking on them.)
The Big Bang
This was the “big one” at Algoma’s Shanty Days fireworks show. The massive spread of this effect took me by surprise. As you can see, it dominated the sky and pushed beyond the view of my camera. I widened my camera’s framing after this shot, but never saw another one quite this big.
If you look back through the posts of the last couple of days you can gain some idea of how much larger it was compared to the normal. As you look at the other Shanty Days fireworks photos, compare the position of the Algoma pier light (that little red dot in the lower half of the photo, near the right edge). You can see, the others don’t go beyond the pier light.
(If you have a large monitor, you may be able to see a larger version of this photo by clicking on it.)