Lighthouse
Pre-Sunrise Pastels
The unpredictably of the sky is what makes sunrise and sunset photography so enjoyable and challenging for me. You never know what you’re going to see…or miss if you’re not there. Another consideration is how rapidly the conditions can change. Sometimes, an usual color or effect will fill the sky and only last a moment before fading. This is a good example. For just a moment the sky, behind the clouds, turned pink. I wanted to get more shots of this effect, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
Keep in mind, this was before sunrise and the low light conditions created a lot of digital “noise” on this image. Sorry about that. I didn’t have time to fiddle with camera settings.
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Skylights
The lighthouse at Kewaunee, WI is one of my favorite subjects. This was taken early in the morning, shortly after sunrise. If you look closely, you’ll notice a little bump at the end of the pier. That’s a lone fisherman. I took this photo kneeling at the very edge of the beach while Lake Michigan gently lapped the shore.
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Band of Gold
In the Still of the Light
A Sunday morning sunrise over Lake Michigan and the tiny harbor of Algoma, WI. I snapped this last Sunday on my way to church. It was one of the coldest mornings of this year’s unusually mild winter.
I normally like to see more clouds in the sky in my sunrise/sunset images, but I thought the light, wispy clouds just behind the lighthouse were a nice change.
To see a larger version of this image, click on it.
Enlightening
A low hanging cloud bank was making a futile attempt to suppress the sun rising over Lake Michigan. The foreground is ice and snow covering the harbor. The black line at the edge of the ice is a flock of Canada geese waiting for the warmth of the morning sun. And, of course, the tall structure is the pier light at Algoma, WI.
I prefer the kind of sunrises where a majority of the sky turns beautiful shades of red, orange and gold. Unfortunately, I just haven’t been offered much on the days I could be out shooting. Most of them have been cold, dull, dreary days. This time of year, the days are so short, I have to leave for work before the sun rises and don’t return home until after the sun sets. My best opportunities are the weekends and weekends haven’t been cooperating lately. (I know…excuses, excuses, excuses.)
To see a larger version of this image, click on it.
Mellow Morning in Kewaunee
The sun is just slipping above the horizon of Lake Michigan, providing a very mellow mood to this view of the lighthouse at Kewaunee, WI.
This is similar to another image I posted in mid December that I entitled Serenity Beach. They are very similar in composition, but differ greatly in tone. The difference is just a matter of minutes in time. It’s a great illustration of the rapidly changing mood of early morning light. (Click the link and compare them. Which do you like best?)
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Smoldering Sunrise
The Christmas gift that keeps on giving… This is another image I captured at sunrise on Christmas morning, 2011. This lighthouse is positioned on the western shore of Lake Michigan – at the harbor opening of Algoma, WI.
Algoma has had some sort of structure providing light for navigational purposes since March 1st of 1893. This current version, standing more than 40 feet tall, has been in place since 1932.
If you’d like a better look, click the image for a larger version.
Kewaunee Lighthouse in B&W
A Christmas Story – Opening Act
This is the way the day started in Algoma, WI on Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Christmas morning. The sun had to force its way through a band of low clouds hugging the horizon over Lake Michigan.
Myself and another area photographer were there to witness and record it. Obviously, neither one of us had young children at home to open presents on this early Christmas morning. I was actually on my way to church to prepare for the morning’s service and stopped (as I often do) for a quick round of pics.
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Harbor Slush
The harbor at Algoma, WI was busy making slush on the morning I snapped this image. There were chunks of ice undulating with minimal wave action. As they moved, ever so slightly, together and apart, the slush in the water created by the cold temperatures was pushed up between the chunks of ice, creating the ridges seen here.
This was taken right at sunrise on a Sunday morning. If you squint, you can see the first hint of the morning sun on the horizon, just to the right of the lighthouse.
If you have a large monitor, you may be able to see a larger version if you click on the photo.