Daydream Catalyst
A guy can daydream, can’t he? I look at this photo and daydream about being on a beach in the Caribbean, relaxing in the warm glow of a tropical sunset.
Of course, this is Kewaunee, Wisconsin at sunrise. Even in summer, it’s never “tropical” warm on the beach in the morning. But, in the grip of arctic winter weather, with temperatures below zero and wind chills much lower, a little escape is nice – even if it’s only in my mind. Feel free to pull up a beach chair and join me.
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Frosted Branch
This is another shot from a very cold morning in Kewaunee, WI. The open waters of Lake Michigan created enough moisture that everything along the shore was coated with a light, fluffy frost. This branch is a prime example.
If you look closely, you can see some little white specks (particularly on the right side). Those are little flakes of the frost falling like snow off the branch at the slightest movement of air.
Also, you will notice the Kewaunee lighthouse in the background. If you compare this photo with my previous post, You’ll be able to see this same branch from a very different perspective. Both photos were taken the same morning using different lenses. This one was 45 minutes or so after the other.
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Winter Enigma
Very cold temperatures and warmer Lake Michigan waters created an early morning fog that coated the area with a fluffy frost. The Kewaunee lighthouse stands shining bright in the background. Occasionally, billows of fog would mostly obscure the lighthouse from view – at least from the shore. I classify this as a sunrise photo, because it was taken right about sunrise, but the heavy cloud bank on the horizon kept the sun at bay for a good deal.
Blue Harbor Ice
This image accurately portrays the very cold conditions yesterday morning at the Kewaunee, WI harbor. The ice was slowly flowing past the channel marker, out into Lake Michigan. To get this shot, I had to walk out on the long, ice-coated pier to the lighthouse.
Rising early and enduring the cold (temperature around zero) produced some worthwhile “winter” scenes like this…with more to come. Stay tuned.
If you have a decent-sized monitor, you can view a larger version of this image by simply clicking on the photo.
The Churning
Paparazzi In the Grass
The early morning sunlight reflecting off the dew on a spring lawn created an effect that reminded me of dozens of flash bulbs going off. The Paparazzi must have been hiding in the grass. I hear they’re tricky that way.
A year ago, I posted a color image with a similar perspective: Lawn Twinklers.
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Icy Morning Mist
When air temperatures are below freezing, the slightly warmer Lake Michigan waters can create a mist around areas that haven’t frozen over. The early sun highlights the mist around the harbor and lighthouse of Algoma, WI.
Last February I posted another, very similar, view of this morning scene entitled, Frigid Sunrise Fog. This version offers more of the rocks and ice in the foreground.
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Just Peachy
Winter Tangle
Wisconsin winters can be brutal…and beautiful. This ice-coated shrub is a chilling sight, but also an interesting study in contrast, light and refraction.
Refraction: the fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc., being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.
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Cold Climb
As cold as it is, it only seems natural to post a photo that reflects current conditions in Wisconsin.
The pier at Algoma was coated with Lake Michigan ice. The red ladder is a safety measure, giving anyone who were to fall off the pier, into the water, a way to climb out. The water of the harbor wasn’t visible, due to the ice buildup.
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