Harbor
Behold the Dawn
The sun is about to emerge from behind the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse and pier. Another beautiful start to a Lake Michigan morning. The expanse of sky and water makes the lighthouse seem tiny. Even smaller, is the fishing boat to the right of the lighthouse – seen as just a dot on the horizon.
To get a closer look, click on the photo and a new browser tab will open with a full screen version.
Red Sky at Night
When it comes to fireworks, my favorites are the big ones – the huge bursts of color that fill the sky. This is a big red one from the July 4th celebration at Kewaunee, WI. 2014. A few days ago, I posted another full-sky burst: Burst of Blue. To see even more fireworks shots, click on the “Fireworks” category in the left-hand margin of this page.
To view a lager, more detailed version of this photo, click on it. Another browser tab will open with a full screen version.
Party Like It’s 1776
Burst of Blue
I made sure to make it to the harbor of Kewaunee, WI for their 4th of July fireworks. This is one of the large bursts I was able to capture.
When shooting local fireworks, I like to be close to the water because I think the reflection adds a lot of interest to the image.
In the foreground, to the left, you can see one of several pontoon boats in the harbor that offered a front row seat to spectators. They seem a bit blurry because this photo took several seconds to catch the full burst and the boat was moving.
If you have a larger monitor, you may be able to view a larger version of this image by clicking on it.
Clandestine Candlepower
The early morning sun seems to be hiding behind the Kewaunee, WI lighthouse. I always try to get the rising sun close to the lighthouse. Occasionally, as in this case, I’m able to get the sun directly behind the lighthouse. It doesn’t always make a great image because the sun will overpower everything in the frame. The sun was hidden enough by the lighthouse – along with some camera and post processing wizardry – to create an interesting image.
Break of Dawn (vintage)
This is an image that dates back a few years. I was searching for it on this website and was surprised that I had never posted here. It’s a digitally enhanced version of one of my most popular images – Break of Dawn. (See the original HERE) The original is a wonderful color image. It would be my favorite of the two, but I also like the aged look this one receives from the monochrome and textured effects.
To view a larger version of this photo, click on it.
Weathered
The evidence of a harsh winter clings to the Algoma, Wisconsin lighthouse and pier. This is a view from Algoma’s harbor, on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
The title not only referrers to ice and snow, but to the pinkish color of the lighthouse as well. Typically, the Algoma lighthouse (or pier light) is a vibrant red. However, an inferior paint, applied a few years ago, has faded to a chalky pink. Thankfully, I’ve heard a fresh coat of paint is planned later this year.
To view more of the frozen details of this image, click on the photo and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.
Heading for Open Water
A commercial fishing boat (the Oliver H. Smith) breaks its way through the ice of the Kewaunee, Wisconsin harbor on their way to the open waters of Lake Michigan.
The ice in the harbor was thick enough to make getting out a challenge and it took quite a while for the boat to break through. It would push and crunch its way into the ice, traveling 20 or 30 feet at a time before it would be halted. Then it would back up and take another run at it…for the next 20 or 30 feet…back up and repeat until it finally got to open water. This shot shows it clear of the solid ice, heading out of the harbor. I’ve included a short video of the struggle below.
The Oliver H. Smith, is a commercial fishing boat built in 1944 at Kewaunee Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. during World War II. It was purchased in 1999 and is operated by Lafond’s Fish Market in Kewaunee.
To view a larger version with more detail, click on the image.
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.
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.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on it.