“Where Lake Michigan Was”

Lake Michigan is a a wondrous place to see. There are so many variations in the types of shoreline, whether it be a sandy beach, rocky shore, or huge sand cliffs. Also the water colors can go from variations of blues, to greens and sometimes browns.
At this location I was surprised this year to see how much the drought had affected Lake Michigan. I know it affected smaller lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams terribly!
I took this shot from a very low vantage point because of strong winds, but it really gives you an idea of where the water used to be, which is the area where you see the rocks. You can still see the strong surf that day as it was quite windy, and the waves were high.
The sky was also quite beautiful and the cloud movement was swift with the wind current!
I’m hoping that there will be enough precipitation this year to make up for what was lost. I hope that when I see this shoreline next year the view will be that of much more water!
For now though we can enjoy that which is now exposed, and discover things that have been hidden for hundreds of years.
We have such a bounty here in the States and in Canada of having the Great Lakes, which are really unlike any other in the world. We should visit them, enjoy, and take care of them.
Make sure that wherever you go, you take only photographs, and leave only footprints. Preserve what God has given us so that all the generations that come after us are still able to enjoy the bounties!! 🙂

"Rocks, surf, and layers of clouds"
“Rocks, surf, and layers of clouds”

“My Ten Favorite Images from 2012”

This year has be an interesting one for me. I had the chance to do more travelling than usual, which gave me many more photographic opportunities. Sometimes though it’s the images you take that are close to home that you end up liking the best. Here are ten images mostly from the late summer through autumn that I like the best. I have many more that I could say the same for, but for the sake of brevity I will limit it to Ten. The images are in no particular order. Enjoy!

A stormy day on Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear  Dunes National Lake Shore.
A stormy day on Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.
Upper Tahquamenon Falls in early autumn.
In Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Upper Tahquamenon Falls in early autumn.
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
A stormy windy day on Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.
A stormy windy day on Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.
Loving the beauty of early autumn on a scenic rural road in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Loving the beauty of early autumn on a scenic rural road in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Beautiful reflections along an inland lake.
Beautiful reflections along an inland lake.
Beautiful Arch Rock on Mackinac Island. 
Girls down below are writing messages with rocks.
Beautiful Arch Rock on Mackinac Island.
Girls down below are writing messages with rocks.
Shimmering sunrise on Lake Huron with Mackinac Island in silhouette.
Shimmering sunrise on Lake Huron with Mackinac Island in silhouette.
Gorgeous fall foliage on a beautiful winding rural road.
Gorgeous fall foliage on a beautiful winding rural road.
Loving the rails on a stormy autumn day.
Loving the rails on a stormy autumn day.
Gazing across one lake, through fall foliage, over Lake Superior, and onto Canada.
Gazing across one lake, through fall foliage, over Lake Superior, and onto Canada.

After going through so many images, it was really difficult to decide, and had to leave out many that I would have liked to include. You can find links on this blog to my sites and where to view more images.
Best wishes to everyone, both now and in the coming year!!!

“Fade to Sunset”

One evening in September after having a pretty cloudy day all day, I decided to go out for a sunset anyway, hoping their might be a good one. There were some really pretty clouds around, but the light wasn’t very good, and not too much in the way of color variation.
This particular area offered an nice vantage point for the clouds though, plus the plants in the foreground were blowing in the wind adding some additional interest.
This view is onto Lake Michigan from the Upper Peninsula. I went out for sunsets on the lake several times this September. Nearly every time just before sunset, all the clouds would swiftly blow by with the wind, and disappear. This time they stayed, albeit a little too much!

Cloudy Lake Michigan Sunset!
Cloudy Lake Michigan Sunset!

“Lead by the Light”

Wonderful feel of Autumn

You can certainly tell that fall was in the air when I took this shot! I had just been to the area looking out onto the two lakes described in the previous post.
I wondered off for a short ways down this dirt road, and grabbed a few shots. The strong late afternoon light was as if it was leading me in that direction. This area as I described before was like a small mountain. Completely forest filled and totally uninhabited by humans, except for those that wandered up to look out at the beautiful view or to come to a beautiful, but very secluded grave yard nestled among old and beautiful trees.
I didn’t take any shots of the graveyard itself. It had a private feel to it. I felt as though I would be intruding if I did.
I simply enjoyed the sheer beauty of the dirt road, the autumn color with lovely sunlight, and the wonderful views down below!

“Across Two Lakes”

While up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan earlier this fall. I spent a lot of time driving around wherever the roads took me. I don’t even know the name of the first lake in this image because I decided to turn onto a dirt road that obviously only went in one direction (not made for two-way traffic), that took me winding and weaving to the top of a huge hill(small mountain).
The overlook was amazing. The time of day for the direction I was facing wasn’t the best, but you could see for miles and miles!! The woods that surrounded the first lake were just beginning to show some gorgeous fall color. As you look past that you can see a section of Lake Superior, then further on you can see part of Canada. What a view!!
The sky didn’t have much drama in it at the time, but I can just imagine this scene with a storm approaching from the northwest! Ooooh, that’s an idea!! Next time I’m up that way, I’ll make it a point to head over there in bad weather! 😉

I can see for miles and miles!!

“When Fall Was Young”

The beauty of early autumn along the shores of lake Michigan.
The beauty of autumn when it first begins! This tree stands short, and strong in the heavy winds along Lake Michigan. Fall color has just begun in that area at the time, but if you love trees you’ll find the beauty in them no matter what time of year! Call me a Tree Lover! 😉