Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore

“Lake Michigan in Monochrome”

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In these three images you’ll see Lake Michigan and parts of sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore in monochrome form. With the very blue skies and blue water that particular day, they made beautiful black and white conversions in my opinion. The first image gives a hint of mystery in its minimalism.

"Esch Beach Path Mono" A beautiful black and white version of a scene at Esch Beach near empire Michigan!
“Esch Beach Path Mono”
A beautiful black and white version of a scene at Esch Beach near empire Michigan!

This second photograph leads you right out onto Esch Beach to Lake Michigan through the sandy path that’s lined with sand grass.

 

"On the Horizon" Gazing out at the horizon on Lake Michigan from Overlook #9 on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore!
“On the Horizon”
Gazing out at the horizon on Lake Michigan from Overlook #9 on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore!

This third image from overlook #9 on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is full of beautiful lines, and angles as you gaze further out onto Lake Michigan, the horizon, and skies beyond!

 

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“Covered Bridge”

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These two photographs are of the lovely covered bridge on Pierce Stocking Drive located in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. They were both made in early autumn when most of the trees were still full with green foliage. You’ll notice just a few with a bit of color change.

Whenever I’m in the Traverse City area of Michigan, I always head out to Sleeping Bear Dunes, and to Pierce Stocking Drive. It’s always beautiful no matter the time of year!

These two images are at slightly different angle from each other, and one is processed to give it a bit more of a magical feel!

Do you like one better than the other? Is it the angle, the processing, or both? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🙂

 

"Through the Covered Bridge" The same beautiful covered bridge but with a bit of a magical air to it!
“Through the Covered Bridge”
The same beautiful covered bridge but with a bit of a magical air to it!

“On Grassy Dunes”

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Yet another image from the sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes. If you’ve been following the blog, you’ll know that I had a big wind problem for quite a bit of the time I was there.

I chose to get down really low for this image. From this vantage point you can see some of the effects of the wind on the grass. I wish you could see how huge these dunes actually are. I usually don’t like to have people in my images, but for this one it would have been nice to have some to show size and scale!

I’m sure many of you have been to this location, but for those who haven’t, it certainly is worth it. The sunset’s along Lake Michigan are a huge plus!!

I hope I’ll be able to process some of those soon. I’m a little back-logged at the moment! 😉

-On Grassy Dunes-

“Sand Flower”

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In stark contrast to the two images in my last post, I thought I’d show you one of the flowers of pure beauty that lives and thrives in the sand at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.

I have no idea what this plant or flower is called, so feel free to let me know. I found this botanical among thousands of others on a climb on the eastern facing side of the dunes.

This day was also extremely windy, especially in this location, so I decided to climb further up, then down, to try and get away from the strong gusts. I ended up going along some very narrow trails, over and under trees of varying sizes, and in the end I found that there was no way to escape the wind. I basically just had to cling onto a tree with all my strength to steady myself in order to get this image. I imagine these flowers only bloom for a short while every year. So I’m happy that I was there to see it at the right time!!

I hope you like it! I sure do, especially after what I went through to get it!! 😉

A Dose of Beauty

“Twisted Beauty”

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I don’t know if you’ll see the interest in this twisted piece of wood that I do, but I thought I’d present it anyway. While at Sleeping Bear Dunes there happened to be quite a bit of wind for most of the time I was there. Many images I wanted to get, weren’t even possible because of the windy conditions. The sand was blowing like crazy! Getting into my eyes, stinging my skin, and of course causing me plenty of worry about my camera!

In the case of this image, I was trying to escape some of the wind by getting down on the ground behind a sand dune. either crouching down or on my stomach. While there I noticed this single twisted piece of wood protruding from the sand. I thought it had a nice curve, and a barren look to it, so I got a couple of shots.

I decided to use this one, which I processed in color first, then decided it would look nice in a monochrome conversion too.

Check it out. See if you see the beauty where I do, and which image you like better. The color version or the monochrome?

Twisted Beauty in color

-Twisted Beauty-

Twisted Beauty the monochrome version

-Twisted Beauty- mono

“Walking the Dunes”

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To start of you have to understand that most of Michigan is really quite flat. Not many rolling hills, and no real mountains to speak of. Knowing that, I was quite surprised and happily so at the immense size, and height of the sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.
I happened to be there when the weather had changed and the summer crowds had gone. There was quite a rain, and wind storm that day, but it didn’t keep me from climbing as much as possible all around the dunes. That’s what they’re there for!
You can see all the many footprints left behind from other people going up and down the huge dunes. The going up was really steep and pretty good exercise. 😉
Coming down on the other hand was really fast, and could easily end up with a person slip sliding down.
It’s a great place to bring kids though, especially ones that are tired of riding in a car. They can climb off all their energy!! 🙂
If you haven’t been to Michigan, make sure you put it on your list, and put Sleeping Bear Dunes high on your list of places to see, have fun, and catch a great sunrise or sunset too!

"Walking the dunes of Sleeping Bear"
“Walking the dunes of Sleeping Bear”