The Great Lakes

“Point Pelee Winter Days”

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I had the opportunity to spend several weeks this past winter at Point Pelee National Park in Leamington, Ontario. These images are just a few that I made of beautiful Lake Erie during the time when it was at its most frozen. The ice formations were stunning, and of so many types!

"Crisp and Clean" With a fresh blanket of snow this icy scene at lake Erie was stunning!
“Crisp and Clean”
The air was cold and crisp and the day was bright and sunny at the tip of Point Pelee as I walked out onto a very frozen Lake Erie!
"Lookout Above" A scenic view of and beyond the tower at Point Pelee.
“Lookout Above”
Such a refreshingly cold and vast scene of Lake Erie during the heart of winter, as viewed from the tower at Point Pelee!
"Through Outstretched Arms" I loved the silhouette of this weather worn tree along a frozen Lake Erie!
“Through Outstretched Arms”
Just an absolutely fabulous frozen Lake Erie and a beautiful bare tree just as I reached the beginning of the tip, at Point Pelee!
"Point Break" Large ice formations at the tip of Point Pelee!
“Point Break”
There were ice formations of every kind, just frozen solid in all directions. These pointed shards were 3 or 4 feet tall, some standing with their points facing upwards, as others lay scattered after being pushed ashore weeks before.
"All Along The Watchtower" A beautiful view from the tower at Point Pelee!
“All along the Watchtower”
This image was made from atop the metal tower at Point Pelee National Park as it overlooks the path to the tip, as well as Lake Erie as a whole. I processed this in black and white for a more striking image. Let me know what you think.

I hope you all enjoyed these images, I know I have been pretty absent with my photo blogging of late. Maybe this year will be the start of more regular updates, but one can never be sure. I hope that everyone of you is doing well, and that spring and summer will be much better times for all!

“Favorite Images of 2021”

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Here we are again at the end of another year. And as has been customary for the past many years I have selected some of my personal favorite photographs from the current year, 2021.

These images aren’t in any particular order, but they do show some of where I’ve been this year and the scenes that gave me a feeling of peace, or a sense of excitement.

I hope you all enjoy them as well!

"Atmospheric Engagement" Lake Michigan peaceful and calm near sunset.
“Atmospheric Engagement”
A very calm and peaceful start to sunset. The horizon in the distance is almost invisible and the clouds above seem to be hovering heavily over Lake Michigan!
"Sun Going Down on Me" Golden Lake Michigan sunset during summer.
“Sun Going Down on Me”
One last look at sunset on Lake Michigan in summer. High above the beach on the stairs I was observing the golden glow making everything shine and placing the trees in silhouette!
"Pittsburgh Scenic View 5" Duquesne Incline with cable car and Pittsburgh.
“Pittsburgh Scenic View 5”
On a beautiful late evening in Pittsburgh, I stayed watching the cable car go up and down Duquesne Incline. Such a gorgeous summer scene of this fabulous city!
"Sunset Upon Colchester, Ontario" A golden orange sunset on Lake Erie in Colchester, Ontario!
“Sunset Upon Colchester Ontario”
Deep orange and gold hues in the sky and over Lake Erie as the sun set in Colchester, Ontario!
"On A Quiet Marsh Morning" A peaceful summer scene of the marsh at Point Pelee National Park.
“On A Quiet Marsh Morning”
I enjoyed many hours along the Marsh Boardwalk at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario this year. The lush green aquatic plants, beautiful clouds, and peaceful sounds of the new day were very special!
"Point Pelee Marsh A New Day" A peaceful summer sunrise gazing out over the marsh boardwalk at Point Pelee National Park.
“Point Pelee Marsh A New Day”
Another fabulous morning looking out at the boardwalk and marshland at Point Pelee National Park during summer!
"One Day At A Time" Summer sunrise in Colchester, Ontario on Lake Erie
“One Day At A Time”
I really enjoyed this sunrise on a warm late summer morning in Colchester, Ontario on Lake Erie.
"Point Pelee Endless Skies and Sand" tip of Point Pelee during summer. Looking back from the tip.
“Point Pelee Endless Skies and Sand”
I enjoyed many days at Point Pelee National Park this year, and one of my favorite things was to experience the ever changing view both of and from the tip of Point Pelee.
"Swiftly Moves the Storm" An autumn rain storm over Lake Erie"
“Swiftly Moves the Storm 2”
Strong current and heavy storm clouds when a early autumn rain storm passes by on Lake Erie.
"Take A Walk With Me" Amazing fall color in Michigan.
“Take A Walk With Me”
We had a late but amazing fall color season in Michigan this year. The maple trees put on quite a show!
"Winter Wonderland Dream" Snow laden winter wonderland.
“Winter Wonderland Dream”
Who doesn’t love a winter wonderland! This was a particularly inviting scene to me with the snow laden branches in dark contrast to the water, as well as the slight glow of a morning sunrise!

I hope that all of you have a very happy New Year, and that 2022 gives you plenty of adventure, enjoyment, good times, and most of all to stay healthy while enjoying whatever it is that you love to do!

Peace and Kindness to all,

Rachel Cohen

“Best of 2020”

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To say the least, this year has been wildly different for all of us. As for myself photography wise I wasn’t able to do much traveling, as I’m sure many of you also encountered.

I did manage to make quite a few photographs this year that I really love though.

So these are my personal favorite images from this wild and crazy year, 2020!.

They aren’t in any particular order. I do hope that you like them and that they bring you some sense of peace and happiness in these very difficult times!

"Sparkling Through Autumn Trees" A gorgeous fall day with amazing color, blue skies, and a sunburst!
“Sparkling Through Autumn Trees”
This was an extraordinarily beautiful fall day with the colorful fall foliage, bright blue skies, and magical sunshine!




“Rushing Waves and Cotton Candy Sky”
After a stormy day along Lake Superior the sky lit up just before sunset and made a beautiful ending to a day!
"Miners Castle Autumn Colors" 2 Beautiful colors of Lake superior, the stormy sky and fall color at Miners Castle!
“Miners Castle Autumn Colors”
This was a cloudy day to start out with but the fall color as well as the lovely hues of blues of both the water and sky made a very scenic view!
Life is Looking Up" A wonderful look up during fall with its spectacular colors and a bright blue sky!
“Life is Looking Up”
Another spectacular autumn scene as I looked up at the myriad of trees and blue sky within a forest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula!
"Breakwater Skies 2" Amazing clouds and colors of sunset along the rocky beach at Marquette Breakwater!
“Breakwater Skies 2”
Fabulous clouds and colors in Marquette, Michigan along the rocky beach next to the breakwater!
"Along Cut River Bridge" Beautiful fall foliage down under Cut River Bridge in Michigan's Upper Peninsula!
“Along Cut River Bridge”
As fall foliage peaked I enjoyed a walk down below Cut River Bridge on a bright a sunny autumn afternoon!
"Autumn's Edge" Amazing fall color and rushing waves along the shores of Lake Superior!
“Autumn’s Edge”
Waves rushing ashore and beautiful fall color were exhilarating on this late afternoon at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, Michigan!
"Stones of Miners Beach" Dramatic skies and beautiful calm water at Miners Beach!
“Stones of Miners Beach”
On a cloudy and off and on rainy morning at Miners Beach I captured this beautiful scene of dramatic clouds, calm water. and beautiful stones!
"Sunrise Contemplation 2" A gorgeous sunrise along the black rocks at Presque Isle in Marquette, Michigan!
“Sunrise Contemplation 2”
This is one of a very few sunrise images from Presque Isle Park in Marquette, Michigan on the black rocks. I witnessed spectacular color, beautiful reflections, and a sense of peace that morning! A single person was standing on the rocks also watching sunrise as a small boat passed by in the distance!
"Kitch-iti-kipi Autumn" Beautiful reflections of trees and clouds at Kitch-iti-kipi during autumn!
“Kitch-iti-kipi Autumn”

This was a beautiful and peaceful autumn day at Kitch-iti-kipi with fabulous reflections of the clouds, evergreen trees, and larch trees along the water!

I hope that you enjoyed this look back on my Best of 2020 images!

My wish for this coming new year for everyone is that all of us in the world are able to experience a safer, healthier, happier, more peaceful, and more beautiful life in 2021!

My very best to all of you,

Cheers,

Rachel Cohen

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“The Beginning and End”

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Last month on a fall color trip I got to enjoy a beautiful sunrise and sunset on two of the Great Lakes.

What a soothing and peaceful sunrise I had this day on Lake Huron! The only sounds to be heard were of gulls, ducks, and geese as they appeared on the scene as daylight broke! This was the beginning.

"Peace at Sunrise"
“Peace at Sunrise”

After a day of hunting for scenic places with fall color I went out along Lake Michigan for a sunset. It was what I call a nearly endless sunset. It didn’t get going with much color at first, but when it did, it didn’t want to stop! I stayed photographing the color until I knew I really had to leave. Even after I left the scene I had a hard time keeping my eye off of the side and rear view mirror as the color kept changing!

Red Sky at Night.
Red Sky at Night.

You know what they say about Red Sky at Night? A sailors delight! I have to say that it was for sure, the night was clear and the waters smooth. The next day also brought beautiful clear weather. I guess the mariners of old knew their skies! 🙂

“The Answer is Blowin in the Wind”

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The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind. The answer is blowin’ in the wind…..

The answer is carried on a strong wind as it blows through tall grasses along the shores of Lake Michigan. Streams of white and blue swirl through the sky as if to say we are going in our own direction.

Streaming, swirling, waves a pounding.

Grasses wild, clouds surrounding.

Winds do blow, sky’s a glow.

The answer only Lake Michigan does know….

"The Answer is Blowin in the Wind"
“The Answer is Blowin in the Wind”