The recent snowfall and cold climate reveal how much the traffic slows on this pier. Only few dare to brave the cold air and wind to view the beauty that is Lake Michigan. The real question is, who are these people and why do they come despite the cold weather. Is it tradition? The love for the lake? Or maybe it’s photographers just like me trying to capture some inspiring landscape.
My sister, brother and I went to go see the sunrise on Christmas day this year and now we have decided to make it a new tradition every year. Hopefully its at least a little clear every year. This is taken on the border of Wisconsin and Michigan right on the Menominee River. You can see the lighthouse very small and dark in the center of the photo towards the end of the pier. My sister is on the left and my brother on the right. Traditions are something amazing in our lives. Sadly when people pass away some traditions do as well, but it also provides opportunity for us to start new ones. Traditions keep us looking forward and excited about certain times of the year and seeing certain people. They keep us coming together and remind us what life is really about. For each of us life is defined in a very unique way, but it’s great to see it revealed through tradition and cherishing those moments.
When we arrived to prepare for the sunrise the clouds were so dark and tall and almost appeared to be Mountains across the bay. They were spectacular. The lighthouse was very dark and gave the sky a vast sense of mystery.
Wisconsin is about 100 yards away just past the end of the beach. It was about 7 degrees Fahrenheit outside and I was loving it. If you look in the sky you can see a few specs, those are seagulls. They brave the cold air and ice in search of any food they can find. It’s amazing what those birds will go through for just one bite.
I grew up here, but I never would come here in the winter and brave the cold. I guess growing up I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have a great place like this to reflect and gaze upon. Truly a beautiful place.
Nothing like getting a solid and square composition with good lighting. The seagull was a nice touch. Thanks Mr. Seagull!
Every time I find a new artist to follow I feel I become heavily influenced by them and their work. This one goes out to the Muller’s a fantastic married couple that does amazing wedding photography. Their compositions always have massive space and it makes us realize how small, yet significant we really are.
I don’t know about you, but I have the hardest time getting a good photograph of animals, particularly birds. I am not sure if it’s just my aim for perfection or just bad timing, but luckily this seagull was cooperative for this composition!
The closer we look at footprints in the snow, the more we see about who they are. You can find everything from boot prints to Converse All-Star prints. Shoes can tell you a lot about a person, sometimes more than we think. Whether they have high class, they are more relaxed, or always prepared for the elements, it tells us a little something more than we used to know. I’m not saying that we can define a person completely by their shoes, but it makes you wonder.
This was taken from the van just before heading back home to warm up a bit. Once I got home Andrew came over and we headed over to Henes Park to catch some more scenery the day had to offer.
Found this plant creeping through the rocks and snow on the coast of Lake Michigan. It’s always cool to find a sign of life in the snow.
As a native Floridian, I can’t share your enthusiasm for the weather (did you say 7 degrees?!), but I thought the photos were beautiful.
haha I did say 7 degrees! I grew up with the cold and I even worked in the frozen food and dairy department for 6 years at a grocery store while in school. You could say I am used to it.;) Thank you, too kind!
I am not sure that I quite understand the joys of walking outside when it is colder than my freezer. Awesome photos; so I am glad that you braved the weather. I will take our mid-60’s and play a little golf or tennis.
I do love your point about establishing and keeping family traditions.
Thanks
It’s all about embracing the climate we live in! I have been waking up to photograph the sunrise and spending whole days outside photographing the great northern winter in Wisconsin and upper Michigan. It is so refreshing to get brisk air in your lungs and see our environment in a whole new light.
Wonderful post Jacob! Great to see all of these pix!
I know exactly what it’s like to walk around in the freezing air. Sometimes it can be miserable, if it’s damp and windy, and sometimes, if it’s sunny and still, even if it’s zero or below, and there’s snow on the ground, you can find some very interesting things. Your photos are lovely, by the way.
I remember seeing photos of a dock in Michigan, where the waves had been splashing up, and freezing, which created these amazing natural “sculptures”, with tentacles of all sorts of sizes and shapes. I like a good change of seasons. I wouldn’t like to live in a place that was warm all of the time. I guess it’s different strokes for different folks.
Yeah I don’t know how much I would like living in a constant climate. We all need a little change in our life and seasons are great way to do that without having to move haha.
I’m with you on that one. There is something to love about all 4 seasons (and something to hate as well) and that keeeps life interesting. I am not overly fond of the cold, but winter has a beauty to it that I really appreciate. I’m not just talking about snow and ice, which your photos illustrate so well, but the stars in the crisp clear air as well.
Thanks Adam! I should send you guys some prints! Maybe bring one the next time I visit!
Your pictures make me miss Menominee. I would love to have a coffee table book of all of your photos!
That is actually a really good idea. I should make a coffee table book about where I grew up. I am not sure if I would sell it publicly, but if people would like to pitch in, I can try to make one and order a handful!
You can count me in on that project.