great lakes freighters

It's been busy at both harbors in Marquette lately. This is the first time we've ever seen two freighters on the same side of the ore dock at the Upper Harbor. Don't know if this is something we will see more often or if it was because the ships were waiting out the storm. Not sure, but I think Jan 15 is the last day for shipping for the winter.

sounds like thunder

Was the scene yesterday on Lake Superior. We had a gale blowing up here in Marquette. So what's one to do? Head out to the lake, brave winds strong enough to test your balance, hike through cornea pummeling snow grains flying sideways, put up with eye watering, and nose watering, bone chilling cold. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing on days like these. Three hats, three layers of coats, two layers of pants, and goggles, and toasty Baffin boots and I'm hiking ready. At the height of the big sets that rolled through yesterday afternoon, there were some monsters. Was a creepy feeling when the snow squalls would come through and you only heard the waves crashing, cause you couldn't see 'em. That's when I realized the waves sounded just like thunder.

Christmas Eve walk in the woods

Went for a hike in the almost knee deep snow Christmas Eve. Almost time for snowshoes. Snow was extra fluffy, no footprints except mine, little wind, and the snow stopped just long enough to allow me some pictures. Here's Lake Superior sillouetted by big white pines and an old post and beam fence,with the winter light fading fast.

Winter Solstice

So, today is officially the first day of winter, the "winter solstice". This is the day that the axial tilt of the earth is the furthest away from the Sun, at a tilt of over 23degrees.We've talked about how typical it is that even this is the shortest day of winter, how the coldest days are yet to come. Same thing with the summer solstice.

The sun made a brief appearance today, but quickly clouded up and it's snowing again. Looks like we have a potential snow storm on the horizon just in time for Christmas Eve.

almost black and white

Not much color on this day, but it is a color pic.
Nothing like a little freezing drizzle to make snow cling to everything.

Lake Superior steaming

lake superior cooling down

Woke up, -10 F this morning the lake was steaming. We've already had some very cold days to bring down the lake temps and ice is starting to form on the shoreline. We have lots of snow. Everywhere. Winter has taken hold in earnest.

ISU World Cup, Marquette MI 2009

Apolo Ohno on one of the final turns at the Marquette World Cup, December, 2009

I'm finally getting a chance to sit down and look thru images from the ISU short track speedskating World Cup that was held the week of December 11, 2009 in Marquette, MI. We were blessed this year to have two major short track events, the Olympic qualifying trials and the World Cup, within weeks of each other. I wasn't on assignment photographing for anybody. This gave me a chance to take a chance and try some new things. These athletes are going a million miles a second and modern camera technology is getting real good at being able to capture millisecond action. On this particular image, there were a couple races where a sunbeam shone through to the ice, and created some real interesting lighting, to say the least. The light differential caused a backlight situation, and there were a few laps to capture almost like a tv commerical type lighting going on. Here is Apolo, in the lead, full out, skating through the sunbeam. I will get to more images probably after Christmas.

ice pastels

this is the result of heavy freezing spray on Lake Superior

It's nice to finally get a little time to get out a bit and see what's up. After the big storm last week, lots of ice built up on certain parts of the shoreline facing northeast. We got some really cold temps on the backside of the storm, so the ice built up thick and fast. Never lasts long though. Taken at sunset, the ice reflected the colors of the setting sun against the cool colored winter sky.

Big NE from a few days ago

Big waves in front of Marquette Lighthouse, December, 2009

big wave in front of Marquette Upper Harbor Ore Dock, December, 2009

Monster waves, some of the biggest I've ever seen at this location, were to be found on any shore facing northeast on Lake Superior December 9, 2009. Winds this strong out of this direction seem to be rather rare indeed. Lakeshore Drive got a major battering with the "sea wall" being ripped up pretty good. There was freezing spray all the way across the road, lining the chain link fence beyond the bike path. The young Lombardi Poplar lining the drive got hit pretty good with ice.  I wasn't out long, only about an hour before dusk,  but couldn't believe my eyes with the size of the waves along the McCarty's Cove area. Did any of the crew dare to challenge these beasts? Police had most of Lakeshore Drive closed, and I didn't have time to walk in and check triangles, it must have been HUGE.  Ventured out to black rocks, and the freezing spray was all the way to the hillside bending cedars all the way to the ground. Can't imagine what that spot looked like at the height of the storm.

mighty mac

Mackinac Bridge Reflections

We've been over the bridge a lot this year, lots of shows downstate, and most recently went to see family in Cincinnati and do a show over Thanksgiving. Off topic, a long long time ago, I lived in Cincinnati back in the Big Red Machine days, and never really explored the Kentucky side at all. This trip, we spent a lot of time in Covington KY and had a great time, amazed at the mansions along the river, equally amazed at the view from Covington of the two new stadiums in Cincy. Had a great burger and Guiness at Molly Malone's btw ;)

This image is from one of those crossings over the Mackinac Bridge, it was an extremely calm night, calm that didn't last long. If you look closely, you can see ripples in the water that happened part way through the timed exposure adding another dimension to the image. A few minutes later, these reflections of light were gone due to water chop. Now I just need to get back there for a calm day with the "Christmas Lights" on the bridge,,, suprised the ACLU hasn't complained about this.....but then again maybe it's not Christmas Lights but simply a change of light color for a change of pace....? It sure was nice in visiting some of the small Ohio towns on our last trip to see the 10 commandments displayed in front of several courthouses. Only a matter of time I guess before controversy ensues in this day and age of America.....