Lake Superior springtime...........

It really is springtime in northern Wisconsin.

But you wouldn't know it by the ice still covering Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior in Ashland Wisconsin.

The only open water was at the west end where Fish Creek enters the lake at long bridge.

I made a few images, then drove north along the lake to see if I could find any open water.

Ice was piled up along the shore and there was a bit of water just beyond it.

I really lucked out, as some interesting clouds worked their way across the sky shortly after I got there.

It was windy and 33 degrees, I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. In order to get the low angles to highlight the ice and clouds I needed to lay on various blocks of ice for extended periods of time.

I was getting wet, cold, and occasionally hurt as some of the ice broke beneath me and I fell into larger sharp pieces below.

The sun occasionally went behind the clouds and it felt much colder as I waited for the light.

Madeline Island is in the distance on the right.

I kept looking for interesting shapes and good color.

Just before sunset, light filtered through the trees to the west and lit a small piece of ice at the edge of the lake.

 I worked quickly as darkness neared.

And just like that. The sun slipped behind the trees and the light disappeared.

I just wanted to make a few images.....

It had been a while since I made any images. So off I went to a nearby lake, hoping for some clouds and a little light at sunset.

It was still 80 degrees and very humid at 7pm when I got there.

I parked and walked to the shore of Lake Wingra.

The mosquitoes found me immediately, but the clouds and color were worth it.

I set the tripod at the edge of the water and got to work.

I used a split neutral density filter to balance the exposure of the sky and foreground.

The clouds made interesting patterns as the sun dropped below the horizon.

The bugs were persistent and I was sweating quite a bit.

So I just kept shooting.

In the distance I could see kayakers heading towards the beach where I was standing.

So I made a few more images before they got into frame.

As they brought their boat to shore I put my camera away and stayed just a few more minutes more.

Finally....

It all came together and culminated in this image.

 

About five hours from where I live is a stretch of road with water on both sides that I had noticed several years ago.

 

 

I thought I may be able to make some decent images if I could ever be there at sunrise or sunset on a calm day with a few clouds.

 

 

The problem was, I very rarely traveled to that location and never specifically for photos. So several years passed and the opportunity never presented itself.

 

 

Until just the other day. The whole world conspired so I happened to be within a few miles of that place with a camera on Wednesday evening. There were clouds to the south and I was feeling optimistic.

 

 

I realized I didn't have a tripod once I got there. Hopefully it wouldn't be a deal breaker. I'd just shoot with a higher ISO and shallower depth of field.

 

 

The clouds were moving from east to the west, the water stayed calm, and I kept shooting.

 

 

I couldn't believe my luck. The fact I was standing there making these images made me smile. A common loon flew overhead and then landed nearby. Two trumpeter swan fed along the shore.

 

 

As the sun neared the horizon clouds crowded in.

 

 

I thought I may loose the light and the colors would disappear. Lucky for me I didn't and it all worked in my favor.

 

 

I kept a close eye on the camera settings and used good technique to ensure sharp images.

 

 

I worked on composition and color.

 

 

 

Then I just kept on shooting until the light faded and the colors were gone.

 

 

 

The fact that I was at that particular spot, on that particular day, at just the right time, was such an unlikely event it made me laugh. Being lucky can be a lot better than being good.

 

Colorful....

 

images from the last couple of days at Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior.

 

 

Sunset sky.

 

 

Sunrise, Ashland Wisconsin.

 

 

Looking north at sunrise.

 

 

 

Chequamegon Bay morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had done what I could from the shore and headed out onto a pile of ice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After climbing on and photographing the ice it was time for a break.