Lighthouses
Betsie Point Lighthouse in the distance and the Foghorn building in the foreground are two of the most photographed historic buildings along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Michigan. I was looking to capture these iconic buildings at sunset when I found this rather unusual vantage point. The setting sun was adding its fading light to both structures as well as the clouds above.
This is Au Sable Light Station in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It sites on the south shore of Lake Superior 12 miles west of Grand Marais, Michigan. This light station was built in 1873-1874 and stands 86 feet tall. It's a 1.5 mile hike out to the light station from the Hurricane River Campground. It was a beautiful late summer afternoon when I hiked out along the Lake Superior shoreline . On the way I saw where a pair of wolves had left their tracks on the beach. The last of that summers Blueberries were found on bushes near the light station. With the fairly long hike back to my truck I decided not to stay until sunset. In the early evening light the red buildings and white tower added good contrast to the blue sky and high thin clouds. As I took the picture it looked like the tall light tower was splitting the clouds.
Point Iroquois Lighthouse: This lighthouse is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Superior near Brimley, Michigan. The lighthouse was built in 1855 and the light was first lit in September 1857. It was built to guide ships through Whitefish Bay to the St. Mary's River. Some people say the lighthouse is haunted. The shoreline in front of the lighthouse is composed of various sized rock in beautiful colors. My photograph, in the Nature Gallery, of beautiful rocks in the water was taken here.
McGulpin Point Lighthouse is owned by Emmet County and sits on the shore of Lake Michigan not far from the Mackinaw Bridge. The lighthouse protected ships passing through the Straits of Mackinac from 1869 to 1906. There is a beautiful view of the Mackinaw Bridge from the shoreline in front of the lighthouse.
This is a very early morning, sunrise photograph of the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse. It was built in 1840 at the entrance to Presque Isle Bay on Lake Huron. It is located near Presque Isle, Michigan. The lighthouse was in service from 1840 to 1870. I arrived in the dark, wanted to capture a sunrise picture. As darkness gave way to this early morning light , a very active swarm of Swallows began zipping around me feeding on insects. I thought for sure I was going to get hit by these fast flying birds. I ended up capturing a beautiful orange horizon and the first rays of the sunlight hitting the top of the lighthouse tower.
This is Split Rock Lighthouse located on the North Shore of Lake Superior near Two Harbors, Minnesota. A November gale on Lake Superior wrecked nearly thirty ships in 1905. Money was raised and this lighthouse was completed in 1910. The Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Minnesota.
This is an upper level view of the Cape Meares Lighthouse. The sun was just setting and I positioned myself so the setting sun was right behind the lens, reflecting through the lens. The golden horizon reflected into and along both sides with the clear blue sky above. The lighthouse turned a pretty uneventful sunset into a special scene. Cape Meares Lighthouse was built in 1889 and began operation on January 1, 1890.