Winter hangs on in St. Louis

The snow is going away in St. Louis but it is still winter here. Buds are stating to show up on the trees with cold and rainy days ahead.

Photographed here is the St. Louis Arch (The Gateway Arch) on one of those cold rainy days. Instead of the St. Louis skyline in the background the Arch is viewed from one of the reflecting ponds. All of this sits on the Gateway Arch National Park grounds and consists of the Gateway Arch itself, the free history museum under it, the 90 acres of beautiful landscape that surround it, with the Old Courthouse, which was already 100 years old when the arch was built. It has been a unit of the National Park Service since 1935, when 40 city blocks were designated Jefferson National Expansion Memorial by Roosevelt’s Executive Order 7253. In 2018, the park was renamed Gateway Arch National Park by an Act of Congress.

Click on the photo for mor information. This photo is part of my photography portfolio as shown here.

Big Red

Big Red

“Big Red” in Holland Michigan was the harbor’s first beacon, a 34-foot white wooden structure, began shining in 1870 and eventually gave way to a taller steel beacon (in the background). In 1907, the present structure took shape as a manila-colored fog signal building, becoming an official lighthouse in 1936 with the addition of a light tower that raised its height to 49 feet. Not until 1956 did it adopt its iconic red color.

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Pelican Photography at Clarksville Lock

Pelican Migration

Here is a Pelican in flight at the Clarksville, MO lock and dam in the Mississippi River. During midwinter in the Midwest, the Missisippi River flyways are very active with Pelicans, Eagles, Seagulls and more. Most places along the river are great places to photograph.

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Winter Wonderland: Lighthouses of Southwestern Michigan

This is the latest photo I have processed from a recent trip to Southwestern Michigan to photograph lighthouses in snow and ice. This is in the town of Grand Haven which has an inland port that uses lighthouses to guide ships into safety.

It has been a particularly cold winter causing storms to blow ice onto the Lake Michigan lighthouses in the area, creating a surreal winter scene. Due to the unusual beauty and high media coverage, photographers have come from across the country to photograph the area. Just about any camera will give great results but visitors need to be prepared for extreme cold and wind with very dangerous terrain. Wool hats, face covering, down coats and snow boots with crampons will be required to traverse the ice-covered walkways.

Click on the photo for more information. Click here for the complete set of photos from the trip.

Explore Southwest Michigan’s Stunning Freshwater Dunes

St. Joseph Lighthouse

Southwest Michigan’s dunes are part of the largest freshwater dune system in the world. The state’s dune system is so large that astronauts can see it from space! This 16-acre, family-oriented park provides access from its parking lot to the historic North Pier lighthouse and a popular walkway for fishing and watching sunsets. Small dunes rise behind the beach, adding to its charm and providing a scenic view of the area.

Click on the photo for more information. Click here for a complete set of photos of frozen lighthouses.

Ice-Covered Signal Light: A Photographers’ Paradise in St. Joseph, MI

St. Joseph Lighthouse

St. Joseph Lighthouse

One of the most interesting structures along the east coast of Lake Michigan is this signal light covered with ice from Great Lake storms. This is on the South Pier in St. Joseph, MI. Record low temperatures and heavy storms have made this are a popular place to photograph. Particularly in St. Joseph since this light and a lighthouse are completely covered in ice.

Due to this weather, the area has been highly publicized making it a popular destination for photographers from all over the United States and Canada. Photographing the area, you need to be prepared for zero-degree weather and high winds; wool hat, facemask, multiple layers with down coat, snow boots with crampons will be needed. Your camera with a zoom up to 120mm will work well.

For more information on the photos, click each one. To see the complete set of photos, click here.

Grand Haven frozen lights

Grand Haven Light House

Established in 1839, two lights on the south pier, both painted red, are connected by a lighted catwalk that also connects them to the shore and the Grand Haven Boardwalk. The inner light is cylindrical, and the foghouse outer light stands on a huge concrete foundation. People often enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk that borders the Grand River channel and the pier, making the Grand Haven lighthouses the most photographed lighthouses in Michigan. The Grand Haven pier is also a popular spot for fishing and catching the sunset.

In the winter, the lights are pounded by icy waves creating a surreal environmnet.

Click on the photo for more information. Click here for the complete set of photos of southeastern Lake Michigan lights.

Sunrise on Lake Michigan

St. Joseph Lighthouse

Sunrise in St. Joseph, Michgan with colorful skies aganst the snow and ice. Walking out on the south pier of the St. Joseph shipping channel gives a nice view of the lights on the north. These lighthouses along the east shore of Lake Michigan are a thrill to see even in sub zero weather and strong winds. If you are so inclined to do this, it is worth the trip!

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South Haven Light

South Haven Lighthouse

During this season of snow and ice, Lake Michigan is a great place to photograph ice blown lighthouses, snow coverd dunes and beautiful light. The best place to visit is the Southeaster shore of Lake Michigan. Snow and wind blows off the lake creating a fairy like atmosphere.

This photo is from the canal entrance in South Haven, Michigan. If you go, wear very warm clothing, face covering and boots with metal cleats.

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Winter Lighthouse Photography in Lake Michigan

St. Joseph Lighthouse

I recently visited the lower eastern side of Lake Michigan to photograph the lighthouses. During the winter, the lighthouses build up large amounts of ice and look like creatures from outer space! These lights are mostly guides for ships traveling to an inland lake with calmer waters and they usully have two piers running out from the canal. The best way to photograh is from one pier oppisite the light.

This pier has two lights and the ice covered one has two lights. This is the front light totally covered with ice.

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