Caught this on the expanse between Tallahassee and Panama City, Florida. It was a battle between me and the mosquitoes but I think I won.
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Tag Archives: Sunsets
Au Sable Point – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
I suppose the real cause of my all night drive from Pictured Rocks National Seashore resulted from my dalliance along the Au Sable Point Trail. I had seen the Au Sable Light from a vantage point along the dunes about five miles north near Grand Marais and decided I needed to get a closer look. It’s reached by a trail located just off the north perimeter of the Lower Campground, about a mile and a half from the lighthouse, so when I finished up tramping around the dunes I drove down that way.
By the time I reached the trailhead it was 1930. I calculated the walk would require 30 minutes one way and given that I’m still way north (46 degrees) I’d have plenty of time to get out there do some photography and get back before dark. I was thinking about the Light not the sunset and relished the idea that for once I would be approaching my subject both at the right time of day and under near perfect weather. One of those rare times when my schedule coincided with the right everything.
The Lower Campground is hard by the lakeshore. I parked and proceeded up the path. It runs parallel to the and within feet of the shoreline providing a panoramic view of Lake Superior. As I trudged along it occurred to me that in addition to the Lighthouse I might also be able to capture shots of the sunset over the lake.
I took my time at the Light and shot it from as many angles as I could. It has stood on the point since 1874 and is one of tens such lights found around the Great Lakes area. If you’re into light houses this is the place to be – much more so than on the east or west coastlines. The shots will be the subject of the next post because I was more taken – at least for now – by what followed that part of the shoot.
I finished up, working my way around a few late evening visitors who arrived in time to clutter up the view, and headed back down the trail at a quick pace. I planned on finding a spot on the beach near where I had parked the car and taking in the ending of the day. I arrived about 2030 and looked around for a spot. It was then I also realized that I had plenty of time to run and get my tripod – always a last-minute and usually overlooked thought – as well as a lens filter that would help to cut the sun’s glare and capture more of its coloration. So I picked the items up and headed back to the beach.
I was surprised to see that just left of the place at which I entered the beach a creek was flowing into the lake at moderate to high velocity so I settled on a spot that placed its exit point between me and the sunset. The lens filter ( a variable Tiffen) allowed me to soften the sun’s rays and to slow the movement of the water. I really loved the results.
Click on the photograph to see the several different shots that are in the SmugMug Gallery
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Crescent City Sunset
Maine Sunsets
Sunsets were elusive during my 4 days at Acadia NP. I did manage a couple of semi ones as well as a late sunrise (because I was late) from the summit of Cadillac Mountain. But the two I liked the most presented themselves as I was driving out of Acadia heading north toward Canada.
I hadn’t had in mind chasing a sunset – something I will occasionally do – but as I was driving through a little town called Bigelow, about 20 miles south of the US/Canada Border I came upon Lake Falstaff. It was about 30 minutes before sundown and it appeared to me that the image might be worth waiting for. So I stopped and waited. It was a good idea. This turned out to be one of those shots that just kept on giving because the Lake caught a near perfect reflection of the smoky cloud etchings above it.
Near perfect until….
I continued on toward the border and came upon Chain Lakes that were geo-positioned in an east-west manner. The sky, which at Falstaff had been an orangery blue had now turned crimson. What you see here is what I saw as I rounded a curve in the road. I slammed on the brakes. There was no place to pull over: rock wall on the right; lake on the left. I put the blinkers on and hoped no one would crash into the car – or me – and I got the shot. It is as if it was taken on another day in an entirely different part of the world. the colors, the clouds the reflections – all different. I couldn’t chose between the two so I didn’t.
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RichardBeGone 