Tag Archives: Photos

A Different Perspective

Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan

Just like I occasionally need reminded to take HDR and Panorama photos, I often forget to take pictures from something other than eye, or tripod, level. On our recent visit to the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan I managed to take a few photographs from a different perspective. Having an articulating screen helps! 🙂

Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Rocks on the Lake Superior shoreline in Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Rocks on the Lake Superior shoreline in Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Eagle Harbor Township Recreation Area in Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Eagle Harbor Township Recreation Area in Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Lake Superior shoreline in Eagle Harbor, Michigan

Remembering Lahaina

The Pioneer Inn, historic hotel in Downtown Lahaina, Hawaii

Kathy & I have very fond memories of our visit to Maui last year, and one of our favorite places was the town of Lahaina. It’s heartbreaking to realize that everything we saw there is now gone, lost to fire. Some of the structures there were over 100 years old, including the old courthouse and the historic Pioneer Inn. Aerial views of the waterfront show only the walls of the courthouse building still standing. Our hearts go out to the people there.

Downtown Lahaina, Hawaii
Visitor Center in the Old Courthouse. Downtown Lahaina, Hawaii
Lahaina, Hawaii waterfront seen from our whale watch cruise with Pacwhale Eco-Adventures

Seeing The Light

McGulpin Point Lighthouse on Lake Michigan in Mackinaw City, Michigan

I had seen on the map of Mackinaw City that there were several lighthouses along the lake front. After our time photographing the bridge, we sought a good view of the nearest one, at McGulpin Point. Unfortunately, unless you are on the water it appears the only view of  the lighthouse is from the parking lot! I did manage to get my shutter finger synchronized with the light pattern, so I have a few shots with the beacon lit!

Postcard From Voyageurs National Park

Cruise on Rainy Lake aboard The Voyageur. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

We capped off our road trip with an unplanned visit to Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. Unplanned, because when I first thought about visiting the Northernmost Point I never even bothered to see what else there was to do near International Falls. Rookie mistake!

When we drove into International Falls and saw the signs for Voyageurs, I did a forehead slap and said “you dummy – how did you not remember this was here?!?!?” We were able to book a boat cruise on Rainy Lake and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Fortunately for us, Rainy Lake was not rainy on the day we visited, and I got a bunch of nice photos. We didn’t see much wildlife, but we did get to see lots of beautiful scenery. The lake is dotted with thousands of little islands like this one.

I’m posting way out of order, but we have begun our final leg toward home, so I wanted to post one final photo from the road. I’ll have more photos and stories once I get home and am catching up!

Postcard From Eagle Harbor, Michigan

The copper mining industry began on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the 1840s. Lake Superior’s unreliable disposition meant that passing ships needed navigational assistance, and in 1851 the original lighthouse was built. The wooden tower which supported a fourth-order Fresnel lens illuminated by an oil lamp soon deteriorated, and in 1871 it was replaced by the present red brick structure. In 1895 a fog signal was added.
In the 1960s, the Fresnel lens was replaced by aviation beacon-type white and red lights, which beam their warning to ships more than 20 miles offshore. After being tended by 22 keepers since 1851, the lighthouse became automated in 1980 and the last personnel left in 1982.

We spent a couple of days sightseeing in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, and as part of our rounds we stopped at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse for some photos. The lighthouse is an important part of Eagle Harbor’s history and is a familiar icon for those who visit.

I would typically want to photograph a lighthouse at dusk with the beacon operating, but our timing did not permit that for this trip!

Scenes To Stop For

Hog Island Country Store along US 2 near Naubinway, Michigan

We passed a number of interesting places on our drive from Mackinaw City into the Upper Peninsula. A couple of places I passed and had to turn back. The reality is not always what the mind sees at first glance, but sometimes that first glance is just right!

‘Honest Injun Tourist Trap’ at 19073 US Route 2 near Gould City, Michigan
‘Honest Injun Tourist Trap’ at 19073 US Route 2 near Gould City, Michigan

Postcard From Mackinaw City, Michigan

The Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac, separating Lake Huron and Lake Michigan

We’re on our way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and stopped for the night in Mackinaw City. We took advantage of the 9:30 sunset time to head out to the shore of Lake Huron to photograph the Mackinac Bridge at dusk. There wasn’t much color but the bridge was quite impressive regardless!

Yes, the different spellings of the words Mackinac and Mackinaw are a little confusing, but I’m pretty sure I have it right! 🙂