Near Record Ice Cover

The NASA satelite image above shows the near-record ice cover over the Great Lakes as of Valentine's Day 2014. Ice cover is estimated to be at 88.4%. Lake Superior and Lake Huron are nearly entirely frozen over. Lake Ontario is only about 34% frozen over. The 1979 record of 95% ice cover may be safe as warmer temps are expected this week (finally!). If you have hopes of getting out on the frozen lakes this winter there's no time like the present!

Cana Island Light

This winter has been record-setting in terms of both cold temps and snowfall. In winters such as this I become somewhat braver in the field. Heights and speed have never bothered me much. But one thing I'm deathly afraid of is falling through thin ice. When it's been this cold for this long I'm much more willing to venture out on the ice and explore with my camera. I shot this scene a few winters ago at Cana Island Lighthouse in Wisconsin.

Lakefront Ice

Every winter is different and ice along the shoreline is never the same twice. It varies not only year to year, but even day to day. It's always interesting to carefully explore the frozen shoreline. As always, the key is light and as in all landscape photography, things seem to be most interesting when the sun is low in the sky helping to make longer shadows and interesting textures.

Icy Light

Shooting lighthouses is always fun, especially when the Great Lakes freeze and the lights become coated with ice and snow. As you'd expect, the polor vortex that gripped most of North America this week did a number on the lakes and lighthouses. Pictured above is the outer structure of the St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. Because the lake is frozen for at least a mile out from the shoreline, there's not much spray freezing on the structure…So I'll just have to keep my eyes on the conditions and be prepared to return to St. Joseph when the conditions demand it!

Ice Time

It's now the dead of winter and time to get brave and explore the frigid elements for interesting photo opportunities. After all, you can't stay indoors all winter long, can you? Even if you could, you wouldn't want to. There's just yoo much to see and play with outside. If you're fortunate enough to live in a location with four seasons, embrace the seasons! Or at least pretend to. For the next couple of months tremendous opportunities exist at the lakeshore, lighthouses, winter festivals, and anywhere else you can make seasonally unique compositions. The lakeshore looks very different in January compared to July… So does everything else! Be brave, explore…and make some beautiful winter photos!

Pancake Ice

Ice is nice! Ice formations at the shoreline often offer an amazing opportunity to seek out interesting compositions. Wave and wind action push and carve random patterns and formations in the ice that are never the same twice. If you happen to be there early or late in the day, the low angle of the sun can add to the mix long shadows and beautiful light. Despite the cold, these conditions are a perfect opportunity to get down low and use a wide angle lens to frame your compositions. The secret to using a wide angle lens for landscapes is to include something interesting up-close in the forground. It's important to stay safe whenever going out on the frozen water. It's never a good idea to do so all alone. When I shot the picture above at the Lake Michigan shoreline it was about 8°… Had I fallen into the water I never would have made it back to my car which was parked more than a mile away.

Winter Photography Tips

It takes a little extra preparation to shoot in cold temps! But winter photography can yield beautiful photos! The extra effort to prepare for the shoot always pays dividends in the field as you will be as comfortable as possible and your gear will be safeguarded to operate as well as possible in difficult conditions. Here are a few quick tips to help make your winter photography successful:

1. Travel Light … No need to bring everything! You'll be wearing gloves and there may be snow blowing about so keep your kit as basic as you can…You'll be glad you did!
2. Keep your lenses and camera bodies enclosed in Large Re-Sealable Freezer Bags to reduce fogging as you move between cold and room temps. Seal the bags while in the cold BEFORE moving indoors. Bring extra batteries and try to keep them warm (use hand warmers).
3. Dress in layers…Wear good footwear…Bring extra socks and gloves…Wear a hat/ear muffs...Carry sunglasses with you at all times…Have dry towels available.
4. Stay hydrated! Drink water BEFORE you're thirsty!
5. Stay SAFE! Ice can be extreemly slippery! No picture is worth getting injured or killed for!

That's it for today! I'll have a much more detailed post regarding winter photography tips and techniques in a few days. Happy New Year!

Green Bay Sunset

The middle of winter can be bitterly cold…and no where seems colder than standing on the ice when the wind is howling and the wind chill factors hover at or below zero! But winter at the shoreline can be a magical place to make beautiful photographs. I shot the photo above at Peninsula State Park in Wisconsin one cold January evening looking out over Green Bay. As long as one prepares for the cold the experience can in fact be enjoyable… and productive!