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Alice



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A different view of the lighthouse in south haven michigan. It's part of a series I've worked on through several winters for several years. This parti...
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A different view of the lighthouse in south haven michigan. It's part of a series I've worked on through several winters for several years. This particular vantage point was dedicated to the imagination. As a point of inspiration to that part of us that simply goes wow. Without any rhyme or reason. It's that childlike perfection that is there before we are indoctrinated into what life means. Thanks for taking the time to view, favor, and comment, I hope you enjoy the view as much as I did.

As an interesting side note, not only has certain photo's in the frozen lighthouse series won awards through other competitions, I was also represented by a global media company who arranged publishing through their global contacts.
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33 Comments |
hwishnick Platinum
 
hwishnick March 10, 2014
Astounding capture. Now get inside and warm up!
andrewgibson
 
andrewgibson March 25, 2014
Absolutely stunning,
Beautiful-Breeze Platinum
 
Beautiful-Breeze March 27, 2014
Amazing Photograph. WOW!!!!! Love everything about it.
Really well done. :-)
Jorgejr
 
Jorgejr April 03, 2014
awesome!!
tinekeziemer
 
tinekeziemer April 10, 2014
unbelievable!!!
SheilaDraper
 
SheilaDraper May 28, 2014
Still think this is absolutely amazing :) Million likes from me on all your captures!
KatePurdy Platinum
 
KatePurdy July 10, 2014
Exceptional work!!! love it.
robincolby
 
robincolby September 30, 2014
This is breath taking!!! Amazing work!!
victorruiz
 
victorruiz October 10, 2014
Fantastic
Bazz PRO+
 
Bazz November 28, 2014
Stunning!
DutchTouch Platinum
 
DutchTouch December 12, 2014
Fantastic capture!
lidiabudzinska
 
lidiabudzinska February 09, 2015
you are so lucky to be in the right place in the right time , who knows maybe big freeze comes to UK one winter to :)
jeffswanson
 
jeffswanson February 10, 2015
Grand image. Wow is this awesome.
ChixPixPhotography PRO
 
ChixPixPhotography May 25, 2015
The contrast between the red and white on this one really make it sing. Love it.
Cynthia_Lee_Photography PRO+
 
Cynthia_Lee_Photography July 27, 2015
Your work is beautiful and I love your talent in your edits! This is superb!!
davidvick
 
davidvick July 27, 2015
This is an amazing image very nice work
plntgrl
 
plntgrl August 02, 2015
Great shot where is it?
Cobble-Art PRO+
 
Cobble-Art September 03, 2015
Magnificent!
StevenBursell
 
StevenBursell September 03, 2015
Blew me away!
predragsimic
 
predragsimic September 22, 2015
This looks like a movie set. Really awesome!
nornots Ultimate
 
nornots March 31, 2016
Killer shot....
Liptonsun01
 
Liptonsun01 July 13, 2016
This is a stunning capture!
HarrieMuis
 
HarrieMuis November 10, 2016
impressively cold
markkrause PRO
 
markkrause March 18, 2017
Bone Chilling and Mind Boggling at the same time...
ChezA
 
ChezA May 17, 2017
Your captures of the ice are absolutely amazing! love each and every one of them.
NJ_Libitinarius
 
NJ_Libitinarius August 07, 2017
One of my absolute favorites!
Alwolfe Platinum
 
Alwolfe January 30, 2018
Probably the best lighthouse photo I’ve ever seen.
michaelsteely
 
michaelsteely February 23, 2018
Love your photography!
FergalBrady
 
FergalBrady February 15, 2019
When savage elements meet savage beauty great shot
FergalBrady
 
FergalBrady February 15, 2019
AnnHopta PRO+
 
AnnHopta November 29, 2021
Wow, just wow…
redsponge
 
redsponge February 18, 2022
Thomas would you mind sharing location of your absolutely fantastic image of the lighthouse in winter? Barbara
Magical_Exposure PRO
 
Magical_Exposure November 19, 2023
Absolutely outstanding beautiful capture of the lighthouse in South Haven, Michigan!!! Michigan is where I live, Grand Rapids to be specific.
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

The photo was taken in South Haven Michigan, but that is not where the adventure began. I had a friend contact me that morning and we agreed to meet in Michigan City Indiana, which is several hours south west of this location. We started off by checking out the lighthouse that was there. From a distance that one appeared to look like a frosty treat against the deep green waters and cloudy skies which were present that day. After that, we agreed to explore the next lighthouse in St Joseph Michigan which was even more impressive than the last. It was after that experience that we moved onto South Haven.

Time

By the time we arrived it was around 5 pm and getting rather close to sunset. 45 minutes later the sun had finally set.

Lighting

Since it was near sunset I took advantage of the angle of the sun. I would guess that it was roughly at 30 degrees left of the actual lighthouse which added a nice illumination to the ice hanging from the upper walkway. Using light to your advantage can make an ordinary image extraordinary.

Equipment

This was taken on a Canon 40 D, on a tripod, with no other special equipment.

Inspiration

I've always been a bit of a explorer, treasure hunter and nature lover. Combine that with a core fascination for life and lighthouses and there you have it. I prefer to capture things that are unique or that have a unique quality about them that you don't normally see. In this instance the end result of the ice buildup only happens when the conditions are right. While patience is key, my original intent was not just to step outside the box, but to throw the box away when it came to defining beauty. I also looked at the typical definitions surrounding landscapes, as well as nature and used those 2 ideas in the broadest sense when I originally created the theme for this series.

Editing

The processing I do is highly intuitive and never really the same. The result I'm after is. It is my intention to recreate the feeling I had at that precise moment in time, and transfer that into the final result. I believe in keeping things as simple as possible. This one was created using multiple layers, and merged manually, with a few minor adjustments for details.

In my camera bag

My camera body, several len's, an assortment of filters, extra batteries, a charger, lens cloth and an extra memory card.

Feedback

Photography, while it might seem intimidating to some, in it's simplist form, is all about capturing light and manipulating light. Get to know your equipment and all the features and options you have available. Look at the various software editing programs on the market and pick a system that is right for you. Last but not least, keep it, and your photos simple, by eliminating elements that don't support your subject matter. From a foundational standpoint photography is all about learning the basics and mastering the basics and applying those skills to create something you'll be proud to share. For me I also have to say the words “Know Thyself”. Follow your fascinations despite what anyone else thinks because you never really know where they will lead you. If your really good at it, you may just find many treasures along life's path.

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