Lake Michigan Sunset
Taken at Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon, Michigan, USA
Nikon D7000
Nikkor 18-200mm lens
Edited in Picasa and Photomatix...
Read more
Taken at Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon, Michigan, USA
Nikon D7000
Nikkor 18-200mm lens
Edited in Picasa and Photomatix
Read less
Nikon D7000
Nikkor 18-200mm lens
Edited in Picasa and Photomatix
Read less
Dec, 2013Views
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Palominolady
August 10, 2014
Absolutely stunning! love the composition, colors, lighting, and shadows. I feel as if I could just walk right into the screen and be there.
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adavies
January 09, 2017
So pretty! Really beautifully captured! If you haven't done so already, please consider joining my Pure Michigan! challenge:)
https:// viewbug.com/challenge/pure-michigan-photo-challenge-by-adavies
https:// viewbug.com/challenge/pure-michigan-photo-challenge-by-adavies
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken as the sun set over beautiful Lake Michigan and Pere Marquette Beach at Muskegon, Michigan. Muskegon has a very "colorful" history of being a large contributor to the lumber industry over the last century. After 30 years in the corporate world, I moved to this area to be nearer to my family. I knew it was a beautiful area but it wasn't until I moved here that I found it is pretty close to "Heaven".Time
Several evenings a week I make the 10 minute trip to the beach from my home to see what beauty nature will present for us. At the beach, there are often many photographers waiting for the evening's display and rarely are we disappointed. As the sun starts to drop, the reflections on the water can often be broken by motorboats, sailboats, kite-surfers, beach grass, and like this image, jetties along the beach. The jetties keep the beach sand from being eroded by the waves.Lighting
I waited until the sun fell behind the clouds in the distance. I have found that the best sunset photos happen when there are clouds over the lake, especially wonderful before or after a storm.Equipment
This was taken with my Nikon D7000. I was actually laying flat on the sand facing the west. The only other equipment used were my own elbows to hold the camera steady. Keeping sand out of the camera equipment can be a real task, especially when the wind is blowing!Inspiration
Michigan is a peninsula, completely surrounded by the Great Lakes on three sides, creating the longest coast of any of the United States. The beaches along that coastline have all won awards for the cleanest and most beautiful beaches. We like to think our beaches are the "best kept secret" of the country. While the beaches of the east and west coasts of the country are crowded with people, our beaches are just waiting for the days to begin!Editing
I normally do very little post-processing, perhaps adjusting for lighting and cropping. This particular image I also adjusted using Photomatix, giving the HDR a little more emphasis. I have always felt that a good photographer should strive to capture an image in its best presentation.In my camera bag
I finally found a bag that carries everything I might need including various lenses, batteries, chargers, and especially the camera manual. The camera is so complicated that I find having my manual by my side is necessary. I will admit that I am many times baffled by all the settings and how to accomplish them!Feedback
As the old saying says, "Timing is everything!" One never knows what beauty will be presented on any given day. We do have our cloudy days when the sunset is missing. Living close to the lake has its advantages. As the day progresses, you can assess whether or not there will be a sunset. Then it is just a matter of driving to the beach! No two sunsets are alike and it is always a surprise. The best part is not just taking the photos but just standing on the beach and seeing it with your own eyes!
