Set Apart
Morning Stroll along the Breakwall
With clear skies and light winds from the south, Lake Erie this morning was a vision of placidity. Calm waters reflected morning sun and blue sky. People of early morning contemplated the scene, played on the sandy beach, or stopped to enjoy the moment. Here are two views from this day along the shore of Lake Erie on a lovely serene morning.
Kayakers Skim along on Placid Lake Erie
The shadow of a fresh fern rests upon the trunk of a fallen tree.
Flowing Clouds Move over Shadowed Cleveland Skyline
It was such a spectacular morning at the lake shore that it was difficult to tear myself away and go where I was supposed to be! The sky and the sun were changing minute-by-minute offering dramatic views of the sky, lake, and shore. I’d have loved to spend an hour watching and photographing the changing scene but I had only a few minutes. It was hard to choose from among the many shots I got but I think these are good representatives.
Sunburst
A lightning-filled thunderstorm arrives overhead.
In the waning minutes of sunset, a thunderstorm was moving into the area. As the leading edge of the cloud shield floated overhead, rumbles of thunder could be heard. Looking up, I saw the sky was alive with cloud-to-cloud lightning, much of it crawling across the cloud surfaces and readily visible, illuminating the coves and knolls of the storm. Fortunately I had my camera and tripod at hand and quickly set up in the parking lot behind my car. Quickly making rough camera settings I shot frame after frame, composing as best I could from a less-than-ideal vantage point. I would have shot a lot more images — there was lightning all over the sky — but my session was cut short by rain, threatening sky-facing lenses, forcing me into the car. It was quite the show, that spring lightning!
Sunset and lightning usher in the night.
A Stream Emerges from a Shadowed Gorge as it Enters the River.
I made an all-to-brief visit to David Fortier River Park, Olmsted Falls, this morning and discovered the scene had transformed with the season. Thick layers of water plants coated the rocks beneath flowing water with purple slime lining the rock stream bed. I was alone in the park at that early hour but for a fly fisherman casting his line into the rushing river; a quiet respite in my morning’s travel.
Flow
Stepping Stones
Before I arrived, a child had arranged a line of stones at the base of a naturally-stepped waterfall. He had made the line in such a way as to not block the flow of water and not be washed away. Draw what lessons as you may from the boy’s action; I just thought it was beautiful.
Fan: A Beautiful Shelf Fungus
Fungi generally grow upon decaying material that was once alive. Today, on a very pleasant hike on a trail in the Hubbard Valley Park, Medina Park District, I happened upon a most beautiful shelf fungus. The fan-shaped growth was protruding from the trunk of a still-standing dead tree along the path. This beautiful flower of decay with the feathery pattern of markings? Dryad’s saddle (Polyporus squamosus).
Looking North from Marblehead
We took a little trip to the Marblehead Peninsula to see the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton and revisit a favorite place: the Marblehead Lighthouse, at the eastern tip of the peninsula. The aviation museum is very interesting, especially to those interested in World War 2 aircraft, and keeps alive the heritage of the Ford Tri-Motor aircraft. They’re even rebuilding a Tri-Motor at the museum. Astonishingly you can also see, close-up, a flightworthy B-25J Mitchell Bomber in the cluttered but clean hangar facility. Still, my favorite part of the trip was clambering around on the rocks at water’s edge by the lighthouse. It was a lovely spring day, though a shelf of clouds was moving in from the south. My photography for the day included trying out a brand-new circular polarizer (Cost $$$) and I like the results.
Watching the Sky and Water
Friday Afternoon
Friday Afternoon. Gloomy skies continue to dominate, stretching out as far as the eye can see. The lakefront is now quite different from a few weeks ago and, while the waters are brown with silt, the sands are being washed. It’s a time of transition.
PhotonStopper 