Sky and Lake in Transition
Transitioning: The seasons are changing from winter to spring. Storms blow in. Lake ice moves out. A fierce wind buffeted me as I stood atop a pile of dirty ice, perhaps 10 feet deep, along the lake shore. Waves, beginning to stir, jostled the ice plates and occasionally sent spray showering over their edges. It was a dark day, today, with the promise of brighter days to come, though I was in awe of the transitioning.
Great Blue Heron Arriving at Nesting Tree
Now Arriving: A Great Blue Heron arrives at its rookery bearing a tree stick for its nest on a gloomy Sunday in late March. Nests are pretty much complete and it was quiet, this afternoon, at the rookery. The big birds are sitting on nests, standing in the grasses below the nesting trees, waiting for hatching; then the real work begins!
Ice Cliffs on Lake Erie’s Shoreline
Ice Cliffs and Knolls: Formed along the Lake Erie beach by wind-driven waves and ice flows, sand-tinted piles mound high over the shore. Soon the ice will melt, the sand will drop back to the waterline, and wondering photographers will no longer walk suspended above the scene.
White Desert Out There
Broken Ice
I’ve been tremendously busy lately, the annual bicycle events calendar project gobbling up as much time as I could give. So it was with great pleasure I was able to spend some time outdoors today shooting under a brilliant clear sky. This morning my subject was steaming waters flowing over an ice-enshrouded dam (at -3F), and at midday I visited the lake. I’m still recording the changing scene along the south shore of Lake Erie as we move toward the spring season. Since my last visit there, the winds and waters have piled the ice even higher over the sandy shoreline. Some of the beached ice plates have fractured and fallen, opening crevasses large enough to catch the legs of careless climbers. The sky today was clear and intensely blue highlighting the rough, barren expanse of ice. A good way offshore, a narrow passage has formed, a split between the lake’s ice cover and that attached to the shore. The gap forms river out of the lake.
Cloud Shadow
Lake Erie today looked every bit the arctic or Antarctic desert. As far as could be seen to the north was a vast expanse of brilliantly lit snow-covered ice. Close to shore, shards of broken ice plate piled up a bit, accentuated by drifts of wind-driven snow. Here and there were dark patches, scudding across the white plain; they were the shadows of clouds floating above and behind me. Air moved across the lake as well and at 16F, bit hard my face and hands.
Snow-Desolate Beach
While I love the recent moody scenes I’ve seen and recorded along the lake shore, today was different. As I’ve said, the way the lake appears changes all of the time. Today brought sunny, blue skies decorated with sprays of cloud and it was beautiful… if still terribly cold. By the time I completed a 25-minute photo session this early afternoon, my gloved fingertips hurt! I had to hold my bare hands in front of the car’s heat vents as I drove away to relieve the pain. I captured many images of the lake, the sky, ice, and snow in the short space of time. Here’s one of my favorites.
Winter Glower
Unusually, I stopped by the lakefront for a second time in a weekend. We were between winter storms this afternoon and travels gave me the opportunity to stop and take in the scene. A cold wind was coming in from the north and clouds glowered overhead. Out over Lake Erie, dark streamers connected clouds and open waters — snow, no doubt — against an eerie backround of colored light. We did not stay long.
Walk in the Park
Icewaves: Lake Erie at the End of January 2014
I wouldn’t mind living near Lake Erie; I mean, living really close to the lake. Most probably don’t notice that it’s different every day. Differences may be quite subtle but they’re there. The shape, darkness, and color of the clouds changes all the time, sometimes rapidly and sometimes almost imperceptibly. The lake, even when frozen, reflects changes in lighting over its vast canvas. I go look at our nearest Great Lake whenever I can and am never disappointed. Sometimes the sights can be awe-inspiring. Sometimes the view is calming. The lake is always changing and I am glad to be able to see it.
The Spot
I was feeling rather out-of-sorts today. Between work commitments and some fairly severe weather, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to get out and enjoy the winter scenery. Today started out with that old “trapped” feeling — call it cabin fever — but as the snow stopped (for a while) and the temperature rose to a toasty 15F, we made our escape. Visiting the beautiful Brecksville Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks was a life-giving tonic. Deep, pristine snow covered the ground and evergreens. Snow lined the branches of winter-bare trees. Chippewa Creek, deep within its rocky gorge, was ice and snow covered, softening its rugged beauty. Soft light filled the quiet woods. We trudged along a path breathing in the clean, cold air, soaking in the beauty of the day. Camera in hand, I shot a few photos along the way (more than I thought … 90+ pictures) and that contributed to the experience. We couldn’t stay out for long, as She Who Must Be Obeyed was getting painfully-cold toes, but it was long enough: a good dose of spiritual tonic.
I usually don’t post iPad/iPod photos here but this one is just too fun! Annie was particularly interesting, settling in on a window-side ottoman. She pawed open the blinds for a better view, did a little sprucing up, and struck this pose. Write your own caption (this picture is ripe for that) but Annie looks lost in thought… The Thinker?
PhotonStopper 