Hamlin Lake
World Class View
This morning I went flying with Ryan Johnson from Mason County Aviation. We left Ludington and immediately flew north towards the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. To get the photographs that I had previsualized, Ryan estimated that we needed an altitude of at least 11,500 feet. From that height, I opened the window of the small plane and stuck my head and camera out into the cold, thin air. It was an awesome adrenaline rush. I made this photograph of Big Sable Point and Hamlin Lake upon our return to Ludington.
F8 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm
Pontooning at the Hamlin Dunes
For over a hundred years, these particular dunes on Hamlin Lake have been a popular picnic area for boaters. As a kid, my parents took my brothers and me here often. Now I enjoy taking my kids to the "Hamlin Dunes."
F6.3 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm
Queen of the North
Our friends Dave and Chrissy Hall, lifelong visitors and supporters of the Ludington State Park, graciously offered to take my dad and me in their airplane to photograph aerial views of the park and its surroundings. On a clear May evening in 2007, I made this photo from several thousand feet in the air. The photograph clearly shows the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Sable River, all of Hamlin Lake, Big Point Sable Lighthouse, the Nordhouse Dunes, part of the Manistee National Forest and the entire Ludington State Park.
Catching the Wind
My dad and I always say that "Clouds are your friends!" and here is the proof. Imagine how ordinary this photograph would be if it did not have the beautiful white, wispy clouds. It is the clouds in this photograph that tie the patterns in the water to the patterns of the sail on the sailboat.
F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 17mm
open water
As another photo hunting day dawned, I was searching along the shores of Hamlin Lake for a winter picture when I spotted a patch of open water. Some Canada geese and mute swans had already found one of the only unfrozen spots on the huge lake.
Shelter Cove
Brad maneuvered our shallow draft photo shooting boat to help me compose this image of one of the most beautiful coves on Hamlin Lake. The shelter building near where the Island Trail meets the Ridge Trail is in the background. On windy days, the cove provides welcome shelter from the waves that often quickly kick up. Thankfully, Hamlin Lake was in a tranquil mood this summer morning.
Hamlin Lake Mirage
It is amazing to me how often mirages or double images of the shoreline will appear throughout a given year. As I stood on the docks at the Sable Resort overlooking frozen Hamlin Lake, I noticed that the Hamlin Dunes were being reflected onto themselves near the waterline. As I was photographing, the sun appeared and turned the sky a brilliant gold color and the mirage looked even more mysterious.
Over the Hamlin Blue
Hamlin Lake is a great place to practice your sailing skills. For whatever reason, Hamlin Lake always seems to be windy. Today the wind was pretty strong and I had to motor our little Boston Whaler around quickly in order to keep pace with this beautiful little red sailboat.
F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm at 17mm
October Appearance
Sometimes it seems like we wait forever for the leaves to turn along the shores of the inland lakes tied to Lake Michigan. Then, seemingly overnight, a glorious change greets us on a morning like this one on Hamlin Lake. My son Brad and I encountered this fleeting scene at Victory Park on Upper Hamlin Lake in mid-October. Brad was still running with tripod and camera for a different vantage point while I made this picture along the park waterfront. Fortunately, I got off one shot before a cloud dropped the curtain on the fall color light show.
Hamlin Lake Mirage - Panoramic
It is amazing to me how often mirages or double images of the shoreline will appear throughout a given year. As I stood on the docks at the Sable Resort overlooking frozen Hamlin Lake, I noticed that the Hamlin Dunes were being reflected onto themselves near the waterline. As I was photographing, the sun appeared and turned the sky a brilliant gold color and the mirage looked even more mysterious.