From shore, the Ludington lighthouse resembled a giant ice sculpture after an early winter gale subsided. I knew I needed to get close to get the strongest photograph. The treacherously slippery hike to the lighthouse left me questioning whether I should have attempted it. The view in front of my camera gave me my answer. As darkness was closing in, I was slipping and sliding my way back to shore, questioning my sanity but feeling good that I had mad this picture envisioned from shore.