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Underwater at Kitchitkipi

 

 

 

It occurred to me during one of the most spiritual photographic experiences of my life that I was inside a real-life crystal cathedral. I think the beauty of this God-made ice cave “church” on Grand Island on Lake Superior by Munising far surpasses the beauty of the Crystal Cathedral made by man. Brad and I had photographed many phenomenal views in the Michigan outdoors, but nothing had prepared us for what we witnessed inside the Grand Island ice caves. We felt like we were stepping into God’s art studio as we entered a glowing world of intricately sculpted green and white ice. Few places could be as incredibly glorious as this place. We were, and remain, most grateful for the experience and privilege to make images testifying to the beauty we beheld.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring Michigan

It looked like the world’s largest bulldozer had been at work in the Straits of Mackinac, pushing thousands of tons of rare “blue ice” into mountainous piles near Mackinac Bridge. Actually, forces of nature—wind, waves, and the expansion of ice—teamed up to break the blue ice, drive it ashore and stack the broken sheets. This February 23, 2012 morning was the first time Brad and I ever saw the blue-hued ice. We had seen photographs of the rarely occurring natural phenomenon but thought they must have been taken in the arctic, not Michigan. Seeing is believing!

Fall Tapestries

I had seen extremely blue ice on television and in other people's photographs, but I had never witnessed it myself. For Week 8 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed," my dad and I drove four hours north to photograph the Mackinac Straits area. As we drove down a steep hill and got our first look at the straits, we knew we had hit the jackpot. In front of us were miles and miles of massive piles of neon blue ice.

Falling

Finding the Angles

Rachel, Julia, Ethan, and I spent the day in Northern Michigan playing outdoors. I skied for free today at Schuss Mountain because my name is Brad! Every four years on Leap Day, they let Brads ski for free. After I skied, the four of us went tubing down the mountain. Then we drove to Mackinaw City to make these images.

Brad, Julia and Ethan and I enjoyed a day of adventures today! We ended at Mackinaw City to shoot the blue ice along the straits. What a magnificent sight!