Other Lighthouses

Point aux Barques Guardian

I pulled into the beach parking lot in downtown Frankfort less than two minutes before making this image. I saw the clouds to the west over Lake Michigan from the top of the hill in Benzie at the intersection of US31 and M115 and I predicted the sun would pop out just before it disappeared for the night below the horizon. I knew if we were lucky and the sun actually did appear, the resulting light show would be incredible. Following your gut instincts is important in outdoor photography.

Mackinac Island

 The drive out to the lighthouse was an adventure I'll never forget. The two-track of a road seemed to go on forever, but it's well worth the trip!! Shooting along the rocky shore of Lake Superior at night was a thrill! The lighthouse keeper was a great guy, he let me climb to the top of the tower and look out over Lake Superior. It was the first lighthouse that I had ever climbed and I was very thankful for the opportunity! I shot this on September 30, 2014.

When the waves are this big and the light and shadow at times this intense, I know to wait longer, watch longer for peak moments of waves and light. I made this image in 1/2500 of a second after looking for this moments for hours.

Round Island Light Near Mackinac Island

The lure of a Michigan salmon, steelhead, brown trout, or walleye is irresistible for many anglers, no matter the season. Here anglers pass Big Red Lighthouse in Holland en route to their favorite Lake Michigan fishing grounds. F6.3 at 1/400, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

Gitche Gumee

As soon as the Manitou Island Transit ferry landed at the dock, I made a beeline for South Manitou Light. I could see from the boat how beautiful the light and shadow were playing on the 100-foot-high white tower and knew I had to get to this spot ASAP. I waded into the shallows in order to use the intriguing water-covered rocks as a foreground base to my image.

“Bad” weather days can quickly change into a photographer’s dream. First, I spent more than an hour on this rainy day working to make good images of Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. Then “magic light” broke out beneath the clouds near sundown and lit the lighthouse and trees like Christmas. Just before sunset, sunlight bounced off from clouds cast a diffused, soft golden light on the lighthouse, McCarty’s Cove shoreline, and Lake Superior. I love “bad” weather.

One of Michigan's most distinctive and attractive lighthouses, White Shoal Light, has helped guide mariners safely into and out of the Straits of Mackinac for more than a century. I passed by this lighthouse at a distance on a Coast Guard ship a few winters ago but today the Shepler's Lighthouse Cruise boat Captain Mike Rossman brings me close enough to fill my Nikon's viewfinder even with a wide-angle lens attached. F8 at 1/800, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

One of the most impressive aspects of the Shepler's Lighthouse Cruise is the expert lighthouse history narration provided by volunteer members of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. Dick Moehl and Terry Pepper tell us of the ongoing extensive efforts to restore St. Helena Island Light, its outbuildings and boathouse. They are always looking for more volunteers and donations to assist with the project. F7.1 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

Long since abandoned, the medieval looking Waugoshance Light has endured since 1851, with the help of its iron plates. Its birdcage lantern is a rarity among Michigan's surviving lighthouses. F8 at 1/800, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 165mm

Built in 1840, the Old Presque Isle Light is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses on the Great Lakes. The charming structure served as an active lighthouse until 1871 when it was replaced by the nearby, far taller New Presque Isle Light. F10 at 1/60, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Isle Royal

I have always enjoyed the challenge of building strong, unique compositions utilizing reflections. In order to get the building, red roof, and tower of Au Sable Point Lighthouse to show up in the reflection, I had to lie on my stomach in Lake Superior. Thankfully, it has been a record breaking warm winter, but the water temperature still had my full attention. F8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Trees have grown up to block most of the view from the water of McGulpins Point Light, but a five-minute drive from the Shepler's ferry dock in Mackinaw City puts me face to face with the charming brick structure. F5 at 1/800, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 17mm

Only cormorants live on Gray's Reef Light anymore. The unmanned lighthouse marks one of the most treacherous shoals in Northern Lake Michigan. I like the understated yet carefully detailed design of the 1936 structure. F6.3 at 1/800, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

White Fish Point Lighthouse

Standing out after nearly 140 years in operation, Tawas Point Light towers over Tawas Bay near the Lake Huron shoreline. The lighthouse is located in Tawas State Park. Volunteers are on hand during the peak visitor season to give tours and help bring the history of the light to life.