Hidden beneath the ice

Posted by Mark on Feb 11, 2012 in nature photography | 24 comments

Ice sheets beneath my feet, Lake St. Clair, Michigan Image # WI-9556

It is that time of year when I start thinking about photographing on the ice.  However, with the extremely mild temperatures this year, I am doubtful I will be able to walk out on the ice like I did in this shot a couple of years ago.

This lake, Lake St. Clair, is about a half hour drive from where I live.  This spot reminds me of the unique gems we all have quite close to home.   However, it is interesting that this “gem” really isn’t much photography-wise any other time of the year.   I have visited here spring, summer, winter, and fall time – and really it is only when it is frozen over in winter that it draws me to photograph.   (more…)

Ice Neurons

Posted by Mark on Jan 9, 2011 in nature photography | 19 comments

This is the first morning I have been able to get out this year.   The skies were going to be clear at dawn, so I thought I would check out the frozen lake I often visit (Lake St. Clair.)    Ice conditions were a little sketchy, so I didn’t venture out more than 10 feet or so from the shoreline.   Geometric shapes that I often look for to use as foreground elements were far and few between.   The light changes very quick here, especially after the sun just hits the horizon, leaving you little time to explore a lot of options before it gets really harsh on a clear day.

However, my very first shots were of these shapes that I thought looked like neurons or nerve cells.   So I labeled these images “Ice Neurons.”

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Michigan Blue Winter 2010

Posted by Mark on Nov 13, 2010 in nature photography | 22 comments

Michigan Blue Magazine, Winter 2010, cover photo by Mark Graf

I am pleased to have the cover of the Winter 2o10 issue of Michigan Blue magazine.   I just received my copies the other day.

The image is of ice blocks on Lake St. Clair at one of my favorite winter spots to photograph.   Morning colors can be spectacular, and if I am lucky, I will find some great translucent ice blocks to work into the scene.  Another aspect I like about this area is that there is very little clutter on the horizon, contributing to the overall “vastness” or remoteness of the photographs.   It can be rare to find in Southeastern Michigan.  But there is a downside!  Given the lack of sheltering trees or structures, the winter wind can be brutal.

Every year it is a different scene depending on so many different factors.  That is why I keep going back… despite the wind.  Most, if not all, of my frozen lake winter photos are from this spot.  You can see more images in my winter landscape photo gallery.

Winter landscapes

Posted by Mark on Feb 11, 2010 in nature photography | 21 comments

Winter landscapes

At a bit of loss for words lately folks, so just a photo to share… a bit different from the one I posted before. I am sure this landscape doesn’t even exist anymore, which is a pretty cool aspect of shooting these icescapes.   It makes you appreciate the moment even more when the light is happening with some interesting subject matter in front of you.

Winter Icescapes

Posted by Mark on Jan 31, 2010 in nature photography | 21 comments

As much as I hate to admit it, yesterday was the first day I have been out photographing this year.    Website redesign, processing older images, and filling orders has simply kept me indoors quite a bit.   Still, I could not let January pass with not having been out at all.

Standing on "thin ice"?

I went out to one of my favorite spots on Lake St. Clair to see how the ice was forming up.  We had an unusual patch of warm weather here, then some bitter cold.   Some of the lake ice melted, sheets flowed, and froze over the top again creating some interesting layers.   I updated my Facebook photos with some snapshots from my iPhone.

Unfortunately yesterday the light was pretty drab.   Twilight was completely grey.  The sun only poke through the cloud cover briefly.   It did give me some time to scout around a little though.   The ice close to shore was about 1.0 – 1.5 inches thick or so.   It certainly seemed like plenty enough to support my weight.  There were some fish swimming underneath.  Although slippery as a wet walrus butt, I didn’t feel too threatened of going through.   Worst case I would have sank only calf deep and froze in place there for someone to walk by and notice some tall statue with a tripod.

I did find a really cool ice sheet that had what appeared like frozen waves on top of it.   It was a square sheet, and no other sheets around had the same frozen waves.   I figured it must have been floating during the warm week we had, and froze again in this spot.  This is just the kind of thing I look for in my compositions.   With the light sort of ho-hum, it was worth trying another day. (more…)