Notes from the Woods

seeing · environment · exploration · photography

Superior relief

Written by Mark

Born and raised in Detroit, c. 323 ppm CO2, Mark Graf is a Michigan photographer, naturalist, and diver whose muse is summoned by exploring the endless connections in nature; land, sea, and sky.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Sand ripples

With temperatures this week soaring towards the upper 90’s (37 Deg C or so), and humidity levels well over 50% – I have been yearning for a cool down in Lake Superior.   It is difficult to breathe with air this hot and thick.

Unfortunately it wouldn’t yield any immediate relief as Lake Superior is at least a 6 hour drive from where I live.   There is definitely a unique character to Superior.  The water can be unbelievably clear.   Clarity always seems to imply healthy and fresh water.   Sandy bay such as the one here offer rhythmic patterns.   It can be flat calm to a raging sea that has swallowed many ships in its time.   As a diver, I have often appreciated the water clarity and good visibility, even though it gives a glimpse at shipwrecks when times were not so peaceful on this Great Lake.

Ah well, at least I can edit a few images with a fan breeze blowing and at least try to imagine wading the shoreline.   Cool water against your legs, soft sand under your feet, and the gentle movement of water as a massage.  A feeling of connection with the lake.   Sounds pretty good right now.

Fortunately some rain is coming, and a cool down.   I have also created a new gallery of Great Lakes pictures during my indoor escape from the heat, stop by and check it out.

Calm reflection on Lake Superior

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11 Comments

  1. Aswirly

    I am diggin’ that second shot. Almost surreal and so very peaceful.

  2. David Leland Hyde

    Both are beautiful but the Calm Reflection on Lake Superior is enchantingly superior. It is somehow at the same time surreal and very real.

    • Mark

      I was going for a surreal look David, so thank you for your remarks – it appears I was at least partially successful.

  3. Earl

    Mark, beautifully intense colors in serene scenes, a combination which which definitely embraces a ‘WOW’ factor. Hopefully it’s a little cooler there now, as it is here.

    • Mark

      Thanks a lot Earl – definitely cooler a bit, but seems to be heating up again!

  4. Lana

    These days, with temps well over 100F with humidity, I’m totally missing my little, virtually private beach on Lake Erie. Thanks for the memories.

  5. Mark

    Thanks guys.

    Tomas, the violet/magenta comes from the use of a Singh Ray Blue-Gold polarizer. I was experimenting with it on this sandy beach. When combined with different white balance adjustments in the camera, you can obtain this type of coloration.

  6. Tomas Turecek

    The sand ripples are great (how did you get that violet colour there???) and the reflection is fantastic. I love such photos emanating serenity, peacefulness and calmness. Thank you for taking us there for a while and I wish you some cooling down at least for a while 😉

  7. pj finn

    Beautiful photos of Superior. I’m originally from northern Minnesota and lived about an hour away from the North Shore and spent much time there. Thanks for your views of a special place.

  8. Jack Johnson

    Hey, Mark –

    Lovely images, and now you’ve got me really jonesing for a trip north… Off to look at your Great Lakes gallery for more of the same! :^D

    – Jack

  9. Monte Stevens

    Wow, Mark, both of these images are powerful, they don’t just speak to me they shout. As my years of life increase my tolerance for the cold decreases and may some day find the warmer climates more appealing. While the extreme heat and humidity increase my comfort for those temperatures decreases. Ah, the perfect climate is what I need, a paradise. But is there such a place? If I’m honest that’s probably wherever I’m at in the present moment.

    You describe a beautiful place in Lake Superior and then prove it with beautiful images. Thanks for sharing them!