Photographs aren’t going to be made while you’re sleeping. A truism that continues to pop in my head just like the one of “being there.” This past Memorial Day, I returned to a lake that has this little island with a willow tree on it. It’s about an hour drive for me in the morning, and the sun rises quite early this time of year requiring my alarm to go off at 4:30 a.m.
According to my photo archives, I haven’t photographed this little island since 2008. While I do not think it has an official name, I call it “Swan Island” as it seems to be the hang out for the resident population in the lake. Back in 2008, I was attracted to the glow of this willow tree in late fall, complimented by the presence of the swans. Multiple prints of this image ultimately ended up in patient rooms at Henry Ford West Bloomfield hospital.
Fast forward to late Spring 2019 and the scene takes on a dramatically different character. It is a very wet, rather cold May here in Michigan. On Memorial Day, this lake, and Swan Island, was blanketed in a very thick fog.
More than 10 years later, the willow tree has grown a bit, as well as the number of swans around the island. Mute Swans aren’t always the most welcome kind in Michigan given they were imported from Europe a long while back. As the story goes, a rich man wanted swans for his pond in Northern Michigan and arranged to have some brought over here. Now they outcompete many species native to Michigan.
I still find them beautiful and elegant to watch, just like that guy did for his pond probably. Little did he know the future ramifications of his decision. Certainly these swans here have no idea this isn’t supposed to their home. They are immigrants like most of our ancestors here were.
When I got done photographing them at the island, I saw another opportunity arise. The swans just swimming on the foggy lake made for a very evocative scene. This one exposure may end up being a favorite in my year end picks.
So I certainly didn’t wake up at 04:30 expecting to make one of my better photographs of the year. I actually didn’t even have Swan Island as a goal to photograph that day. The situation just came together with the fog, the number of swans, being there, and being awake.
There’s a bit of mystery in your most recent images. I seem to be drawn to the image of the swans blending within the fog, being a part of the scene. It also has a silent feel to it, if that’s possible.
Thanks so much Monte. I appreciate you stating the bit about silence. It isn’t often I get an image that crosses senses.
Yea, I need to make sure Willow is accommodated before I can go out. No way is she going to get up at 4:30. I appreciate your comments on the photos. I also like the barely visible swans in the last one. It really communicates how thick the fog was that morning.
Mark, I won’t even try to claim I often get up early for a photographic opportunity but there’s a certain someone (Maggie) who usually sees to it I’m up around 5-5:30 am daily for that early morning walk I’ve been wanting to take. 🙂
I’ve spent some time looking at these images trying to decide on my favorite. The first image presents such a burst of color and contrast while the last is so very subdued and calming…the middle image lands appropriately between those two extremes. Any of these images can well stand on their own merits but that last one of the swans faintly visible in the fog brings a smile to my face…favorite! Worth the effort.
Beautiful images and well worth the early awakening. I do have to admit that it’s been getting tougher these days to make those early awakenings happen.
I admit it is getting harder for me also. The “waking up me” is at constant struggle with the “gloating me” that proved to the other that it was worth it.