Lighthouse Beach Sunset

September 4, 2007
eveningGreat Lakes ProjectLake MichiganLighthouse Beach Pier

lighthousepier.jpg

In my answer to Gary’s question he posed after the last post about the water levels on the Great Lakes and whether they will affect my shots, I said I would post a shot from 2000, just after the lowest levels were recorded on Lake Michigan. In this shot the old pier was now visible for one of the first times I could remember. In this case it helped to have the low water levels, or you would only see the very tips of the posts. So in this evening shot at Lighthouse Beach of the old pier I would say it certainly helped to have low water levels. It is not always the case though, as I mentioned in my reply to Gary that there will be times when low water levels are not going to be helpful. But it is what it is and we as photographers must use what we have been given to make great images and tell the story we wish to tell. In this case it allowed me to showcase the pier and some of the old iron work at it’s base in the sand. Hope you enjoy this one!

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Moonrise over Lake Michigan

August 28, 2007
Great Lakes ProjectLake MichiganMoonrisephotography at nightQuiet Light PublishingRichard MackUncategorized

lakemichiganmoonrise-0014.jpg

Last night we had the full moon rising over Lake Michigan, so I ventured down to the lake front – camera in hand to try and capture an image I had seen a few days before while Kathy & I were walking down there. It seemed perfect for a moonrise shot.

lakemichiganmoonrise-0045.jpg

As I approached I realized there were clouds on the horizon which may interfere with my shooting. I setup anyway and much to my delight the moon peaked out through a layer of clouds at the perfect time. It then dipped back into a thicker layer and then back out, well into darkness about an hour past sunset. No worries – this was the shot I was really after and I think the clouds actually helped out! The final exposures were for 30 seconds – and the moon will actually move in an exposure of that length – so having the clouds to “mask” the movement was helpful, while still illuminated the clouds. The series of shots here go from the start of the evening with a more “traditional” look to the more ethereal look of the last shot with the lights from the docks coming across the landscape.

lakemichiganmoonrise-0035.jpg

We have just started a new book project photographing all five of the Great Lakes, which hold a full 20% of the worlds fresh water. That includes every lake, stream, river and wetland – in the entire world! All found here in the five Great Lakes – it seems a huge task – but I guess no bigger than covering the Lewis & Clark Trail! Who knows whether any of these will make the cut in our new book project on the Great Lakes, but it was a rewarding evening and only time will tell if one of these shots makes the book.

lakemichiganmoonrise-0085.jpg

In The Beginning…

February 23, 2007
GeneralIn The BegginingpublishingRichard MackThe Lewis and Clark Trail American Landscapes

Well, blogs are all the rage now, especially in the publishing world, where it is said, “if you don’t have a blog you can not hope to make it”, or something very close to that effect. Now I don’t believe anyone cares about what I eat for lunch on any particular day, so that kind of thing I won’t write about. Instead i will try to answer some of the typical questions I get during my lectures I have done about my book, The Lewis and Clark Trail American Landscapes. They pertain to photogrpahy questions like digital versus film, what do you use to make your prints, travel questions like during your travels what did you do as far as hotels or camping along the trail, how did you decide to do a book at all and what pitfalls did you encounter.

So our subjects will range from travelling to various places with a bend toward best places to photograph, as if there really is a best place, to the technical side of photography. We’ll also be talking about the publishing industry and how you can either publish your own books, or find a publisher for your book. There is much to learn about that alone! And having been through it now for the last two years with this book, I know at least a bit more than before and can talk about the pitfalls and highs of publishing.

This should be an interesting trip and I hope we’ll all have a lot to say! I look forward to hearing from people about the book, interesting places you have been and other insights!

And now we begin…

Peace,
Richard Mack