Cave Point’s Icy Cliffs

Early Winter Ice Formations

Early Winter Ice Formations

We decided to stop at Cave Point County Park before we ended our long week-end in Door County and headed south back to Madison and the end of a long and busy holiday season. We have never been to Door County in the winter, and so I’d never had the opportunity to see the legendary ice formations on these limestone cliffs overhanging Lake Michigan. Pounded by the frigid northern waters, I can imagine these icy formations are only beginning to form. Imagine what another eight weeks or so of below freezing winter temperatures will do to these cliffs. I am already considering a return trip in March if the weather stays cold – a rather safe bet in this locale.

I won’t discuss (too much) how I didn’t really get the photograph I wanted, mostly because my Sherpa kept grabbing at my pack and pulling me away from the edge of the cliff. I want to make it clear for the record – at no time was I dangerously close to the edge and I always made sure I had good footing. Even I am not foolish enough to tempt fate on these high ledges. Nor did the icy waters below didn’t appear too inviting for an unplanned swim. But Sherpa has a decided fear of heights – a fear we do not share – and so he was quite vocal about his opposition to my photo plans.

We hadn’t planned on an extended stop, and with the winds already blustery and the temperatures dropping, I agreed this probably wasn’t the right time for a prolonged photo shoot. We weren’t really adequately dressed, plus we had a five hour drive home ahead of us, and we’d been taking photos non-stop for three days. Neither of us wanted to push our endurance before the drive home.

I look at the photographs I did get, and think how spectacular these icy cliffs might become given a couple more months of below freezing weather and the relentless pounding from Lake Michigan’s surf.

Yes, indeed! Another weekend trip to Door County in March is beginning to sound like a great plan.

Frozen Sunset

Eagle Harbor

Eagle Harbor

We’d been traveling and taking photographs in Door County since sunrise and just before sunset I called it quits. With the temps close to zero, taking photographs can get me bone tired – I think it’s all the jumping in and out of the car to warm up between shots. So I was determined to head back to the motel and relax in the hot tub until…

…until I took a glance in the rearview mirror and saw the ice gleaming orange from the disappearing sun. A quick U-turn and another 30 minutes and then we hit the hot tub.

After going through another few dozen, I found a second photograph I wanted to share, one with a slightly different perspective and composition. If possible, this one makes me shiver more than the first.

An Even Colder Perspective

An Even Colder Perspective

Door County may be a bit frosty, but it provides endless opportunities for “just one more”.

Do you have a photo preference? Do you like the first, the warmer version, or second photo, the colder one? And why?

Do you take photographs in winter climes? Anything you do to keep you and your camera gear warm – well, warm is a relative word here. I mean warm enough to stay out for “just one more?”

Fish Creek Harbor

Canada Geese in Glow of Sunset

Canada Geese in Glow of Sunset

No, I’m not taking a holiday in Antarctica, though truly, sometimes I start imagining the Canada geese I see are really penguins! Not near the Pole, but winter in Wisconsin can still be a little long. Strong winds broke open the sheet of ice covering Green Bay near Fish Creek, but there is still an icy slush along the shores. Even in the glow of the setting sun, it all looks cold. And with temps hovering in the single digits and the wind chill dropping to 10 below or colder, taking photographs becomes a challenge.

How fast can I set up the shot, take it, and make it back to the interior of the warm car? Hmm. Not quite fast enough.

Twist and Shout – Happy New Year 2010

Steffens in Jefferson County

Dancing Orchard

It’s not too many photos of orchards that make me feel that the trees are all having a good time – spinnin’ a few tunes, let’s all twist and shout. Celebrate a new decade.

Happy 2010! Happy New Year!

Blue Evening

Black Earth Wisconsin

Black Earth Wisconsin

It was a blue evening for several reasons.

Reason one. Within ten minutes of the sun’s disappearance below the horizon, the sky had turned a blue shade and the snow seemed to pick up a blue reflection. Yes, definitely a blue evening.

Second reason. It was shivery cold outside, and I had half of my shooting hand uncovered so I could turn and adjust all those camera knobs and thingamajigs. My thumb and first finger turned an ugly shade of blue and throbbed with a rather angry pulsation for a good hour after I had suitably warmed them. And I swear, the thermometer said it was only 14˚F, not nearly cold enough to begin applying extreme methods during my photo-shooting forays in and out of the car.

Third, I was blessed to have my three children home for at least a part of the holidays, and it is lovely to interact with them as young adults, and to see them enthusiastically enjoy each other’s company. But this was the night of goodbyes, and these goodbyes added a bit of the blues to end of my day.

And, reason four, even though I repeatedly tell myself it is way too early to be developing a bad case of the winter blues, I appear not to be listening to myself. Maybe I need a vacation in, say, a desert clime, or some other such place that evokes  feelings of warmth and well-being. I’m thinking loudly to myself on that idea!