low_delta: (photographer)
It's been cold, lately. But you knew that. It was below zero for two days straight. Monday's high was in the minus teens. Tuesday was around zero in the afternoon and evening. It got back into the negative teens overnight. Tuesday morning was -14°F at 7 am. Wednesday morning it was -7°F. I went to the beach.

My alarm went off at 7:15. The sun was red on the horizon. I dragged myself out of bed, and was on the road shortly before 8:00. Don't ask me why it took me half an hour to get dressed and eat breakfast. I drove over to Lion's Den. There was one other car in the lot. By the time I got over to the bluff overlooking the lake, I was a bit cold. Then I took off through the woods. I warmed up from the brisk walk, but my face was exposed. My face stung a bit, but the cold was really sinking into my face. It hurt in my cheekbones. There was one part that was a little open, with a very slight breeze. I put my frozen glove to my face, to block the air, and it might have helped a bit. I tried putting my scarf over my face, but it wouldn't stay up.

Lake Michigan ice

As the path turned away from the breeze and into the woods I saw a dog. I didn't see his owner at first, as she was around the corner behind the trees. I was nervous for a moment, until I decided that since he had booties on, he was probably no threat. He paused for only a moment when it saw me, and didn't brace itself for an attack, so I continued. He didn't look happy. He kept walking, forlorn eyes on me, but just kept walking, as if he just wanted to get back to the car. Not shivering, at least.

Lake Michigan ice

I finally got down to the beach. I'm not sure if it was the relative warmth of the lake, the warmth from the hike, or the fact that I was sheltered from the breeze by the bluffs, but I wasn't very cold there. It felt like it was only zero. I spent twenty minutes or so shooting the white ice, bright yellow sun, blue lake and dark shadows. Big ice volcanoes. There was no breeze, so there were almost no waves, but there was still a little bit of movement on the icy water, and the wisps of fog blew around. The relaxed waves blew a bit of air from under the ice, and through the ice volcanoes.

Lake Michigan ice

My walk back was in a more open area. My face got cold again, but after the climb up the stairs, my body was hot and sweaty under my coat. I was glad to make it back to the car. By then, the thermometer read -1°. By the time I got home, it was +1°. I showered and got to work half an hour late, and had to skip my lunch.

icy selfie

more...

Date: 2014-01-10 06:21 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] low-delta.livejournal.com
Image
Someone decorated a tree on the bluff.

Image
Ice volcanoes, where the ice forms over the waves, and channels cause air and water to blow out of holes in the ice, building "volcanoes".

Image

Image
Frost covered icicles, over the water.
Edited Date: 2014-01-10 06:23 am (UTC)

Re: more...

Date: 2014-01-10 11:43 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] northernsnokat.livejournal.com
Thanks for braving the cold to take such beautiful pictures! I would have never seen the formations of ice otherwise as I would have been in a car driving by with the heat on!

Date: 2014-01-10 06:30 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] serendipity.livejournal.com
Thanks for braving the elements to get good pics for us! I'm glad you are crazy. ;)

Date: 2014-01-10 08:37 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] rivendweller.livejournal.com
You are a dedicated photographer! I don't know that I could do it. I'm a California girl through and through. It gets cold here sometimes, but nothing like that. Only into the teens. That's extreme enough for me.

Date: 2014-01-10 09:56 am (UTC)From: [identity profile] mellary4.livejournal.com
You and Cyn have shown me so many things I didn't know existed in winter at a lake! Pancake ice, volcanoes, etc. I used to go to the lakefront with my friend and her stepdad in the winter sometimes and never saw any of that. Probably because we mostly stayed in the truck :)

Date: 2014-01-10 12:51 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] mummm.livejournal.com
Your photos are just beautiful. I can't imagine going out to do that in that cold.

Did you see the ice balls in Lake Michigan that were in the news yesterday? Crazy!

Date: 2014-01-10 01:38 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] ravenfeather.livejournal.com
OMG I LOVE THE TREE!!

How quirky. I too appreciate your dedication to photography. VERY NICE photos. I like the little ice cave, and the ice iceberg. The volcanoes look like they are whistling.

Date: 2014-01-10 03:33 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] sirreal13.livejournal.com
I admire your ambition and your photography.

Date: 2014-01-10 04:01 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] pondhopper.livejournal.com
Fantastic set , Kevin, and I'm glad you were crazy enough to go out there to get the photos. These pictures remind me of the years I spent living on top of the bluff at Mequon. I haven't seen ice volcanoes since then...a literal blast from my past.
It's a whole other world by the lake in the winter.

The "Christmas tree" is sweet.
:)

Date: 2014-01-10 09:50 pm (UTC)From: [identity profile] roadskoller.livejournal.com
Hmmm. I can't remember the exact line in Aqualung, but your icy beard brought the song to mind.
The pictures make me cold all over again. But they sure are beautiful.

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