Return to Legend Lake

It's been a long winter. With my move to downtown Milwaukee, I haven't been 'up north' since November. While the lake is still frozen, the weather is starting to warm. However the ice is still thick enough that trucks still ride across the lake to enjoy ice fishing. For me, it was a chance to 'walk on water' or at least frozen water, camera in hand. The weather was mostly overcast creating an all too common winter scene.

The birch trees stood out more than anything else in the landscape. Even with the bright white of the frozen lake, these trees appeared to rise from the ground like white veins popping from the shoreline against the darker trees. Although the light was even and flat, the contrast was most striking.

Signs of Spring

Now that it's March, we quickly start to look for signs of spring.  Of course, here in Wisconsin, that two days of warm weather sometime between now and mid-May.  We can dream though, can't we?

I've been looking through some past images and came upon the image here.  I remember taking it up at Legend Lake, WI where we have a home on the lake.  I used to take many upclose images of small things.  But lately, most of my subjects have been broader landscapes and cityscapes.  I still live to look at images like this because it gives a perspective that we rarely see or take the time to study.  These little mushrooms were growing out of a tree stump.  The mushrooms were less than an inch in diameter each.  It gives you and idea of the tiny details on each mushroom.

Maybe, I'll have to pull out the macro lens as I see signs of spring!

More Wisconsin Loons

This weekend I was fortunate enough to see my favorite loons on Legend Lake.  This guy let me track him from my boat and stay reasonably close without him diving into the deep only to show up somewhere out of reach of my telephoto-equipped camera.  Luck was on my side when he suddenly stretched his wings to reveal the beautiful patterns and texture.

Legend Lake Sunset

I've spent the last several weekends on Legend Lake. I absolutely love the serenity of sunrise and sunset on the lake. The image here is a typical scene yet every time I capture one of these sunrises or sunsets, they are completely different.

Loons

The sun has just come up and the Wisconsin Northwoods comes to life.  The water is still as is the wind.  Some birds are singing but these are the common sounds you hear so often.  There's the occasional sound of fish breaking the water lunging to capture their breakfast.  Then, you hear it.  The Loons are calling.  Their sound is distinct and it is beautiful.  It is also calming and peaceful. There's no mistaking the call of the Loons and I love those mornings when I am fortunate enough to hear them.

Fisherman's Morning

The final image I will be showing this weekend is one from Legend Lake, WI.  It's just north of Shawano, WI on the Menominee Reservation.  I love this location.  This image captures the essence.  When I'm their, I typically go out fishing, alone, each morning.  When the fish are biting, I fish.  When they're not, I'm photographing the scenes on the lake.  You can tell the fish weren't biting this morning.  A fog began rolling in from the east blurring the sun when I captured this image.  

To me, this image reminds of the that solitude and peacefulness when I'm there.  You can barely hear a sound . . . maybe a loon or two.  Otherwise it's the most relaxing sensation I have ever felt.  I can't wait for summer.  Shortly after I shot this image, the fisherman disappeared into the fog.