Category: Michigan

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Meeting and Photographing Ships on the St. Clair River

Photographing ships on the St. Clair River on a blustery day.

It is not often that far distant art photographers with a similar passion for photographing ships actually get to meet in person. Mary Bedy lives in a perfect Michigan location to photograph the freighters, ships and boats that ply the waters of the Great Lakes. Bill Swartwout lives on the Atlantic coast and is only able to photograph ships while on vacation somewhere. The passing freighters along the coast are far too distant to shoot but, fortunately, he also enjoys shooting bridges.

bill swartwout and mary bedy on the boardwalk in St. Clair, Michigan
Bill Swartwout and Mary Bedy on the boardwalk in St. Clair, MI (photo by Nancy Swartwout)

Bill and his wife, Nancy, were vacationing in western Michigan and had planned to visit the city of Frankenmuth, MI on the way home. Frankenmuth was close to St. Clair – so a lunch meetup was arranged for the next day. The three of us met at the Voyageur Inn on the St. Clair River and boardwalk – the very same boardwalk that offers Mary a wonderful vantage point to photograph any ship that passes from Lake Huron to Lake Erie (or vice versa).

We opted for a window table, of course, and during our time there we had the opportunity to see four freighters pass by the boardwalk and restaurant. Well one was really the barge, Joseph H. Thompson with pusher-tugboat, Laura L. VanEnkevort – but it “looked” similar to a freighter.

Joseph H. Thompson Barge by Mary Bedy

A rare occurrence of ships passing on the river…

After a wonderful lunch and great conversation we move out into the cold and blustery October day to the boardwalk for the obligatory selfies (photo session). As we were doing that there were two ships approaching and doing something very seldom seen. They were passing by one another right in front of us. There must be something to be said about two artists who live 700 miles apart meeting at this location and point in time.

Freighters Michipicoten and CSL Laurentien at st. clair mi
Freighters Michipicoten and CSL Laurentien are about to pass, port-to-port, on the St. Clair River in front of the boardwalk in St. Clair, Michigan

This was , indeed, a wonderful opportunity for two photographers, passionate about their art, to be able to meet in person. Before this day they only knew one another through their common use of Fine Art America to produce their photography as Print-On-Demand wall art and home decor items.

Find wall art photographs by Mary Bedy and Bill Swartwout

See Mary Bedy’s ship photographs here: https://mary-bedy.pixels.com/collections/freighters+ships+and+boats

See Bill Swartwout’s ship images here: https://bill.pixels.com/collections/boats+and+ships

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Lake Michigan Sunset

The wind, waves and broken clouds add excitement to this evening scene at Grand Beach, MI.

The beauty of a sunset:

As the sun sets over Lake Michigan, the water turns a beautiful shades of orange and pink. The sky is a stunning purple color as the waves march to the shore. It’s a peaceful and calming sight to see.

Lake Michigan Sunset
Lake Michigan Sunset at Grand Beach, New Buffalo

The colors of a sunset:

This Sunset over Lake Michigan was one of the most beautiful sights of our recent road trip to Michigan. The colors are so vivid and the sky is so clear. A sunset over “the lake” a must see for anyone who loves nature.

The peace of a sunset:

As the sun sets over Lake Michigan, the sky is ablaze with colors of orange, yellow and pink. The cool breeze blowing off the lake is a refreshing contrast to the warm summer temperatures. This is a perfect time to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Whether you are watching the sunset from the shoreline or out on a boat, it is an experience you will never forget.

The conclusion:

The sun slowly sinks behind the horizon, casting a beautiful orange hue over the waters of Lake Michigan. It’s a perfect evening for a stroll along the beach, or perhaps a romantic dinner overlooking the water. As the last rays of sunlight disappear, you can’t help but feel a sense of peace and wonder at the natural beauty of this place.

Purchase:

Prints are available: CLICK HERE

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Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Wall Art

The bright red lighthouse at Charlevoix, MI is a beautiful sight to see.

Intro: The pierhead light at Charlevoix, Michigan is an aid to navigation on Lake Michigan delineating the pier/breakwater at the entrance to the harbor of Round Lake. When viewed against a bright blue sky, this uniquely bright red paint is quite distinctive and memorable.

Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse

In this Expressionism Abstract presentation, the bright red against the bright blue is distinctive and makes a statement that would look great as an accent piece or “conversation starter” in your home or office.

Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Expressionism

Here’s where to see larger images and/or to purchase prints of home decor items.

Link: Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse

Link: Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Abstract

Link: Michigan and Great Lakes Collection at U.S. Pictures.

The Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse (pierhead light) at Charlevoix, Michigan is an aid to navigation on Lake Michigan. This lighthouse was deemed excess and offered at no cost to eligible entities, including federal, state, and local agencies, non-profit corporations, and educational organizations under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

Lighthouses are one of the most recognizable landmarks around the world, displaying a guiding light as a symbol of adventure and discovery. The Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse is an aid to navigation on Lake Michigan delineating the pier/breakwater at the entrance to the harbor of Round Lake.

Constructed in 1873 and located at the mouth of Round Lake at Charlevoix, Michigan, the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse was dedicated on January 21, 1874, three days after its construction. The lighthouse became operational on January 1, 1895 and is still a functioning aid to navigation.

Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Wall Art – Perfect for the maritime collector, or for a coastal home! The light in the foreground is a fifth order Fresnel lens characteristic of early 19th century towers. This is twice as large as the standard 3-inch lens found in many small lighthouses. The light in the center is a lens that would have been used during the foggy nights on Lake Michigan.

As a leading retailer of lighthouse artwork, marine prints, and nautical decor, we are pleased to offer you this lighthouse print. The Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Wall Art is a beautiful representation of the location where you can enjoy a day on the pier.

Here you can find Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Wall Art which is the reproduction of a print by Clayton Thomas. This souvenir print is printed on heavyweight paper using an inkjet printer and depicts an 1882 vintage postcard view of Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, circa 1939. The lighthouse was established in 1839 as a wooden tower with lantern room, replaced with a brick tower between 1843 and 1875, it stands 30 feet (9 m) tall.

The Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse wall art print is stunning. Each order is made using high-quality materials. The framing is unique and a final touch, making your print the centerpiece of any room. Take a look by clicking one of the included links or the images themselves.

Add some coastal style to any room with this stunning piece of Lake Michigan nostalgia. The image captures part of the harbor entrance at Charlevoix, Michigan, with a view featuring the pierhead light.

Bring the joy of Michigan to your home with this charming and colorful image. With the scenic beauty of Lake Michigan right in your home, you have a constant reminder of summer days spent on the water and warm memories waiting to be made.

Link: Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse

Link: Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse Abstract

Link: Michigan and Great Lakes Collection at U.S. Pictures.

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Historic Beacons on the St. Joseph Breakwater

These historic “lighthouses” are on Lake Michigan

Two historic beacons on a breakwater. At the entrance of the St. Joseph River on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan are two lights, the St. Joseph North Pierhead Lighthouse and the St. Joseph North Pier Inner Lighthouse.

Historic Beacons on a Breakwater

These two aids to navigation date back to the early 1900’s to help guide ships safely into the harbor – shared by St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, MI.

The image was presented in an almost “painterly” fashion by Mother Nature. Only a small amount of editing was done in post-processing – just cropping and a bit of contrast adjustment. It is also available in a black and white version that gives this nautical scene a different feel that might work well as wall art in an office.

Historic Beacons on a Breakwater in Black and White

Link on Fine Art America: Michigan and the Great Lakes

Link at Pictorem – Color: CLICK HERE – for Free Shipping in the US.
Link at Pictorem – B&W: CLICK HERE – for Free Shipping in the US.