Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
This National Park is only 6 hours north of Chicago. Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it runs along the Lake Superior shoreline from Munising to Grand Marias.
The park’s most spectacular geologic formations are the 50-200 ft. sandstone cliffs that extend for more than 15 miles along the shoreline. Sea caves, arches, blowholes, turrets, and stone spires were sculpted from these cliffs over the centuries by unceasing waves and weather.
A sea cave is a cave formed in a cliff by wave action of an ocean or lake. Softer layers of sandstone erode faster that harder layers. These weak zones in the cliff form fissures due to the battering force of the waves.
As the water reaches into the fissures, they widen and deepen due to the tremendous force within a confined space. Abrasion from rock particles in the surf and air compression also contribute to progressive enlargement. After a few thousand years, you have a sea cave.
Grand Island
Grand Island National Recreation Area is just north of Munising. Two weeks ago, I boarded a boat with two other socially distanced and masked photographers to Paradise Point. After dropping anchor, it was a short Zodiac ride from the boat to the caves at that location.
A pair of fishing waders made it easy (and dry) to get off the Zodiac and explore in and around the cave area. We were there in plenty of time to find compositions and set up for sunset.
Sunset
This was our fourth try for golden hour cave light. Six-foot waves cancelled our first boat trip. On the second try, we arrived late and missed the best light. On our third try, it was overcast and stormy. We had to leave the cave early due to waves pounding their way to the very back of the cave.
On this evening, we were treated to warm light illuminating the distant shore. A few yellow and pink clouds decorated the sky. And the framing with the cave pillar seemed to work nicely.
After taking the Zodiac back to the boat, the captain pulled out a bottle of New Zealand red wine. We kicked back to Sinatra playing on the speakers and simply enjoyed the last of the sunset colors gently rocking at anchor.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus