Floats and net

FLOATS AND NET AT EDISEN FISHERY, ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 14, 2012

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 18-135 at 77.5mm
1/50 sec. f7.1
ISO 3200

This photo was taken inside the net house at the restored commercial fishery established in 1895 on Isle Royale and named for Pete Edisen, who ran it from the 1930s until 1978. It is still in operation in a small way; a local fisher who lives there provides lake trout and whitefish to the restaurant at Rock Harbor Lodge.

Tourist at Rock Harbor Light

TOURIST AT ROCK HARBOR LIGHTHOUSE, ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK, AUGUST 14, 2012

Nikon Coolpix S8200
Nikkor 4.5-63 at 4.5mm
1/400 sec. f6.6
ISO 100

This photo was taken with my little Nikon backup point-and-shoot from inside the restored keeper's residence at Rock Harbor Light on Isle Royale. The lighthouse was built in 1855-56 and deactivated for the second time in 1879, after only eight years in service. It's one of the favorite tourist spots on the island.

First light on Isle Royale

FIRST LIGHT AT ROCK HARBOR, ISLE ROYALE NATIONAL PARK, AUGUST 15, 2012

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 18-135 at 36mm
1/10 sec. f8
ISO 1600

This was the view from the verandah just outside our room at the Rock Harbor Lodge during our visit to Isle Royale earlier this week. Click on the photo for a desktop-sized version.

Powwow Nos. 3 and 4

POWWOW, LAC VIEUX DESERT BAND OF THE OJIBWA NATION RESERVATION, WATERSMEET, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 12, 2012


Top: Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 50-200 at 138mm
1/350 sec. f9
ISO 400


Bottom: Pentax *ist DS
SMC Pentax-DA 50-200 at 138mm
1/1000 sec. f9.5
ISO 400

Deborah Abbott took these two photographs of Rosie Sanpaw, a Lac du Flambeau Ojibwa, who was the chief female dancer at the powwow south of Watersmeet, Michigan, yesterday. The seven-year-old 6-megapixel *ist DS and 50-200 kit lens still perform well and give excellent image quality in good lighting.

Powwow No. 2

DANCER, LAC VIEUX DESERT OJIBWA RESERVATION, WATERSMEET, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 12, 2012

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 18-135 at 135mm
1/1250 sec. f8
ISO 800

In my opinion, this is one of the few shots at the powwow in which the background added to rather than distracted from the subject, partly because both the dancer in the foreground and the one in the background were leaning in the same direction, giving the composition some movement.

Powwow No. 1

DANCER, LAC VIEUX DESERT OJIBWA RESERVATION, WATERSMEET, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 12, 2012

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 18-135 at 135mm
1/1250 sec. f5.6
ISO 800

The problem with photographing Indian powwows is that backgrounds tend to be as busy and colorful as foregrounds, requiring tight shots or large apertures to set off the subjects. Fortunately, this dancer briefly crossed a forest background just as the shutter was snapped.

Common Raven

COMMON RAVEN (CORVUS CORVAX), WHITEFISH POINT, MICHIGAN, AUGUST 8, 2012

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 55-300 at 300mm
1/800 sec. f10
ISO 1600

This raven was hopping about on the dry grass in front of the lighthouse at Whitefish Point when I captured it. Luckily, the angle of the midmorning light was just right so that it was reflected rather than absorbed, as so often happens with black birds. Click for larger version.

Sunrise 7/30/12

SUNRISE OVER LAKE SUPERIOR, GREEN, MICHIGAN, JULY 30, 2012

Pentax K-5
SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm at 24mm
1/640 sec. f8
ISO 400

"Prepare to die. The Orcs are coming." That was the feeling I had upon stepping out of the cabin that morning, but two hours later the eastern sky was bright and cloudless. Click for a desktop sized version if you're in a blue mood.