The Power of Nature

Big waves on Lake Michigan August 26, 2023.

On August 26th the winds from the Northeast were 30-40 mph making waves registered at the Wilmette and Chicago buoy's at 7.2 feet. This came after one of the warmest set of days in Chicago with a temp over 100 degrees and a feel like temp of 120. This with the winds of the 30 degree lower cool front made for the high winds from the northeast. Usually the lake is calm or with waves of 1-2 feet only. I ran down to get B-roll for The Sweetwater Seas documentary, yes we are still working on it!

We have shot big waves after a storm before but nothing this with waves this size. This small video of the waves show the power of Lake Michigan at its best. Enjoy, The Sweetwater Seas Team

Wait a Day...

If you know the Great Lakes, and many say any place, the weather can change on a moment’s notice. On February 13-14 this year here in Chicago we had a snowstorm that dropped 20” from the sky. Along with that we had winds coming out of the north and right down Lake Michigan which blew the ice into shore. I went down to the shoreline of Lake Michigan on the 17th to see the conditions of the lake, expecting ice up against the shoreline, yet it had already moved out about 2 miles offshore. Still we had the ice built up high along the shore and the open water behind it so I made both some still and video shots of the lake. The next day I went back to the same spots and because the winds had shifted yet again the ice had moved back into the shoreline right up to the pack ice. An interesting perspective on the changes which come within 24 hours along the Great Lakes. And below are a few of the still images made for the book on the Great Lakes.

Enjoy,

Richard