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

Piping Plovers have Record Breeding Year!

One of the first segments we ever did for THE SWEETWATER SEAS was an interview with wildlife biologists who were working to save the Great Lakes piping plover. Vince Cavalieri, who we interviewed, was running the program at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Now the Piping Plover are not only more abundant but had a record year for breeding at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

They have also become more popular as they have started breeding in other places on the Great Lakes , maybe the most widely known in Chicago on Montrose Beach where music festivals were moved and beach areas cordoned off for the pair who where breeding on the beach. They’ve returned for a second year this year. Other lakes also now have some pairs breeding in Lake Superior, Erie and Ontario. Quit the change from having only a few pairs of breeding Piping Plover a few years ago when they started working to bring them back before extinction. Great to see the progress all these groups have made in the recovery of the Piping Plover since we filmed Vince a few years back!

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

In Honor of Earth Day's 50th Anniversary

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day here is short film about the Great Lakes. The challenges they faced 50 years ago and where they are today. Thank you to all who work on the issues facing the lakes!

We also wanted to honor those who have helped us while filming this documentary, these are the folks working on the issues facing the Great Lakes. We look forward to being able to get back out there and continuing the story of the Great Lakes!

And yes you can help us further this documentary by donating on our website below! 

#thesweetwaterseas #GreatLakes #freshwater #EarthDay #EarthDay50 #nature #documentary #environment  

Ludington State Park

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Last September I rolled into Ludington State Park for a one-night stay on my way back from filming in Traverse City. I had never visited this park before, so I spent the evening walking the dunes and looking for images. To my surprise, while the campground was almost full, no one else was out wandering the dunes – much to my pleasure. Having the place to yourself gives you time to wander and take in the place and space you are in. It was interesting to find areas without any footprints in many places. It was a peaceful evening filled with images everywhere.

In the morning, while folks were still not out on the dunes yet, I flew a drone over the area before heading back home. Enjoy.

Cheers,
Richard