The Point Betsie Lighthouse and Break Wall on Lake Michigan

I'm going to pimp my state just a little bit here. Michigan is an amazing state and it offers so much to photograph.

Point Betsie Lighthouse sits on the edge of Lake Michigan on the western side of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan about 5 miles (8km) north of Frankfort MI. The light station was built in 1857-58 and was first lit on October 20, 1858. The light has continued to serve Lake Michigan mariners for 154 years. The light sits about 52 feet (16 meters) above the lake and has a range of about 15 miles (24km). Both the original lens and its 1891 replacement were of the fourth-order Fresnel (Fre’-nel) design.The current light system features a modern acrylic lens made in New Zealand.

October 8, 2011
I was on the tail end, return leg of my annual autumn photo trip through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was running a little short on time and scrambling to get to this lighthouse. I had never been there before and all i had was my map to guesstimate and follow. Usually I'm more prepared but i hadn't originally planned on visiting this lighthouse. I left Munising MI (in the Upper Peninsula) in the morning and after eating a great beef pasty in St. Ignas, I crossed the mighty Mackinaw Bridge into the Lower Peninsula by noon. I drove the west coast of MI down through the "Tunnel of Trees" (which takes a really really long time) and down into Petosky where I met my dad (who was also on his own travels) for an early dinner. From there I headed south for the lighthouse.

I thought i had given myself enough time to make it down to the lighthouse early but the light was disappearing quick. By the time I finally made it there, photographers were scrambling around the structure trying to get their last shot as the last little sliver of sun was setting below the horizon. I couldn't really set up a decent shot that didn't include atleast 2 photographers and a few other normal people that were there just enjoying the sunset so I went down to the old metal break wall, set up my composition, stacked a couple Grad ND's for a long exposure, and sat back and waited for the orangish pink God rays that usually show up somewhere around 20-25 minutes after the sun sets and exposed pic #1. (1 minute exposure, 3 stops of soft edge Grad ND's)

I knew it wouldn't be more than a few minutes after the sun set before all the photographers packed up their gear and took off for the night. It never fails. I love it! It's a mystery to me that minutes after the sun sets just below the horizon, all the photographers pack up their gear and go home when some of the best light of the night is about to happen. They totally missed the God rays in pic 1, and the soft pastels of the following 2 pics.

Now that they were gone i was free to roam. I took pic #2 with the moon about 35 minutes after the sunset (25 second exposure) and pic # 3 about 50 minutes after the sunset (2.5 minute exposure)
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All photos were exposed on Kodak Ektar 100.

If you ever get a chance to take a coastal tour of Michigan, make sure to stop by at least a few of it's lighthouses. Great photo opportunities year round.

Awesome pictures!

Speaking of fresnel lenses, this isn't the greatest picture, but here is a picture of the inside of one.


This is at the top of the Cana Island Lighthouse. Across the lake from your great state.

I wish I had the foresight (and time) to get there at dusk like you.

Fantastic shots and yes a valuable lesson. Sometimes the best light comes after the fat lady sings - mixed metaphors aside. Thanks for sharing the location and the timing insight with the fading sun.

mattmoran wrote: Awesome pictures!

Speaking of fresnel lenses, this isn't the greatest picture, but here is a picture of the inside of one.

This is at the top of the Cana Island Lighthouse. Across the lake from your great state.

I wish I had the foresight (and time) to get there at dusk like you.

Those lenses are pretty wild aren't they?!

All great stuff! No1 has an interesting compositional idea: the subject of the comp is light!

Beautiful shots. Michigan has more lighthouses that any other state and catching them just after sunset is a wonderful gift.
When I make a journey like that, I usually find a guide book that details the exact location and directions. I have them from the Carolinas, New Jersey, Maine, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and others.
I used a guide to PEI to see every light on the island except 5 in 2 1/2 days. That limited the evening shots a bit:)

These are some sources for guides. I get the ones with detailed directions.
www.nicholsonprints.com/Lighthouses.htm
www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=lighth...ouse%20guides&page=1

I also use this site for research them.
www.lhdigest.com/digest/database/searchdatabase.cfm

Michigan is a most for "Lighthouse Hunters".

The Fresnel lens is a marvel. The configurations of the prisms and other glass allow a small light to project miles out to sea.

Baydream wrote: When I make a journey like that, I usually find a guide book that details the exact location and directions.

It was a spur of the moment thing. On the last day of my trip I decided to add another day and hit this lighthouse and the "Little Sable Point Lighthouse".

Baydream wrote: These are some sources for guides. I get the ones with detailed directions.
www.nicholsonprints.com/Lighthouses.htm
www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=lighth...ouse%20guides&page=1

I also use this site for research them.
www.lhdigest.com/digest/database/searchdatabase.cfm

Michigan is a most for "Lighthouse Hunters".

Thanks for the great links and kind words as well!!!!

Stunning photos all of them, great description "god rays"

photobod wrote: Stunning photos all of them, great description "god rays"

Thanks bud!

Absolutely stunning Karl. If you aren't already you could be selling these in a heartbeat. Interesting story, about the lighthouses and the fresnel lens, amazing to see up close. All I know about anything fresnel is cameras that have a fresnel screen (which doesn't look anything like that lens!).

Karl number 1 is out of hand.

Thanks Icepics and Scotty.
For some reason when i upload anything to PT i loose some of the dynamic range in the lower light dark areas like in the 1st one. Facebook as well. Lightroom, my website, and my printer are spot on but for some reason it gets lost on uploads to certain places.....?

Nice pictures. Love the long exposure.

Any pointers for a newbie like me, if I want to take long exposures of waterfalls in day light? I suppose for a few seconds long exposure will throw lots of light into my lens and eventually there will be full light in the photo..

Beautiful shot Karl! You have me inspired to get some night shots, just not sure what I should look for. I am thinking maybe the local airport at night would be interesting. Sorry to ramble but as usual you have me wanting to get out and work.