Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective

“Photos aren’t objective — they show what we want them to show.”

This week’s photo challenge theme on The Daily Post is perspective, whereby bloggers are invited to post images of things that are not what they seem to be, or offer different angles/interpretations of the same subject.

Here are a few of my own images that toy with the concept of perspective.

Inches-high wildflowers loom larger than life with low camera placement.

A sun-lit Lake Michigan looks limitless from two perspectives.

Closer inspection lends deceptive warmth to a winter sunset.

You can view others’ perspective interpretations in the comments here. 🙂

Weekly Photo Challenge: Layers

My take on “layers” for this week’s photo challenge from the Daily Post…

And because I couldn’t stop myself – this…

…a rock reflection that takes on the look of orbiting layers of cosmic debris when flipped. Perhaps I’ve been watching too many sci-fi movies. 😉

You can check out other posts on the “layers” theme in the comments here.

Light Falls on Sleeping Bear Dunes

Last Sunday we joined friends for a walk up the tail end of the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive that runs through Sleeping Bear Dunes. Given that the Drive is now closed to anything but foot-traffic for the season, we had the place almost entirely to ourselves, give or take one or two other wandering couples and a few rebellious bikers (of the intimidating, but friendly Sons-of-Anarchy variety – not bicyclists; regrettably, Jax Teller was not among them). 😉

Jim Jogs (gasp!)

Whole Crew

Heather being a good “Aunt” 🙂

Jackson on Tony’s Shoulders

Good Company 🙂

Jackson Sword Balance Act

We’d all made the same trip together for the first time roughly four years prior, in late October of 2009 (when Jackson was just five months old), taking in the surreal splendor of Sleeping Bear (a first for us Cliftons) in rather unsavory weather. The wind and rain of that trip meant we had the park to ourselves then, too, but last Sunday’s “just us” excursion offered up a dramatically different atmosphere.

Don’t misunderstand – the Dunes are a sight to behold under any conditions, even dark skies and sleet. On this November day, however, we were blessed with some of the most beautiful Fall skies and gorgeous lighting I’ve ever stood under.

Our backwards hike up the Scenic Drive meant we hit the North Bar Lake Overlook first, where we basked in the warm, bright sun that we’d only gotten glimpses of through the tall trees that had lined our path up to that point.

Backlit Yellow Leaves

Jackson Taking In the View

Sun Flare Through Fall Trees

Sleeping Bear North Bar Lake Overlook

North Bar Lake Close-up

Our next stop was the iconic Lake Michigan Overlook that offers a perspective of the Great Lake from the massive dunes poised approximately 450 feet above the shoreline. An international favorite that, this day, was just ours. 🙂

Barge on Lake Michigan Horizon – Blue Gradient

Jackson Chance Jess

Jim Tony Dunes Sky

On our way to the overlook’s back deck, the lighting got really pretty…

Dune Hill – Big Sky – Shadows

Shadowy Hillside

Dune Field Friends Clouds & Shadows

Glen Lakes Horizon

Sunlit Milkweed Pod

Fluffed Milkweed Seeds

Sunlit Milkweed Seeds on the Sand

Now that the sun is setting “earlier” (thanks a lot, Daylight Savings Time), we had to truck it on our walk back to our vehicles before the sun disappeared and the temperature dropped. It took quite a bit of self-control for Heather and I – being the photo… “fanatics” (not the word my brain wants to type here) that we are – to refrain from another round of photos on the return trip. (For a fun experiment in (mostly) varying perspectives, you can see her take on the day’s hike here.)

We finished the “day” with quick pics of the sunset on our way back to TC…

Sunset Sky from Chippewa Run Natural Area

Sunset Sky from Empire Beach

…then it was home for Raiders of the Lost Ark. 🙂

All around, some of my favorite ways to spend a day!