Grand Marais Moonrise 001

The forecast was for partly cloudy skies as we drove to Grand Marais to photograph the full moon. March is the month the moon rises behind Artist’s Point and the lighthouse. The bay was ice covered even though huge waves were coming in. I hoped that there would be a break in the clouds so we could see the moon. It wasn’t long before that orange ball slowly started coming up over the lake and the clouds opened.

A family was taking in this beautiful scene from the base of the lighthouse. I wondered if they planned on being at the end of the breakwall when the full moon appeared or if this was just icing on the cake of a great North Shore vacation.

Grand Marais Moonrise 002

I walked out on the boulders of the small breakwall. It had the best view of the moon and lighthouse but it was kind of scary standing there. The power of the huge waves out on the lake was carried beneath the ice and the pressure was released under the boulders where I was standing. The sound of the moving ice and water were both incredible and scary at the same time.

Grand Marais Moonrise 003

The family started walking back on the breakwall and I noticed the daughter had stopped her dad for one last look at the moon.

Grand Marais Sunrise 001

I returned at sunrise. During the night, the ice broke up in most of the bay and huge pieces were being carried out onto the lake. The sunrise was as beautiful as the evening’s moon. A few gulls had returned and one circled the lighthouse just as I took its picture.

Paul & Karla