Oh, beautiful Lake Michigan!
A little throwback.
Today’s newsletter probably would never have been written, if it weren’t for Alon who has been sharing photos of Lake Michigan here on Substack over the past few weeks. His photographs reminded me of my time in Chicago and how much I loved visiting the lake. So much so that I decided to dive into my archive and revisit my own photographs of this amazing lake.
I hope you enjoy this little throwback…
In May 2010, my husband and I packed all our belongings, said goodbye to friends and family and moved across the pond to Chicago. We had visited the city briefly a few weeks earlier to find an apartment, but aside from that short visit, we were complete newcomers to the city and the country.
In the first weeks after our arrival, some of my husband's co-workers would invite us over for dinner or take us out, showing us their favorite places in the city to help us get to know the area. They all were so kind and welcoming to us. We received a lot of tips on what to do and where to go.
Chicago is a fantastic city, and the possibilities for things to do and places to explore are endless. And in the short three years we lived there, we were able to see and experience a lot.
But one of my favorite things to do in Chicago -besides eating too many delicious cupcakes- was to visit Lake Michigan.
We were fortunate enough to have an apartment close to the lake, so walking down to the lakefront only took a few minutes.
Standing at the water’s edge, looking at the distant horizon, it was hard to believe that this vast body of water was just a lake.
I still remember the first time I went to the lake on a windy day - the water had turned a murky grey, and huge waves crashed against the shore, completely covering the sidewalk. I was stunned by the sheer power of the lake, had never seen one so fierce before.
In the summertime, when the wind was calm, the water would turn a beautiful turquoise, resembling the Caribbean more than the Midwest.
But my favorite time to bring my camera to the lakefront was winter. Chicago winters are long and can be brutally cold, with windchills that make you wish you'd worn a third hat and question your sanity for venturing outside. But I'm so glad I did because some of my favorite photos of Lake Michigan were made on those icy days.
Looking back at these photos not only brought back fond memories of our time living abroad, but also made me reflect on my photographic journey.
In 2010, still fairly new to photography, I fell into the common misconception that good photographs required a good (expensive) camera and a superb collection of lenses1. GAS2 was real for me!
I also liked to try out different things like night photography, long exposures, ICM3, or photographing with “specialty” lenses like fish-eye or tilt-shift lenses.
But over time, that all changed. My approach to both gear and photography has become much more focused.
What hasn’t changed -on the other hand- is my fascination with revisiting places: seeing how they evolve through the seasons, different weather, and shifting light, and discovering what I might have overlooked before.
Chicago would have been a great city for classic street photography4, but I always felt drawn to the quiet corners of the city: the parks, the lakeshore, or the quieter neighborhoods.
Now, living in Hamburg, I no longer have Lake Michigan, but we have two rivers running through the city, small lakes on the outskirts, and when I crave crashing waves, I can always drive north to the North or Baltic Sea.
Water will always draw me in, but Lake Michigan holds a special place in my heart, tied to many wonderful memories.
That’s all from me this week.
Thank you so much for being here and for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. It means a lot to me. Feel free to leave a comment - I always love to hear your thoughts.
X,
Susanne
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I totally forgot that I had a tilt-shift lens until I rediscovered the photographs I made with it.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
Intentional Camera Movement.
I tried, but never got the hang of it or felt comfortable enough doing it.
I'm amazed by the waves, I never thought tides could be that big on a lake! It's nice to see your early work and relate it to what you do today. Thank you for sharing this Susanne!
Thank you for this, Susanne. Such wonderful words and photos. And yes, Chicago is an amazing city. (My second favorite U.S. city after my beloved New York City). And Lake Michigan is indeed stunning.