Landscape

Caves and Dunes

Shoreline of Cave Point County Park and Whitefish Dunes State Park

First of several visits to Cave Point County Park, and Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County Wisconsin. Over time I will post other visits and you can compare how things change with time or how the landscape looks at various times of the day. It is amazing how quickly things can change either due to human or natural intervention. While originally in tended to capture the beauty of the landscape some of these photographs also capture the history of how things looked and how no one will ever be able to see these things this way again.

Vertical landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking South. Blue-green waters are up against a steep grey rock cliff face with green trees growing on top of the rocks. Taken on a sunny day with clear blue sky.
Cave Point South Shore
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
2000
Location
Cave Point County Park, WI
Description:

The photograph is taken inside Cave Point County Parklooking South along the Lake Michigan shoreline. It captures some of the wavescrashing against the rocks along the shore.

Vertical landscape photograph. Two pine trees stand on top of a steep rock cliff overlooking a cove with emerald waters along the Lake Michigan shoreline on a sunny day with clear skies.
Cave Point Pines
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
1600
Location
Cave Point County Park, WI
Description:

Pines overlooking the cove and entrance to one of the caves from which Cave Point County Park derives its name.

Vertical landscape photograph. A solitary pine tree stands on top of a steep cliff at the entrance to the cove to the cave entrance at Cave Point County Park. Emerald waters fill the cove from along the shoreline of Lake Michigan on a sunny day with clear skies.
Pine over Cave Point
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
3200
Location
Cave Point County Park, WI
Description:

A solitary pine stands guard over the entrance to the cove to the cave entrance at Cave Point County Park.

Horizontal landscape photograph. In focus in the foreground is a cairn, a tower of rocks, with other cairns in the background out of focus along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The cairn uses rocks that are smooth in nature.
Sculpted Cairn
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/2.8
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
100
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

The cairns used to be located North of Cave Point County Park along the shoreline. These were set up by visitors over time. There were hundreds of cairns set up here, but park officials have taken them down and now signs are posted directing visitors not to set up anymore, so you will not find them anymore. Another, testament to how landscapes can change with time, either due to human or natural interventions.

Horizontal landscape photograph. In focus in the foreground is a cairn, a tower of rocks, with other cairns in the background out of focus along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The cairn uses rocks that are carefully balanced on top of each other.
Balanced Cairn
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/2.8
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
100
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

A photograph of another cairn sculpture along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Horizontal landscape photograph. In focus in the background is a cairn, a tower of rocks, with other cairns in the foreground out of focus along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This cairn is a very tall arrangement of rocks compared to the others around it.
Cairn Tower
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/2.8
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
100
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

Third and final photograph of cairn sculpture along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This was the amongst the tallest of the cairns along the shore at the time. The danger of cairns falling over, and injuring visitors is the reason for their removal.

Vertical landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking North. Blue-green waters are up against a steep grey rock cliff face with green trees growing on top of the rocks. Taken on a sunny day with clear blue sky.
Cave Point Looking Back
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
1600
Location
Cave Point County Park, WI
Description:

If you look closely and compare Cave Point South Shore and Cave Point Pines, you might be able to get your orientation with this photograph. Taken at the southern edge of Cave Point County Park looking North you can make out the pine trees at the entrance to the cove.

Vertical landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking North. Emerald waters are up against a steep grey rock cliff face with green trees growing on top of the rocks. Taken on a sunny day with clear blue sky in Whitefish Dunes State Park.
Steep Cliffs
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
1600
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

Lake Michigan shoreline photograph now once again in Whitefish Dunes State Park but this time South of Cave Point County Park. Note that these areas do not have official names so I will use my own names on repeat visits to indicate photographing in the same location.

Vertical landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking South. Waves crash up against the rocks and boulders in the waters off the steep cliff shoreline. One rock formation is narrower at the base than the top. Taken on a sunny day with clear blue sky in Whitefish Dunes State Park.
Rocks and Boulders
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
1250
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

Waves crashing against the rocks and boulders along the Lake Michigan shoreline. I have found that this area of the park is particularly popular for shooting engagement photos.

Vertical landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking South. Emerald waters are up against a steep grey rock cliff face with green trees growing on top of the rocks. Small rocks can be seen beneath the water all along the shoreline. Taken on a sunny day with clear blue sky in Whitefish Dunes State Park.
Shattered Shores
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
1250
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

The name is derived from all the small rocks below the surface along the shore in this location.

Vertical landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking North. Turquoise waters are up against rocky shoreline with trees back atop the rocks. Taken on a sunny day with clear skies in Whitefish Dunes State Park.
Turquoise Shores
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
1000
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

Beautiful turquoise waters. Usually only find these in the Caribbean so nice to see up North.

Horizontal landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking South. Cove of aqua waters are up against a grey rock cliff face with green trees growing on top of the rocks. Taken on a sunny day with clear blue sky in Whitefish Dunes State Park.
Shallow Cover Lake View
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
1000
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

Small bay or cove along the shore. The further South the cliffs get shorter and eventually there is a beach but that is in another gallery.

Vertical landscape photography of Lake Michigan shoreline looking South. Aqua waters lap against grey rock shoreline with green trees growing on top of the rocks. Taken on a sunny day with clear blue sky in Whitefish Dunes State Park.
Water's Edge
Camera
Sony a7RII
Lens
Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA
Focal Length
35 mm
Aperture
f/10
Exposure
1/1600 sec
ISO
800
Location
Whitefish Dunes State Park, WI
Description:

Final photograph in this gallery collection. Whitefish Dunes State Park shore continues further South, but this is as far as I ventured on this occasion.

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