While I was in the Rochester, NY area in January, I rode up to Ontario Beach Park on Lake Ontario. When I first arrived a wild snow squall hit. I waited it out and the sky cleared a bit after 15 minutes. Bundled up in snow pants, my new amazing Northface 3-in-1 jacket, hat, gloves, Sorel boots with strap on cleets, off I went to shoot the lighthouse. The wind was whipping which was the main reason I was up there. I was hoping to capture waves crashing up high on the lighthouse and to see the ice building up on the pier. All of that happened.
And also the story below...
Onward!
Miles walked: Not many, it was icy!
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Markii
Lenses: m.Zuiko 75-300mm
The snow squall cleared and I headed to the pier. Being a newbie to the area, and having friends who have had waves crash into their equipments and knock it in the lake, I decided to err on the side of caution. I did walk out a bit, but not past the point where the waves were coming onto the pier. I was alone while shooting so there wasn't anyone there to throw me a lifeline if I fell in (not that there was even one around)! The waves were ok, nothing spectacular. Shot for 15 minutes or so. It was pretty darn cold.
I started to head back to my car when I spotted someone coming out to take pictures.
He stopped to briefly say hello. He asked me what I was shooting and I told him Olympus E-M1 Markii. He said he had an Olympus E-PL7 in his bag, but today he was focusing on shooting film. I wished him well and he walked towards the pier.
Now I thought he might go to the edge where the sidewalk gets icy and take a few shots. I mean, look at how he was dressed...thin pants, light boots, light jacket, no hat and NO GLOVES. I would be cold walking around the mall indoors dressed like that. LOL
Hmmm...not stopping yet.
Ummm, okay. That's far enough, my friend. So glad you finally stopped walking. Please note the significant wave behind you.
Oh no, you are walking even farther out? How are you doing this?
Here I've zoomed back to around 75mm (using a 75-300mm lens) so you can see how far out he has really walked! Waves are actively crashing on the pier behind and ahead of him.
Like this!
And he is continuing to walk again towards the lighthouse! So now I'm kinda stuck. I don't feel comfortable leaving. There was nothing I could do if he got swept out in the water, but at least I could call 911 if that did happen. So I continued to watch and shoot.
Let me mention again - NO HAT, NO GLOVES. It was in the 20's and the wind was obviously whipping to create the waves, plus the mist from the water.
Just taking in the view...
Is your lens not covered in water?
And he's walking farther out again!!
Waves are getting closer to me. I'm not in danger at all, just keeping an eye on things. I'm zoomed in a good distance.
He's starting to walk back towards me. FINALLY.
The sea was angry that day, my friends, like an old man trying to send soup back in a deli. ;)
And as I watch you walk, I wonder if you are real or something else. Are you part human, part popsicle?
Peeking at the timestamps on my photos, I took the first photo of him around 12:22pm. This last photo I took at 12:41pm. So he was out there a solid 20 minutes. Amazing. Crazy, but amazing. I didn't stay to chat, I felt like I saw what I needed to see and one day I will understand what or who he was. He could, of course, just be a guy with incredible stamina for the cold. But there was something surreal about the entire experience. Hard to explain the feeling I had during those 20 minutes.
So that's my "ghost shooter" story! I'm glad it had a happy ending.
Pretty lighthouse pictures of this lighthouse and the Sodus Point Lighthouse on my other blog post.
Until the next Magic Metro!
xo
~Megan
Comments: Shoot me an email! megancrandlemire "at" gmail "dot" com
In March, I wrote a poem called “Unfolding” for my first ATC card. I texted a screenshot of the poem to my editor friend, Anne. Her reply…
My 52 Magic Mondays time walking and photographing New York City in 2016 included taking portraits of beautiful trees. Although most of the city is pavement and buildings, trees still abound. My favorite tree photo was taken outside of Central Park on the west side. A majestic tree with its “arms” wide open, nestled in the cobblestone sidewalk. I had fun playing a bit with the color. But what I really wanted to share in this story was the special moment I had with a redwood tree in San Francisco one year after Magic Mondays ended.
I’ve come across the most interesting information about trees over the years. They talk to each other! There is an intricate communication system that goes on between trees. I am not an expert, but I’ve read how they communicate through chemical and electrical signals, and also through the air using pheromones and scent signals. It’s truly magnificent what the Universe has created on the planet. Most of the magic escapes us.
I never would have had that moment in the Muir Woods had I not walked 365 meditative miles in New York that year- a crazy awakening journey to realize that I’m surrounded by love and magic every day and everywhere. I loved photographing the trees in New York City and appreciate knowing that, in their own way, they were as aware of me as I was of them.
Tis the season of dandelions and they have been popping into my awareness as of late, although not in the usual way. I live downtown and no longer have a yard full yellow. One of nature’s creations that, depending on your perspective, is a nuisance or a magical expression of the Universe. A plant very strong in its resilience to survive, thrive and expand the tribe. I don’t think us humans are all that different in our missions.
