Normally when I am showing photos from various places around the state, and I come to images from a unique spot, say like Pictured Rocks, I often get statements of “This is Michigan?” from people who have lived here their entire lives. For some place like Pictured Rocks, I suppose I can understand because not a lot of people venture up to the middle of the Upper Peninsula. Well, I had my own “This is Michigan?” moment when visiting Silver Lake Dunes, and yet it is not as far away and remote as Pictured Rocks. I should know better that this state still holds some gems I have yet to uncover.

I have not seen very many images from here like many other spots photographers like to visit. I think perhaps it may have earned a reputation of being cluttered up with dune buggy tracks, or trampled by dune climbers like so many other spots. However, in off season, when the nearby town is closed for the winter, you can easily get the feeling you may be on another planet… Mars immediately comes to mind.

Below is a more typical Lake Michigan shoreline and the dunes most people are familiar with. Dune grasses, sand, and the lake. Quite a contrast considering these two images were made only about an hour and a half drive from each other as far as location.

For me it was quite refreshing to still be able to have a “This is Michigan?” moment. I hope I will continue to have many more of them in the future.

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