It was straight out of a fairytale, this ice encased lighthouse at the end of a pier on Lake Michigan. At least that is how it appeared to me as it set my imagination wondering on this chilly January afternoon in Grand Haven.

As I stood on the edge of where the water met the ice just staring at what I made my way out here to see my first thoughts were that of a castle. A few years ago on a winter trip to the upper peninsula with some photography friends I somehow received (or is that earned) the nickname of "Ice Princess". I didn't find my castle on that trip (although I was told it was there), or on any of the many other winter trips I have taken after that for that matter, not for lack of searching. It was at this moment, at the very end of the Grand Haven Pier that I thought to myself "At last I have found it, my elusive ice castle". The thought made me smile and laugh a little inside at the memory.

The idea of it being a castle was only enforced as I watched a couple of small children climbing all over the structure, their tiny bodies searching all the crevices, making their way in where they could. I thought to myself "Wow, what a cool playhouse they have for themselves here, if only for a few minutes"

As I studied this wonder in front of me a little longer, my thoughts went from castle to ship. It looked very much like a ship, a haunted ghost ship made of ice... wicked, sinister, and ominous... it's frozen bow plowing towards me through the ice, dwarfing the tall inner light in the distance on it's way with purpose to direful destinations unknown...

Magical castle, menacing ghost ship, or simply a dramatic example of the endless clash between the hand of man and the hand of nature... whatever way you look at it it's beauty cannot be denied. I am so very thankful I was able to not only see it, but also, with my camera, to bear witness.

Nikon D800e, Nikon 16-35mm lens @f/11, 1/2000 sec, ISO 800, converted to black and white using Nik SilverEfx software.