Frozen Lighthouses

Camera: Sony A74 IV, Lens: Tamron 70-180mm 2.8

Settings: 1/1000 seconds, f/9, ISO 640

Since the first time I saw photographs of the St. Joseph Lighthouse covered in ice, I knew it was a scene I had to capture for myself. Lighthouses are fascinating structures and make compelling subjects for landscape photography, whether captured in a photograph, drawing, or painting. Perhaps it’s because they often stand isolated, tall and watchful, guiding ships along the shoreline.

During periods of high wind, waves from Lake Michigan crash against the lighthouse, and when temperatures drop low enough, the water slowly freezes onto the structure. Over time, the lighthouse becomes encased in thick layers of ice. It’s a rare and unusual event that only a handful of lighthouses experience.

The St. Joseph Lighthouse sits along the southwestern coast of Michigan, about a five-hour drive away. Because of the distance, careful planning is required to photograph it in the right conditions. Prior to 2024, I had traveled there three different winters hoping to capture the lighthouse covered in ice, but none of those trips worked out. Timing is everything, especially when temperatures don’t stay below freezing for long.

On January 18, 2024, I decided to make the trip to photograph both the St. Joseph and Grand Haven Lighthouses, which sits about an hour and a half farther north. I was joined by fellow landscape photographer and Four Elements Photo Adventures instructor Mike Murray, along with Robert McGaffin, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Wheel Hub Magazine.

Camera: Sony A74 IV, Lens: Tamron 70-180mm 2.8

Settings: 1/400 seconds, f/11, ISO 400

The conditions were nearly perfect—below freezing, but not brutally cold. At 26°F with light winds, it was actually quite comfortable considering how harsh the weather can be along the lakeshore. We spent the entire day photographing both lighthouses, capturing their beauty under the icy conditions.

This winter I decided to return after hearing that the southwestern Michigan shoreline had experienced nearly a week of strong winds and extremely cold temperatures—conditions that often create dramatic ice formations. On January 24, 2026, I took a half day off from work so I could leave early and avoid Chicago traffic on the drive to Michigan.

This time the plan was more ambitious. I intended to spend the weekend photographing five different lighthouses coated in ice, traveling as far north as the Point Betsie Lighthouse in Frankfort, Michigan. The trip would be 458 miles each way, and the weather forecast suggested it would not be easy. Snow was expected throughout the region and road conditions were likely to be poor.

The conditions changed quickly once I crossed into Indiana. What had been sunny skies turned icy within minutes. Interstate 90/94 had essentially become an ice rink, and my entire drive across Indiana was done at no more than 35 miles per hour. Once I crossed into Michigan, heavy snow began to fall. However, I was relieved—it was safer driving through fresh snow than on ice.

I went straight to the St. Joseph Lighthouse, but visibility was nearly zero. It was clear the best plan was to get some rest and return before sunrise the next morning.

Camera: Sony A74 IV, Lens: Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7

Settings: 1/4 seconds, f/16, ISO 160

Saturday morning I headed back to the lighthouse. The conditions were far harsher than they had been in 2024. The temperature was -2°F when I arrived, with a wind chill of -13°F. While extremely cold, it was actually milder than just a few days earlier when the area experienced winds near 50 mph and wind chills approaching -40°F.

But these are the conditions that create the incredible ice formations I had come to photograph. The lighthouse was beautifully frozen, and I was also able to photograph the St. Joseph South Pier beacon completely encased in ice.

Camera: Sony A74 IV, Lens: Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7

Settings: 1/15 seconds, f/16, ISO 160

Camera: Sony A74 IV, Lens: Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7

Settings: 1/13 seconds, f/16, ISO 160

Camera: Sony A74 IV, Lens: Sony 12-24mm f2.8

Settings: 1/40 seconds, f/22, ISO 50

After spending a couple of hours photographing the lighthouse, I prepared to continue my trip north. Before leaving, I ran into fellow Wisconsin photographer David Enriquez Lopez, who had just arrived. It was a great opportunity to warm up a bit and talk photography.

David and I made plans to meet again in Grand Haven to photograph the lighthouse there together. The drive north proved just as challenging, with long stretches of icy roads. Once again, I kept my speed below 35 mph, turning what is normally a 90-minute drive into a little over two hours. Along the way, I made a brief stop at the South Haven Lighthouse. It was also coated in ice, though not nearly as dramatically as the others.

Camera: Sony A74 IV, Lens: Tamron 150-500mm F5-6.7

Settings: 1/125 seconds, f/22, ISO 50

After about an hour photographing the Grand Haven Lighthouse, we decided it was time to begin the trip back to Wisconsin. Road conditions were not improving, and another major snowstorm was expected later that evening.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to reach the Point Betsie Lighthouse on this trip. But the goal remains, and it will certainly be part of my plans for future winters.