In Marquette, a remote Michigan beach town further north than some parts of Canada, the only thing more enchanting and boundless than the views of Lake Superior is the sky above it.
Most of the year, the northern coast of the Upper Peninsula is too cold for the average person to sit for hours marveling at the scenery, though weather won’t deter locals and hardy adventurers like Marquette's own nature photographer Shawn Malone.
And when her city does get its few months of warmth, coinciding with increased hours of daylight, Malone rarely strays from behind the camera, even to sleep. She's determined to capture all of the beauty the North Country has to offer.
That’s how she ended up documenting the spectacular variations in the sky over Lake Superior in one 24-hour period last month, catching bright stars, moody clouds and the vibrant colors of both the Northern Lights and a double rainbow.
Malone, who owns the gallery Lake Superior Photo in downtown Marquette, usually travels all over the region. But on June 22, she shot from a public beach near her house. The resulting six images below show the constant changes you learn to love in the Great Lakes region and serve as a reminder of just how captivating they can be -- doubly true when you see them in person.
The first sky scene Malone photographed was of the Milky Way, a few minutes after midnight.
A university town, Marquette is the largest city in the UP, but it is still relatively small and mostly surrounded by wilderness. The lack of light pollution and open view of the sky over the endless lake make for excellent stargazing, with plentiful beaches to choose from for nighttime viewing or daytime lounging.
Soon, it was officially morning, and Malone captured the sunrise. "We are down to four hours of dark sky time for night photography," she wrote in an email. "Twilight lasts after midnight around the solstice, and first light [appears] as a glow before 4 a.m."
In the evening, storm clouds hung heavily over Lake Superior. But the soft, diffused light and calm waters make for a serene view.
When the clouds broke that evening, they left two rainbows. Storms aren't uncommon on Lake Superior, but the rapidly changing conditions means you aren't likely to be stuck with bad weather for long.
A little later, the cloud had receded further, creating a perfect backdrop for the sunset.
There aren’t many places where you can watch the sun rise and set from the "same" direction -- the Upper Peninsula is truly a magical place. During summers in the UP, Marquette gets views of sunrises from the northeast and sunsets from the northwest, both visible over Lake Superior. "It is so welcome and appreciated after six-month winters," Malone said.
Less than 24 hours after Malone began taking photos of the Milky Way, she was back at home, seemingly done with photography for the day. But when she took her dog out, she found the mesmerizing green and purple aurora borealis and grabbed her camera. There aren't too many places in the United States to get such clear views of the Northern Lights -- outside of Alaska, anyway.
You can't entirely prepare for flashes of unexpected beauty on the shores of Lake Superior, but there are ways to improve your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. And if you're unsuccessful, you're still bound to see some dramatic scenery.
“Lake Superior has a reputation of many moods,” Malone said. "The unobstructed, wide-open horizon ... is exhilarating and contemplative at the same time.”
If that's 24 hours, imagine a long weekend.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.