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I Spent Over 15 Gruelling Hours Photographing Lake Erie Waves
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I Spent Over 15 Gruelling Hours Photographing Lake Erie Waves

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In December 2021, I ventured out during three separate storms to capture Lake Erie Waves.

I spent over 15 gruelling hours photographing and captured over 8200 images during that time. This 1 minute video showcases about 35 of my favourite images.

The conditions along the Lake Erie shoreline can be downright nasty. Each fall, gale force winds whip up waves that can top 30 feet high during a storm’s peak.

This style of photography tests your dedication and devotion to your craft to the max! It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I see many people attempt to photograph the waves during these storms and last only mere minutes before having to return to the safety of their cars.

You need to get into a “zone” and fight through the less than ideal conditions. Putting your complete focus into the task at hand is the key. I’ve twice gotten frostbite during past outings and now have permanent nerve damage in both hands. The cold conditions are now very painful to work in.

My eyes take a constant beating from the relentless pounding of sand and back spray. The stress on my shooting eye from photographing straight for hours at a time, usually results in considerable swelling and blood shot veins.

So is all of this effort worth the risk? I say 100% yes!

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More info: trevorpottelberg.com

Lake Erie Waves – December 2021

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Trevor Pottelberg Photography

Trevor Pottelberg Photography

Author, Community member

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Growing up in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Trevor Pottelberg has always harboured a love for the great outdoors, a passion that eventually manifested itself through his scenic landscape and wildlife photography.

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Trevor Pottelberg Photography

Trevor Pottelberg Photography

Author, Community member

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Growing up in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Trevor Pottelberg has always harboured a love for the great outdoors, a passion that eventually manifested itself through his scenic landscape and wildlife photography.

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Diana Lopetaitė

Diana Lopetaitė

BoredPanda staff

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Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

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Diana Lopetaitė

Diana Lopetaitė

BoredPanda staff

Read more »

Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

Read less »
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Otter
Otter
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No wonder shipping and boating on the Great Lakes is considered to be much more dangerous than you'd think! Those don't look like oceanic waves, which usually are usually heading in whichever direction the wind pushes them, those look like waves that come from different directions and which collide with each other, forming peaks and chaotic patterns that woudl be impossible for sailors to predict if I'm right. I'm sure someone else can explain the meteorology and physics better than that and I invite them to do so, because those photos are fascinating and I'd love a real explanation and not my own guesswork.

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Trevor Pottelberg Photography (Post author)
Trevor Pottelberg Photography
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are correct. These massive waves form when water is driven into a break wall and is sent back out into the lake to collide with incoming waves. It’s very unpredictable and chaotic.

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Otter
Otter
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No wonder shipping and boating on the Great Lakes is considered to be much more dangerous than you'd think! Those don't look like oceanic waves, which usually are usually heading in whichever direction the wind pushes them, those look like waves that come from different directions and which collide with each other, forming peaks and chaotic patterns that woudl be impossible for sailors to predict if I'm right. I'm sure someone else can explain the meteorology and physics better than that and I invite them to do so, because those photos are fascinating and I'd love a real explanation and not my own guesswork.

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Trevor Pottelberg Photography (Post author)
Trevor Pottelberg Photography
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are correct. These massive waves form when water is driven into a break wall and is sent back out into the lake to collide with incoming waves. It’s very unpredictable and chaotic.

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