Yeah, I jumped the gun a bit. Long day, tomorrow. Starts early, stays
late…
Not everyone celebrates summer solstice by dancing naked 'round the
fire, metaphorical fire or no.
Typically, I don't do much field work during summer. The light is
harsh, the woods obscured by life unbound and the universe around goes resolutely
green. How many shades of green does it take, before everything becomes an
emerald wash?
And it's all an illusion, anyway. An excuse to dance naked around the
fire for to revel in Earth's priceless, live-sustaining bounty. Long may it last.
The truth is the world has turned. As of now the countdown to the shortest day
of winter is on. It's inexorable. In recognition of that, to some northern folk summer solstice is an unwelcome reminder of hard, dark days to come.
You mightn't share their attitude, but they're not wrong.
For my friends along the Superior Basin who understand that and who mark the solstice each in their own way, I dug through my back catalog for images of soft summer to commemorate the day. Winter's coming all right (or so I've heard), but this magnificent,
god's honest comfort comes first.
So for now, party on.
Captured on film along the shore of Superior, mostly during magic hours
when summer's light is long, the cool of the morning is warm upon the skin and
the evening chill provides welcome respite from the day:
Keweenaw County, MI
Ontario, Canada
Gogebic County, MI
