Jetting out into the Sturgeon Bay ship canal, this small, unsuspecting peninsula is the watery gravesite of three ships. Here at Bullhead Point, the Ida Corning, Oak Leaf, and Empire State rest just below the surface, only yards away from where onlookers gather. An abandoned anchor is propped near an old tree, and a large, placard-tombstone delivers both an epitaph and description of the once-great vessels.
 

 

Over 100 years since they sailed for the last time, and just several days before Christmas 2023, an eerie fog rolled in off Lake Michigan, enshrouding everything within it. Co-creating a brilliant misty backdrop and natural grey filter, the position of the late afternoon sun offered ideal backlighting, revealing the dark silhouette of the anchor, tree, and placard. All three prominent markers are situated at the shipwrecks’ base, providing perfect symmetry for the photo and a glimpse into the mysteries of the deep.