Located at the entrance of the Sturgeon Bay ship canal on beautiful Lake Michigan, Door County’s famous “Red Lighthouse” (North Pierhead Lighthouse) has been the focal point of many a photographer’s lens as well as a picturesque portrait backdrop for wedding parties and high school senior photos.
 

 

While visiting his grandparents at their cottage in the summer, Krauss would fall asleep at night often to the slow, steady song of the foghorn. He had observed the lighthouse many times throughout the different midwest seasons, however this particular February afternoon in 2023, following a snowfall and while home visiting, this landmark caught his eye differently. The lake was unusually still. Its placidity and floating ice formations created a shimmer that mirrored the lighthouse reflection. The red roof and walls popped against a bluish-grey horizon and dark waters, while the clear windows revealed the endless sky beyond them.