Nate Vomhof shoots plenty of postcard-esque scenes of Milwaukee in summer, but he also enjoys seeing the city literally freeze. For much of early winter, he watches the river and lake ice grow, retreat and shift in an intricate dance. Here, the backdrop of “sea smoke” steam – not an enormous wave! – tells of warm-ish water clashing with the subzero temperatures. What’s with that band of ice spanning the river parallel to the Hoan? No idea, he says. This dance holds mysteries. We asked him more about this photo – and the different side of Milwaukee he photographs by drone during the winter.
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Man, this looks cold. When did you take this shot, and what was the weather like?
Very cold. Negative temperatures. I took this shot during one of the cold spells last winter. The temperatures were frigid – I want to say in the negative temps – and the warmer waters of Lake Michigan were literally freezing before our eyes. The sea smoke you see is essentially water vapor that forms when the frigid air sucks up the moisture from the open water. This shot was taken around sunrise. I had planned on getting out a bit earlier here to capture the lights on the bridge, but they were also affected by the cold temps.
What do you think makes this shot? There’s a lot to see here but, the frame on the breakwater lighthouse is pretty cool. I imagine that was intended?
I think for me the biggest thing that makes the shot is the fact that the sea smoke looks like it’s a giant wave coming crashing towards the city. The Hoan Bridge does a good job giving a reference of scale. The breakwater lighthouse is perfectly lined up. I actually took a few different shots, but the placement there was the most visually captivating.
What else do you see here?
I think for me the biggest thing is what you don’t see. All summer long, this intersection of the river is packed with boats and people along with the Summerfest grounds. This is a complete opposite: a desolate, freezing cold, still morning. Both are beautiful, but few people see the winter edition compared to the crowds that pack the lakefront in the summer edition.
Looking at this photo, it strikes me that this beauty comes from one of the most heavily industrialized parts of our city. It’s something that’s not often showcased, especially in winter.
Yeah, for sure, Milwaukee is stunning in all seasons. I think we all get tied up in summers in the city and the energy but I also think Milwaukee is unique in winter as well. The city’s industry as you mentioned never really stops and is an integral part of the city’s economy. Shooting the city in the winter is just as magical as it is in the summer (and the sunrises are later – better for me). For me, the ice is such a cool thing. Being able to see the way the ice moves and changes from day to day is so cool, both on the river and on the lake. I get excited trying to use the city’s location on the lake and the river to frame up these ice formations in unique and fun ways that show the city is just as beautiful in the winter as it is in the summer.
The Big Picture is a monthly feature in Milwaukee Magazine that explores photography of Milwaukee and Wisconsin. If you have a photo you’d like to be considered, email Creative Director Chelsea Mamerow at cmamerow@milwaukeemag.com.
