Winter Full Moon over Lake Michigan

The rising full moon over Lake Michigan as seen from Chicago, Illinois on December 11th, 2019. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson. http://www.VincentDavidJohnson.com

The last full moon of the decade rising over Lake Michigan, as seen from the shoreline of Chicago, Illinois.

I rarely get out to shoot pretty pictures like this. After watching the almost full moon come up over the lake the previous day I made a deal with myself that if the sun was out and the skies were clear again, I’d bundle up and hit Lake Shore Drive to grab some images of lunar rising over the lake.

The moon when it first really became visible on December 11th, 2019. Clouds and possible lake effect snow on the eastern edge of Lake Michigan obscured the first few minutes of the moon rise. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson. http://www.VincentDavidJohnson.com

There was some serious cloud coverage on the eastern edge of Lake Michigan and what looked like possible snowfall. So I had doubts that the moon was even going to show up before it was high in the sky.

Waiting for the moon rise it was hard not to take some skyline shots of Chicago’s downtown. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson. http://www.VincentDavidJohnson.com
I lucked out when a flock of geese started landing in the water just between me and downtown. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson. http://www.VincentDavidJohnson.com
Winter full moon over Lake Michigan as seen from the shoreline of Chicago on December 11, 2019. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson. http://www.VincentDavidJohnson.com
A runner along the lake front path in the last light of the day. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson. http://www.VincentDavidJohnson.com
My homage to Scott Strazzante’s “Pacific” series. Which by no means does his work justice. Follow the link. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.
My homage to Scott Strazzante’s “Pacific” series. Which by no means does his work justice. Follow the link. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.
A U.S. Coast Guard boat goes past a water intake crib on Lake Michigan around 39th Street, on December 11, 2019. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.