Liquid Mountains: I Captured Lake Erie On The Day It Came Alive And Showed Its True Power

Lake Erie is among the five Great Lakes in North America, Canada, and the United States. In Canada, Lake Erie borders the province of Ontario and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The lake is renowned for its sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and abundant marine life, making it a perfect spot for fishing, boating, and swimming. Lake Erie is also a vital source of fresh water for the surrounding communities. It supports a thriving ecosystem that includes a diverse range of plant and animal species. Overall, Lake Erie is a beautiful and essential natural resource, and it plays a crucial role in the lives of many Canadians.

My name is Dave Sandford. I have been a professional photographer for 18 years. Shooting professional sports has paid the bills, but I’ve been the most passionate about anything to do with water. Oceans and lakes beckon me. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved to be on, in or around water. I’m fascinated by its sheer raw power and force, captivated by the graceful movement of a wave, and mesmerized by light dancing across it.

Recently, I have felt drawn to the lakes virtually in the backyard of my hometown of London, Ont., Canada—specifically, the awe-inspiring Great Lakes. Lake Erie, the 4th largest of the Great Lakes, caught my attention for this photographic essay. I focused on Erie at a time of year (mid-October through December) when the Great Lakes can act more like oceans than lakes. With warm, sunny beach days behind us, some of Autumn’s dark, cold, and windy days transform the Great Lakes into wickedly wild and treacherous bodies of water.

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Bane Of The Great Lakes

Lake Of The Cat

The Witch Of November

Two-Face

Eerie Erie

Lake Erie Monster

The Phonograph-Songs Of The Deep

Lake Erie is 388km in length and approximately 92km across. It is also the shallowest of the Great Lakes, with an average depth of 62′ and a maximum depth of 210′. Lake Erie’s name originates from a native tribe who called the lake “Erige” (“cat”) due to its unpredictable and, at times, dangerously violent nature. Because of the lake’s shallowness, conditions can change dramatically in just a few minutes, with fierce waves springing up unexpectedly. Lake Erie’s unpredictable and violent nature has laid claim to some 1800-8000 shipwrecks dating back to the 17th century, most of which have never been found.

Over the last four weeks, for 2-3 days a week, sometimes 6 hours a day. I did the 45-minute drive to Lake Erie. The images here were made using my Canon gear, 1Dx body, 400mm & 70-200mm lenses, protected from the elements by my Aquatech sport’s housing and sport’s shield gear. Shot during November on the North shore of Lake Erie. About 500’-600′ off-shore from a small lakeside community called Port Stanley, Ontario. Daily temperatures range from -2 to 14 degrees Celsius, sustained wind speeds of 45-50km/ph, gusting 70-100+ km/ph, the average water temperature of 11 Celsius, and wave heights reaching 25′. On days like these, most people stay away from the lake. It’s days like these when Erie comes alive, showing its true power. These are the days I can’t wait to get to the lake and create images!