The Dunes of Lake Michigan's Eastern Shore ISBN9798218188665
I've been fortunate to live within just a few miles of worlds largest inland sea - The Great Lakes - more specifically, the region of Lake Michigan's Eastern Shore. In the photograph in the preface, through my 210mm lens, the city of Chicago's incredible skyline shows the proximity of our country's 3rd largest city to the Indiana Dunes National Park.
I have spent the better part of my life experiencing and photographing the miles of beach & towering perch dunes, marshes and fens, forests, plants and wildlife; and wanted to create a published book portraying the realism, beauty and spiritual joy of these places.The Dunes are a living, breathing unique ecosystem; consistently cycling through the years with water rising and falling - its shorelines ever changing. Offshore winds push dune sand that can cover entire forests, while plant and animal species faithfully regenerate themselves as they've done ever since the glaciers receded thousands of years ago.
Many people will never get to see and make the spiritual connection with the Eastern Shore Dunes and experience this place during each beautiful climate season. With my book of lovingly curated and printed photographs, I want to show the dunes through my camera lens with the same heightened excitement and emotion as when I originally photographed the scenes in this book. I've had my book of photographs offset printed to preserve every detail without the over saturation and shadow detail clogging that digital printing creates. It is also why I could still print my photographs in a smaller less expensive 8 x 10 inch soft cover format.For those who do live here, it is my hope to provide a keepsake - evoking memories of times past, enjoyment of the present and expectations for the future. This book is not just for them, but for their children and their children's children.
Here's what people are saying about this book...
Art is not overly complex. Beauty plus joy equal Art. This book gave me all three.
- Reed Oftain, Landscape Artist and Writer
This book is a beautiful pictorial of The Dunes of Lake Michigan’s Eastern Shore. The author, Rich Ackerman, has lovingly used his photographic skills in this homage to one of the Midwest’s greatest treasures. Just gorgeous!
- Rudolf E.B.
The photography in this book is so clear and pure. Nature at her most brilliant; it's impossible to choose a favorite photograph.
- Barbara M.
This collection of ethereal photos demonstrates the splendor of Lake Michigan’s Dunes. Utilizing visualization, Rich’s photographs evoke a nostalgia for the landscape with linear storytelling through the seasons.
- Rachel B.
Immersive! Through the eyes and heart of Rich Ackerman, the moments captured with his lens transport me in in such a way that I can feel the air, hear the tide, and the silence. There is drama in these photographs, as the seasons unfold. THIS is what his art does for me.
- Adeline Lewis, Advocate, Artist, Speaker, Poet
I’ve been a long time visitor to the dunes— thought I’d seen it all. But Rich’s perspective provides a new view of familiar terrain. We learn through his framing. Well done.
- Paul Petersen Member Cornell Lab of Ornithology
This book not only takes you through years in the Dunes but serves as a field guide to the wide variety of plants that can be found here. If you have never had the opportunity to visit the Indiana Dunes National Park, or Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, once you have seen Rich’s photographs you will want to grab your camera, your binoculars or maybe just your hiking shoes and experience this amazing area for yourself.
- Jeanne Heuer, artist, librarian, birder
