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Stunning Sunrise Photos

Writer's picture: Sue LeonardSue Leonard

This week instead of laughing at life’s foibles, let’s look at some stunning sunrise photos. I know, people usually think of beautiful sunsets, but this guy in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P. or Yoop) flips the script. Meet Bugsy Sailor. Since 2019, Bugsy has snapped pictures of over 2,200 sunrises over Lake Superior.  That’s when his New Year’s Resolution was to take a sunrise picture every day. Even after 2019, he’s continued photographing sunrises almost every morning.

sunrise over Lake Superior with bird

That’s why the people of Marquette, MI call Bugsy Sailor the Sunrise Guy. Most of his photos are taken on Presque Isle, on the upper side of the U.P, on the shores of Lake Superior. It’s about 170 miles west of Sault St. Marie, Ontario Canada. 

Sunrise over Lake Superior with autum leaves

It’s a beautiful place to take landscape pictures. With a population of 21,000, there’s not a lot more to do. Google “things to do in Marquette” and it lists mostly natural parks and waterfalls. Oh, and a dairy, a brewery, and a Junkyard Art museum.

Sunrise over Lake Superior - Bugsy Sailor

I applaud Bugsy. I’m not a morning person and I’m definitely not a fan of the cold. Even Bugsy admits it can be brutal on some U.P. mornings. One morning it was -29⁰ and windy.


Lake Superior ice formations
Lake Superior Ice Flos - Bugsy Sailor

Sunrise through frozen leaves - Bugsy Sailor

His collection, now seven years deep, is on the Year of Sunrise website. It’s actually seven years of sunrises.  You’d think pictures of sunrises would get boring, but you’d be amazed at the variety of scenes with changes in seasons and clouds. But some days you’ll LAO see geese, deer, or a wood slab swing hanging from ropes with the sunrise peeking through.


Lake Superior - geese in sunrise - Bugsy Sailor

Lake Superior - Sunrise through swing - Bugsy Sailor
Lake Superior Sunrise - deer - Bugsy Sailor

Bugsy’s Sunrise Gallery lets you pick a specific date: your birthday or anniversary.

Some people in town think he should do sunsets.  Bugsy says, “Sunsets are status quo – sunsets are easy.”  Besides, these sunset fans forget that the lake doesn’t catch the sunset’s glow; it's the sunrise that paints the perfect picture.


Lake Superior - Geese, shipping boat - Bugsy  Sailor
Lake Superior Coast Guard Boat - Bugsy Sailor

Running a seven-year sunrise archive isn’t cheap. If Bugsy’s dedication inspires you, a click on the 28₵ logo on his website can help keep the sunrises coming. So, hats off to Bugsy Sailor—the man who greets the sun with a camera and a sense of adventure, every chilly morning.


Lake superior - tide pool, sunrise - Bugsy Sailor



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