Winter Lay Up

This installment of "Behind The Door" chronicles one of the Great Lakes freighters sailing in to Sturgeon Bay for a three month respite at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Co., locally referred to as the winter lay-up. Photographing them takes patience, careful planning, and a little bit of luck. But the results are often very rewarding even if chased away by shipyard security.
These unique lakers, sometimes over 1,000 feet in length, and many of them built in Sturgeon Bay, are stalwarts of the American industrial economy, an endless source of fascination among visitors and "boat nerds", and the pride of the people of Door County.
music: epidemicsound.com
You might also be interested in visiting my photo site: KODOphoto.smugmug.com
My primary photo & vlogging gear:
Main Photo Camera:
Canon 5D Mark IV DSLR
L Series Lenses:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro
Canon EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM w 2X teleconverter
Main Tripod, Head, L-Bracket:
Really Right Stuff Versa Series, TVC-34L Carbon Fiber (Long)
AcraTech Panorama Head
AcraTech Large Leveling Base
Small Rig L-Bracket for Canon 5D MIV
Alternate Head:
Acratech Ball Head w/Gimble & Pan
AcraTech 7” Nodal Slide (for panoramas)
Filters:
Lee Lens Filter Rings: 67mm, 77mm, 83mm-WA
Lee Filter Kit:
0.6ND Grad.
1.2ND Grad.
0.9ND Hard
ND10 Super Stopper
Circular Polarizer
Vlogging Cameras, Lenses & Tripods:
Canon M50 (mirrorless) w/15-45mm f/3.5.-6.3 lens
GOBE ND2 49mm circular variableND
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 lens
Tiffen 67mm circular variable ND
Gitzo GT-1545T Traveller Tripod w/Bexin V30 Ballhead
DJI OSMO Action 4K HDR
PGYTECH Cage & SelfieStick
PGYTECH HD PRO Filters: ND8-PL, ND16-PL, ND32-PL & ND64-PL
On-Camera Microphones:
Rode Stereo Video Mic X
Rode Video Mic Pro (shotgun)
Rode Video Mic GO (shotgun)
2X Rode Wireless GO Compact Digital Systems
Rode Lavalier Wireless GO (omnidirectional)
Stereo Audio Field Recorder:
ZOOM Handy Recorder H4n
Drone:
DJI Mavic Air2 Fly More Combo

[@Life_With_Lady]

I am so glad I found your channel, Im too disabled to travel anymore, so I view the world through videos like yours and I love the ole girls of the lakes. Nice to get to see them all tucked in for their winter nap. Thank you for this video.

[@missm2795]

Thanks for the video, great little town too

[@KODOPhoto]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@adriannegrillo8394]

I also just discovered your channel it's great explains a lot to me. Thank you I really appreciate it!

[@KODOPhoto]

You are so welcome!

[@larkatmic]

Thanks for the history lesson. Great panorama and video. The colors are amazing on her. Say hi to Betsy Ross. Can’t wait to visit Sturgeons bay again.

[@darinhyden672]

Love these vids. I can't be much of a boat nerd in E. TN. though. Thanks!!

[@jeffvandenberg8422]

Well done. At timesi get the same thing in Sarnia with security. However as soon as you are nice to the m and offer them Tim Hortons they are in good spirits. Lol. Love your videos.

[@KODOPhoto]

Thank you, Jeff!

[@jeffvandenberg8422]

@Kevin O'Donnell you're welcome sir.

[@kimjay6725]

Thank you for this video. As a burgeoning boat nerd, this video really spoke to me.

[@calendarpage]

I'm new to watching the ships on the Great Lakes after getting hooked on the Duluth Harbor Cam a couple of months ago. You have such a pleasing voice and manner to your videos. They are a pleasure to watch. New sub here.

[@davidj6398]

Superbly done!!!!!

[@KODOPhoto]

Thank you. More to come!

[@3900427]

My wife and I are moving to Sturgeon bay at the end of July can't wait

[@mwatzka]

Love this! Thank you so much!

[@KODOPhoto]

You are so welcome!

[@marjorythrash1045]

I live about 1 hour from New Orleans in Mississippi. This whole environment is totally out of my wheelhouse. Thanks for explaining everything!

[@KODOPhoto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ronditchen6664]

Nice video thank Very interesting thank you

[@offset24]

Just discovered your channel and I love it well done! I grew up in Charlevoix Mich. I love the water and the Great Lakes and anything to do with boats/ ships but Sturgeon Bay will always be a place close to my heart my mom and grandma were from there and growing up every year we went to Ludington to take the ferry across to see my relatives in Sturgeon Bay, absolutely love it and miss it. Thank you keep up the good work

[@KODOPhoto]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@chancevonfreund9145]

Cool video! I just ran across it and gladly so.I had no idea there were only two places they wintered the lake boats. I enjoyed watching well done! 🚢⚓🎥

[@marykallis3677]

Bravo! Bravo! They just keep getting better! I am beginning to understand why you moved up there! If the was no snow fall and ran an average temperature of 75, I would surely consider living there myself....but keep the snow and keep your current home town as quaint as it is! 😉 Looking forward to the next one Kev! 😍

[@KODOPhoto]

Thank you very much! This video has become the most watched of all those posted.

[@aspiceronni4462]

I'm going to be there January 15th, 2022. My friend works there and lives right across the street from the ship yard. If I see you out on that day somewhere I will say hello.

[@mattharper588]

11:50 you can film from the side walk that is not their property it is public easement and their security has no authority on public property

[@drawinggamecrafts3639]

Awesome job I really liked it To bad the security ruined it 😕

[@spall905]

Darn security

[@johnmiller5678]

Where is the Roger Blough this year? Great channel thanks for being awesome

[@KODOPhoto]

Hello John. Unfortunately, due tot he tough economic times hitting the steel industry, the Blough came in for summer lay-up to Fincantieri Bay Ship Co. in Sturgeon Bay about a month ago or so. I drove by Bay Ship last week and she's still there. BTW, The H Lee White was also there but she fitted out the other day and is back in service. Glad you like the channel and subscribed. Thank you!

[@benishborogove2692]

@@KODOPhoto Caught fire 2/1/21 in case it's still news

[@KODOPhoto]

@@benishborogove2692 Yes she did. I went down there yesterday morning and took a few photos. You can see them on my FB page. It will take a while to assess the damage. Hopefully not too serious.

[@davidhaykus1568]

Rail fans are getting a lot of similar treatment lately, "You can't be there", "You can't film us", "We're calling the R.R.P.D." It's harassment for no real reason.

[@naybreed]

So we wait.🤔

[@KODOPhoto]

Lot's of hurry up and wait. LOL

[@The35211]

​@@KODOPhoto

[@pumacat1637]

There isn’t 700-800 1000 foot boats lol maybe 7 - 8 1000 footers and maybe another 50 - 650 - 730 foot boats there are a couple of 800+ footers that’s U.S. and Canadian ships total,I’ve been to bay ship building in sturgeon bay for winter worksite security was very strict!! 2010 was the last time I was there nice little town friendly people

[@KODOPhoto]

Hello Pumacat. I think I mis-spoke there. What I meant to say was there are 700, 800 AND 1000 foot boats on the lakes. Rewatching that it sounds like there are 700 to 800 thousand footers. Oops! My bad. There are actually 13 1000 footers on the lakes all of which were built in the 1970's to early 90's, all American owned and all built in American shipyards. I'm glad you pointed this out. I try to be clear and accurate and more precise going forward. Thanks for your comment!

[@pumacat1637]

@@KODOPhoto I kinda thought there was a little mistake there I’ve been sailing and doing work on freighters in the Great Lakes for over 30 years on the Canadian side really enjoy the job and the travels

[@willverhagen6046]

Nice! To bad security ruined it 😞

[@KODOPhoto]

Thanks, Will. I don't think they minded so much that I was there but when they saw a young woman in high heels and no coat with her boyfriend trying unsuccessfully to climb up, they kicked us all off. 5 more minutes and I would have had the complete time-lapse. That's the way it goes sometimes.

[@willverhagen6046]

Kevin O'Donnell 😆 yeah that’s what I would’ve thought also if I saw you guys up there and had no clue who you were!

[@drawinggamecrafts3639]

Awesome job I really liked it

[@davidmiller6981]

That type of security were bullies in high school or the ones getting bullied and could not cut the mustard to join military

[@naybreed]

Is that what happened to me. Omg.. 🤣