Al Schuck was capturing images of a neighbor’s kids on the bridge that spans the narrow passage connecting Eagle Lake and Pike Lake in Maple Grove, when something quietly unexpected happened. “We were in between shots with the children and I saw kayaks coming from Pike Lake. It was so peaceful and quiet as they passed under the bridge,” Shuck remembers. “It looked like two buddies just out enjoying the incredible beauty. After they passed I saw the incredible greens and blues that were surrounding them and I thought, Wow! They have picked the perfect day and place to go kayaking."
Located in the southeast corner of Maple Grove, both Eagle and Pike Lake are home to more than 10 species of fish including walleye, bluegill, pike and sunfish, according to Department of Natural Resources findings. Although hidden in the middle of a residential area, with more than 300 square acres of water, the lakes prove a quiet place for canoeing and kayaking, and swimming by residents. The Eagle Lake Preservation Association continues to monitor water quality and fight for the health of this secluded body of water.
Shuck enjoys the lake in all seasons. He named the picture "Perfect" because of how he felt the day must have been for those in the kayaks. He played around with other words to go with it, (i.e. perfect ride, perfect weather, perfect colors, perfect peace, perfect day, etc.) but says adding anything to the word seemed to limit it, so he went with just perfect.
This perfect shot won first place in the Landmarks category of the 2011 Focus on Maple Grove photo contest.
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The 2012 Focus on Maple Grove photo contest begins on August 1, so grab your camera and give it a shot! Submit your images to maplegrovemag.com before Aug 31 and watch for winners and contestants to be published in coming months.
