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Julia, Ethan, and I put our Christmas tree up tonight along with our stockings. This is a closeup image of a snowflake on my Christmas stocking.

Several months ago I spotted red light from the Shop-N-Save sign being cast subtly on a dry manhole cover in front of the Ludington supermarket. I pre-visualized then how the manhole cover would look when wet. I love a rainy night! Little did I know that Brad would shoot a photo later in the night near here. F11.0 at 15.0, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

We spent the entire day in Grand Rapids and I forgot my camera. When Betsy and I rolled back into Ludington at 9:00 P.M. it was dark and rainy and I noticed the neon sign from Shop-N-Save creating awesome designs on the Orchard Market greenhouse across the road on Old US 31. I came back with my camera. F5.6 at 5.0, ISO 400, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

The last two days I have focused on working on Kasey’s hamster cage. I found this heart at the bottom of her cage. I am ready for the kids to come home tomorrow. It has been a long several days. COVID-19 has hurt those that struggle with mental illness. It has not been an easy year for most.

The spiral staircase of New Presque Isle Light is as elegant as it is strong. The cast iron stairs once took the keeper, and now takes thousands of visitors, 138 steps to the top of one of the tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes. F6.3 at 1/15, ISO 1600, 24-70mm lens at 26mm

One of the windows was broken out of a building on South James Street in Ludington. By getting as close as I could with my 70-200 mm lens I was able to show the detail in the glass as well as make the inside of the building disappear. I love this photograph. F8.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Tonight, the New Presque Isle Lighthouse north of Alpena, Michigan was casting a beautiful shadow of itself on the Earth just east of the tower. I composed this photograph so that the sky was not in the picture because, like my dad always taught me, if it doesn't add to a photograph, it probably detracts. The sky was just a boring blue color with no clouds or detail. By cropping out the sky, I can keep the viewer's eyes on the shadow of the lighthouse. F16 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

I took time to just enjoy having the kids home tonight. Kasey made a delicious meal she calls “Kasey’s combobulation.” It was great just to concentrate on them and nothing else. It did mean I was on the search for a photo later in the evening, but to me that was worth it. We received this jar as a gift. Kasey keeps her tea in it.

You never know when a photographic opportunity is going to present itself. Just as I was taking a drink of water at the Plaza Caf

The waves were rocking out on Lake Michigan today. I wanted to get in the water to shoot this wave, but it was too rough and too cold. I have been inspired lately by the photography of Clark Little. He shoots photos of waves from in the water; however, he has a waterproof system and lives in Hawaii. F5.6 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

A strong current keeps this offshoot of the Pere Marquette River from freezing today but I know it will eventually ice over. Today I am enjoying the beauty of branches turned into ice sculptures. F16.0 at 1/8, ISO 1000, 80-200 mm lens at 155 mm

We have been on pins and needles waiting for our COVID-19 results. Hoping that we don’t have it, and more importantly, that we didn’t spread it to others before we knew Joshua had been exposed. David’s results have come back negative. Crossing our fingers, the rest of ours do too! David was so excited to hang Christmas lights up all around our dining room, kitchen and living room today.

While enjoying the sunshine today as I was taking a hike through our property near the Pere Marquette River, I stumbled upon this assortment of leaves in a creek. Some of the water had frozen overnight and was barely moving, which allowed me to make a sharp photograph. F8.0 at 1/200, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

After stopping at Ludington State Park to congratulate retiring Park Manager Dan Flaherty on his fine career, I have headed further into the park to look for a picture on a dark, rainy day. I like the view looking straight down while standing on this leaning tree trunk. F4.0 at 1/40, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

It is that time of year again when Mother Nature makes fudge ripple ice cream along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. At least that is what I always thought it looked like as a kid. Now I need to go to House of Flavors and get some of that yummy ice cream! F11.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 38 mm

The artistry of Mother Nature and the craftsmen who did such fine work on the wood trim of this stately old home complement each other today. I have returned to Scottville this morning to re-shoot this picture in better light. F22.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

They have been doing construction and rebuilding a much larger seawall down between the Loomis Street Boat Ramp and the North Inner Pier. Around 4:15 PM today the sun broke through the clouds and lit up the shoreline. I left work early and rushed to the end of Ludington Avenue. I found this rebar coated in ice and captured the magic light before it disappeared again.

While giving a private photo lesson this afternoon at Ludington State Park, tall pine trees reflecting in the Sable River got my attention. I also liked how the river bottom was adding to this composition. F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 400, 14 mm lens at 14 mm

I had noticed these icicles the night before, but the magic light had disappeared before I could get out onto the North Inner Pier. I made it my plan that unless we had a great sunrise or some other unique photo opportunity, this was going to be my photo of the day. I love the evenings when we get the super blue light. The blue temperature of the light really adds drama to this scene.

Spray from waves pouring over Ludington North Breakwater turned a bush near shore into an ice sculpture earlier in the week. Today, finally, sunshine has shown up to complete the picture I had discovered. F16.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 16 mm