Fall

I have been trying to make an image of this tunnel of trees near the Conrad family farm at the east end of Conrad Road for several years. This evening, on my way home from a United Way fundraising event, I round the corner from Gordon Road and there it is, the picture I had envisioned for so long. F11.0 at 1/50, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

We were going to head to Mackinac Island, but the cold weather made us change our minds. Instead, we headed towards home with a stop at the Buckley Manistee High Rollway. The last time I was here, it was blowing snow. Today it is much different. The weather is warm, and the kids loved the view!

It was rough and windy today on Lake Michigan and I was glad I was on shore and not a crewmember aboard the Manitowoc. The dramatic light was nice to document one of my favorite lower lakers on all of the Great Lakes.

My brother-in-law, Ben Verduin, and his wife Emily were married last summer at St. Cecilia Music Center in downtown Grand Rapids. Tonight as we all walked past the iconic building together on our way to dinner we noticed this tree that looked like it had been dipped in florescent paint. F6.3 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 32 mm

Kevin and Nancy Hansen's farm on Victory Drive was one of several farms on this year's Mason County Barn Tour. I am attracted to one of many farm implements on display that were used for several decades by Kevin's grandfather. F10.0 at 1/160, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 22 m

Part way through the day, Brad suggested I take a drive to look for a photo. I didn’t have a destination in mind, other than south of town. I ended up passing a cemetery, with a brilliant tree near the road. As much as I love the turning of leaves, the greens, and yellows, like this, are my favorite. .

For years Julia and Ethan went to Elaine Buskirk’s daycare in Ludington. They are old enough now that they don’t need to go to daycare, and we always miss seeing Elaine. While driving in our old neighborhood near Lakeview School today, I spotted one of Elaine’s cool Halloween pumpkins in her front yard. Elaine’s sister makes these entertaining Halloween decorations.

My wife's aunt, Robin Mulder, took Betsy and me to Ludema's Floral and Garden store in Grand Rapids to pick out flowers for my mother-in-law Sharon Verduin who had surgery today. The moisture in the greenhouse made my lens fog up, but I feel that added to this photograph of chrysanthemums. F16.0 at 1/200, ISO 250, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I love the sense of adventure and scale of this image as I compose it in my viewfinder. Brad and I call this kind of shot "the little person in the big world." Lake Michigan is definitely a big world. F7.1 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 155 mm

I could see sweeping clouds to the west when I walked out for lunch. I knew I needed to get to the lakeshore. The clouds were massive overhead.

I was up early today and in position for the sunrise over Lincoln Lake. The sunrise was even better than I had predicted. It felt great to get my image of the day done in the morning.

One of our workshop students found this fungus growing at the bottom of a tree near the Beechwood Campground inside Ludington State Park. Lucky for me, she shared her special find with the rest of the group. F20.0 at 15.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

A Sunday ride on an autumn afternoon is one of the best things about Michigan. I stop to take a picture of my favorite tunnel of trees at the Polcin farm on Conrad Road. Cheryl Swinehart and Boyd Stark crest a hill on a bicycle ride as I am shooting. F10.0 at 1/40, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 135 mm

“The Triple Trees” have fully changed colors. The reds are so vivid this morning!

Sean and I met two of his friends near Canadian Lakes this morning and we played 18 holes at the Royal Golf Course. The golf cart path between two of the holes takes you over a large bridge that overlooks a beautiful river and hardwoods. We stopped the cart on the bridge so I could make this image.

My dad is the master of making great art from old abandoned houses. I have photographed a few, but never had the same kind of success. When Betsy spotted this scene on south Stiles Road near Marrison Avenue, I instantly knew that the game was on between my dad and me. F8.0 at 1/125, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 30 mm

I love the rolling hills between Hart and New Era along the US 31 Freeway. Today as my nephew Ryan and I head to Grand Rapids for ArtPrize, I have to stop to photograph this farm surrounded by fall color. F8.0 at 1/320, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

For the first time, my kids will not be with me the night of my birthday. We were all sad as we celebrated it tonight, a day early. I had a difficult time being motivated to find beauty. Kasey helped me see the beauty in this patterned watering can.

As I was photographing the fall color on the tunnel of trees on Conrad Road this morning, a Jeep with two kayaks on the top of it drove by. The Jeep even had its signature round headlights on. Luckily, I was ready with my camera.

Milkweeds tend to bring back childhood memories for me. I remember breaking them apart and chasing the girls around the yard at daycare. As I was photographing these milkweeds along Brye Road this morning, I was quietly smiling to myself. F8.0 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm