Hamlin Lake

This morning I went flying with Ryan Johnson from Mason County Aviation. We left Ludington and immediately flew north towards the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. To get the photographs that I had previsualized, Ryan estimated that we needed an altitude of at least 11,500 feet. From that height, I opened the window of the small plane and stuck my head and camera out into the cold, thin air. It was an awesome adrenaline rush. I made this photograph of Big Sable Point and Hamlin Lake upon our return to Ludington. F8 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Visitors flock to the Hamlin Dam in summer and in fall when the salmon are running, but few get the chance to see it in winter. Neither Brad nor I could sleep the night before I made this picture and Brad and I made several other images in this book. We knew before going to bed that the overnight snowfall was going to be a photographer's dream. We were kept awake dreaming of the pictures that awaited us. At first light, dreams came true.

The sun has set, the boat traffic has died down. It is a quieter time on Hamlin Lake, a time to savor the beauty of one of the most popular lakes connected to Lake Michigan.

Dunes Are Calling

On the walk back from Big Sable Point Lighthouse around 12:40am on Sunday, May 12th, my dad, Ethan, and I turned around and finally saw the northern lights show we had been waiting for all evening. The pillars shot straight up from the ground to above our heads. It was unbelievably bright and visible to the naked eye. Of course, the camera sees the colors even better than we do. This shot was just before the pillars shrank and disappeared. This is my dad’s photograph.

I have tried for over six years to make a photograph that I was pleased with at this spot on North Lakeshore Drive along the shores of Hamlin Lake. Finally, today my wait is over. The real secret to the success of this photo is the immediacy of the snow and bushes in the foreground and the clouds in the distance. F8.0 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Hamlin Magic

As young boys, my brother and I fished every bayou on Hamlin Lake in a boat similar to the one these fishermen were casting from on the lake's Middle Bayou on a summer evening.

Hamlin Lake looks like a mirror this ice-cold morning at Ludington State Park. I am delighted to have risen early to view this scene in dawn's early light.

Calm water, geese, fog, and a colorful sunrise are common ingredients in outdoor photography. When you combine all four of them in one photograph, you have a recipe for success.

Calm water, geese, fog, and a colorful sunrise are common ingredients in outdoor photography. When you combine all four of them in one photograph, you have a recipe for success.

South Bayou of Hamlin Lake

South Bayou Magic

My dad and my Uncle Budde have always loved to race each other on foot or by car, truck, or boat. To say they are competitive is an understatement. Today they raced their tritoons on Hamlin Lake. The best part was seeing the devilish grins on both their faces.

I wonder how many times since I was a young boy that I have climbed to the top of the dunes on Hamlin Lake to take in this incredible natural view. My son Brad looks like an ant in the distance as he makes his way to a spot from which he plans to make a more intimate image of the landscape. I can't get back here soon enough!

Hamlin Lake is one of Michigan’s largest man-made lakes and is certainly one of the most popular. The lake is named after Hannibal Hamlin, who was Vice President of United States under Abraham Lincoln. He lived before the advent of human flight, so sadly, he never got to see this view of his namesake.

Hamlin Lake is one of Michigan's largest man-made lakes and is certainly one of the most popular. The lake is named after Hannibal Hamlin, who was Vice President of United States under Abraham Lincoln. He lived before the advent of human flight, so sadly, he never got to see this view of his namesake.

Hamlin Ablaze

Moon Walker