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It wasn’t until the day after shooting this photograph of the Badger and Ludington North Breakwater Light from the Loomis Street Boat Ramp, did I learn that Rachel had been shooting the same scene from the other side of the channel. She was on the south side at Crosswinds. As usual, I like her image more than mine.

Less than five minutes after photographing the moon setting in the western sky, I turn my attention to the eastern sky to watch the sunrise paint the clouds with light and color over the carferries SS Badger, at left, and SS Spartan. I am blessed to live within 500 yards of where my tripod is standing. Life is good on the Buttersville peninsula with Lake Michigan to the west and Ludington harbor to the east. F16 at 1/5, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 21mm

There she goes again! Like thousands of other families, ours loves watching the carferry Badger steaming in an out of Ludington harbor. Tonight my wife Debbie and I and daughter-in-law Stephanie have our boat in position to provide grandkids with a good view of the big ship cruising past the Ludington North Pierhead Light. F4.5 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 22 mm

As Ethan and I sat at the table eating breakfast, I noticed the fog and incredible sunrise to the east. Betsy came and relieved me for a short time so I could go make a photograph of the light show. I headed to the western shores of Manistee Lake so I could photograph the City of Milwaukee, which is now a museum in Manistee, Michigan. F22.0 at 1/4, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 116 mm

I have witnessed the side of the 410-foot carferry Badger turning gold or pink at sunset several times, but tonight, the Badger was "painted" a fantastic neon pink color by the sunset. It was so bright that you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it with your own eyes! F7.1 at 1/250, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

For the second night in a row, I shot my photo of the day from my dad and Debbie’s deck at Harbor Terrace Condos. Yesterday was super foggy and tonight was incredibly clear and sunny. It is amazing how quickly Michigan weather can change.

Some out of town visitors to Ludington were celebrating their anniversary and enjoying watching the Badger go out at sunset while sitting on Stearns Beach. It was another gorgeous night in Ludington. F13.0 at 1/100, ISO 1000, 18-50 mm lens at 24 mm

The Lake Michigan Carferry, SS Badger passes by the Ludington North Breakwater Light upon reaching its homeport. The historic carferry can transport more than 500 passengers and dozens of vehicles on each of its crossings between Michigan and Wisconsin. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 750mm

The Lake Michigan Carferry, SS Badger passes by the Ludington North Breakwater Light upon reaching its homeport. The historic carferry can transport more than 500 passengers and dozens of vehicles on each of its crossings between Michigan and Wisconsin. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 750mm

The carferry Badger looks like a toy boat as it heads to Wisconsin tonight. I made this photo from First Curve at Ludington State Park with a large telephoto lens. F5.0 at 1/160, ISO 800, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

I never get bored or tired of photographing the SS Badger coming in or out of the Ludington harbor. Lake Michigan was as calm as I have ever witnessed today and that makes for smooth sailing on the carferry as it crosses to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. F8 at 1/400, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

I never get bored or tired of photographing the SS Badger coming in or out of the Ludington harbor. Lake Michigan was as calm as I have ever witnessed today and that makes for smooth sailing on the carferry as it crosses to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. F8 at 1/400, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Why does this image look so bizarre? I made this photograph using a waterproof housing for my camera. Right before I snapped the shutter, I dipped the entire camera and lens under the water. I quickly raised the camera about two-thirds of the way out of the water and made this image. The water on the lens made the actual carferry look dreamy, yet the reflection of the boat looks crisp and sharp on top of water. F6.3 at 1/640, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 12mm

I have only seen the SS Badger carferry perfectly reflected on the calm water one other time in my life and that was almost 20 years ago. Twenty years ago I was only 14 years old and, of course didn't have a camera with me. This time I was armed and ready. F6.3 at 1/640, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 12mm

The Badger steams through stormy waves toward the Ludington pierheads. Watching the sturdy ship and its crew battle the elements makes for exciting live drama. I imagine many of the carferry passengers are not enjoying the ride as much as I am enjoying watching. F4.0 at 1/1250, ISO 800, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

My wife spotted the color in the sky as we were just starting to have our morning coffee together. She knows if she tells me about the light our coffee hour is over; she tells me anyway. Two minutes later I am shooting one of the best sunrises of the year as salmon fishing boats troll past the Badger and Spartan on Pere Marquette Lake. F4.0 at 0.25, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

Steaming past the SS Badger early in the morning is a common occurrence for sport fishermen in Ludington. The Badger makes her return trip to Ludington every summer morning around 6:00 a.m. F5 at 1/200, ISO 6400, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

I am watching the last Badger show of the year. I am one of many Ludington residents watching as the Lake Michigan Carferry sails into the Ludington harbor at the end of its final voyage of the 2010 sailing season. F2.8 at 1/2000, ISO 400, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

The carferry SS Badger is the last coal fired steamship in America. As she left Ludington this morning, I photographed her from the window of a small airplane piloted by Dave Johnson of Mason County Aviation. F9 at 1/1600, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

The SS Badger is a beautiful steamship from any angle. Today was the first time that I got to photograph her underway from an airplane. I was impressed by how elegantly the 410-foot carferry cut through the waters of Lake Michigan. F7.1 at 1/640, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 50mm