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Soon these leaves that are covering the bark of a giant old tree at Stearns Park in Ludington will be flaming red, yellow, and orange as another fall season in Michigan sets in. Today, however, I am drawn to the beautiful mix of yellow and green leaves. F2.8 at 1/160, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

When Julia, Ethan and I walked outside this morning to head off to daycare and work, Julia pointed up at the pink clouds and told me that I should go shoot the sunrise. I quickly loaded the munchkins in my truck and we headed for the Pere Marquette River flats on Conrad Road. F8.0 at 1/10, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 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

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park is located on Lake Michigan at the south end of Muskegon, Michigan. Like many of the state parks in Michigan, Hoffmaster is extremely varied in its terrain and vegetation. One of my favorite spots at Hoffmaster is the tall wooded dune area just above the Little Black Creek Outlet near Lake Michigan. F8 at 0.8, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

For several years this pine tree near the corner of Tinkham Avenue and James Street in Ludington has been lit up for the Holiday Season. This year it has blue lights with a giant white star and it is stunning. A long exposure on a tripod turned the entire scene blue. F8.0 at 20.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 23 mm

Although Nordhouse Lake has dried up and is covered with grasses and flowers this summer, I still find the view from this high spot along the south shore of the wilderness lake to be splendid. Best of all, Brad and I find this shady natural overlook to be the perfect spot to rest while savoring the view. We pause for a while to watch and listen to sandhill cranes on the far side of the lake bed. F18 at 1/60, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

The Manistee National Forest has been transformed overnight into a winter wonderland. After driving to the Walhalla area, I discover these snow-coated red pines on a two-track road east of Weldon Creek. F22.0 at 0.4, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

The moss-lined Ridge Trail in the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness beckons me forward to see what is around the next bend and over the next hill. This is one of the most pristine trails in the only federal wilderness area in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. F16 at 1 second, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

While many of the trees further upstream along the Pere Marquette River had already begun turning color, this green giant and another nearby still wore their summer colors. I liked the way they stood out on this late September Michigan morning.

I don't know if this tree fell victim to the record high water levels more than 15 years ago or was perhaps toppled by high winds like many others nearby in the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness. What I do know is that the tree is returning to the earth in beautiful fashion as it decays. F18 at 1/60, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Today feels like a Colorado day to me: cold and crisp, tons of sunshine, a brilliant blue sky, and white puffy clouds. Days like these make me want to sharpen my downhill skis and hit the slopes. F8.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

The high winds coming off Lake Michigan this afternoon mixed with the bright sunshine made the green dune grass dance. It looked like giant green waves of water flowing back and forth. My job was to wait until the clouds in the background mimicked the trees. After an enjoyable five minute wait, the clouds were just where I wanted them to be. F11 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

After a drizzly start to my hiking day at Kensington Metro Park, diffused sunlight creates a soft glow on leaves along one of the park's many miles of trails. I use a large telephoto lens and fast shutter speed to make only a cluster of maple leaves stand out sharply in the forest. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 3200, 300mm lens at 300mm

I took a Christmas Day drive to the southern region of Ludington State Park today to find my photo of the day. I feel this is a photo I would not have been able to make a year earlier because I didn't really see the world in photographs as well as I do now. The 365 Project has made me a much better photographer. F10.0 at 1/100, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Brad called early this morning to report heavy frost a few miles inland from Lake Michigan. Sure enough, pine trees four miles east of Ludington are coated with frost. This is just what I was looking for. F8.0 at 1/100, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 185 mm

The Iris family barn was part of the Barns and Byways tour this past October. I have always loved photographing this unique piece of Mason County history. Today with heavy frost covering every tree in sight, the multi-colored barn stood out even more than usual. F5.6 at 1/80, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I almost missed spotting this picture. After backing up my Suburban on a country road between Evart and Clare, Michigan, for a second look, I stared in awe at a tapestry of various colored leaves clinging to the curving branches of a grand old maple tree in a farm field. I selected a large telephoto lens to focus only on an especially attractive portion of the tree.

The experience of zooming through my favorite country road tunnel of golden maple leaves is hard to capture with a still-shot camera. I have made many beautiful images showing the beauty of this stretch of Conrad Road in Amber Township between Ludington and Scottville. But I think this October 2020 image which I made by zooming my telephoto lens during the exposure best captures the moving picture sensation of driving through the tunnel.

For years I have been seeing photos on Facebook of fall color at the Lake of the Clouds inside the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Earlier this year my dad and I decided that we would head to the Lake of the Clouds during peak color for our Tuesdays Project. I am so glad we did. It is one of the most beautiful views in all of America. I shot this photo in total darkness an hour before sunrise. I love that digital cameras see in the dark. F4.5 at 179 seconds, ISO 200, 18-50mm lens at 18mm