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A giant white cedar tree twists its way toward the sky like a giant corkscrew. This natural treasure is part of a several-hundred-year-old virgin white cedar forest on the southeast side of South Manitou Island. Visitors to the island can take a long hike to view these marvels or can sign up for a wagon tour of island attractions which includes a short hike into the cedar forest.

Kinney Gold

Fall color stretched as far as the eye could see, and the morning mist allowed, as I stood in awe at the edge of the Manistee River High Rollway, also known as the Buckley Rollway. This is, without a doubt, the best grand scenic vantage point for fall color I have discovered in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. How is it that I had never been to this magic spot before?

I wonder what the view from the Manistee River High Rollaway looked like in the 19th century when lumberjacks were rolling logs down it. I know for sure the view looks splendid roughly a century and a half later. This lookout near Buckley south of Traverse City belongs on every Michigander's fall color tour bucket list.

Our home is surrounded by trees. I love all of them. Tonight, I made this image of a small section during the blue hour. The stars were just starting to show, so I worked to compose them around the treetops.

I am back in the same orchard along Pere Marquette Highway near Kistler Road to take a picture at 11:00 A.M. as part of a worldwide photo shoot sponsored by the New York Times. This time I will include the blossoms I chose to leave out two days ago when the opportunity to photograph children playing in the dandelions presented itself. F7.1 at 1/250, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

I wonder what the view from the Manistee River High Rollaway looked like in the 19th century when lumberjacks were rolling logs down it. I know for sure the view looks splendid roughly a century and a half later. This lookout near Buckley south of Traverse City belongs on every Michigander's fall color tour bucket list. D800, F22 at 0.3, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 34mm

Mears Monster

Never Gets Old

A Jeep passing by my camera position looks color coordinated with the fall color image I am working hard to make along M22. This might look like a stroke of luck, but after finding a vantage point that would show the highway, colorful trees, Lake Michigan, Frankfort Lighthouse, and Point Betsie, I have waited for nearly an hour for just the right vehicle to include in the scene. I have photographed others but when I see this one I know it is the perfect added ingredient.

Life is full of timing. As an outdoor photographer, it has long been made painfully clear to me that Mother Nature’s timing most often does not coincide with my previsualizations. I have long imagined this grand maple tree along North Lakeshore Drive in Ludington with snow on golden leaves. A couple decades passed before the tree looked picture-perfect on November 6, 2019, telling a beautiful story of the transition from fall to winter in Michigan.

Betsy and I went snorkeling today for the first time at Kapalua Beach on the upper west edge of Maui. Kapalua Beach is often rated as one of the best beaches in the world. This is also the place where I lost my wedding ring while snorkeling, so a piece of me will always be in the coral reef off this beach! F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Porcupines Patterns

Screaming Yellow

I want to reach out, grab these cherries and put them in my mouth to eat them. But I don't. That would ruin a perfectly good picture, I think. How long can I wait to have cherry pie after seeing these scrumptious tart cherries at Hackert Orchards in Riverton Township in Mason County?

Tonight I took Betsy to dinner at I'O Restaurant in Lahaina. The restaurant is right on the ocean and the food is locally grown or caught. I took this photo from our dinner table. Now I know why this is one of the highest-rated restaurants in all of Hawaii! F3.2 at 1/2500, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Target Rich Environment

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Walkway to Fall

I start out shooting the young spring leaves on this birch tree along Lincoln Lake but then I notice the patterns on the bark of the tree. I am drawn to the bold, dynamic shapes. F20.0 at 1/6, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm