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Supeer Blue Moon

Grandiose

The stanchions supporting the catwalk to the Grand Haven lighthouses look to me like a line of Star Wars mechanical soldiers. After making this composition and locking the camera in place on the tripod, I wait to push the shutter button at peak moments when seagulls are prominent and well placed in the scene. F14 at 1/400, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 145mm

Pier catwalks are a photographer's friend. They add interest to lighthouse photographs and sometimes can be an interesting main subject. Standing close to one of the catwalk stanchions, I compose a picture that has immediacy, dynamic angles, and leading lines. It is also a fresh view of the Grand Haven pier and lighthouses. F5 at 0.3, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

One of my photography obsessions involves photographing life rings, wherever they appeal to my eye. Lake Michigan is relatively calm this evening but this life ring and others hanging on the Grand Haven pier catwalk are ready and waiting for any time they are needed. Lake Michigan waves are a force to respect and, at times, fear. F22 at 1/60, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 19mm

As a young boy I used to come down to Grand Haven with my dad every summer for the Coast Guard Festival. As I have gotten older and busier with life and my dad has retired from the Coast Guard, we haven't been down to Grand Haven much in the last few years. Tonight was a quiet night along the shores of Lake Michigan, but I am looking forward to a busy summer night in Grand Haven when hundreds of people are walking the pier. F6.3 at 1/500, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

By using my external flash unit, I was able to partially freeze the motion of the small breaking wave right in front of my camera while using a slow enough shutter speed to show motion in the water in the distance. The flash also allowed me to shoot at F22, which in turn, allowed my photograph to be sharp from front to back. F22 at 1/4, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

I wish Ludington had a cool lit catwalk on top of its breakwall like Grand Haven does. The lights on the catwalk definitely add a romantic feeling to the photographs. I bet that Grand Haven has a lot fewer boats hit their breakwall every year because it is so well lit. F22 at 4 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 30mm

Clouds provide drama and design elements as the setting sun appears to light one of the two lighthouses on the Grand Haven pier. I have to keep changing my camera position between shots to keep the sun lined up with the lamp house of the lighthouse. This can sometimes be an effective technique for sunset pictures of lighthouses. Tonight seems to be one of those nights. F10 at 1/320, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

Tonight my dad, Rachel Gaudette, and I made photographs of the Grand Haven lighthouses and we all had the same initial reaction when we looked at the backs of our cameras. To our eyes, the sky and water did not look that orange, but all three of our cameras were seeing the real color in the sky that our eyes couldn't pick up because our eyes were normalizing the color. Galen Rowell always preached that you have to learn to see like your camera sees. Tonight was the proof of that! F8 at 1/500, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Long after sunset, and more than 45 minutes after making my first "sunset shots" at Grand Haven pier, I am still able to make good images. In fact, this "after dark" view is my favorite. I have learned to bring a tripod and continue waiting and shooting long after my mind thinks and emotions feel it is no longer bright enough to make a strong image. Wait, wait, wait! F2.8 at 0.6, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

I never get tired of listening to the music Lake Michigan makes every day. Tonight, her song is quiet, rhythmic, and soothing. I must admit, I can't wait to photograph her next rock and roll concert. F22 at 15 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

I have photographed my way westward across Michigan today. Clouds have been an important ingredient in several of my shots. Now my hunch that the supersized marshmallow clouds in the western sky are going to help create one of the most spectacular sunset light shows of the year is paying off. I have reached the Grand Haven shoreline just in time to see the sky on fire. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

Waves roll into the Grand Haven Channel despite the protection from the north wind provided by the north pier. Meanwhile two Coast Guard self-righting motor lifeboats train in larger waves further offshore. F5 at 1/2000, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

A surfer leans past the point of no return in timing his plunge into the big Lake Michigan waves at the Grand Haven South Pier during Superstorm Sandy. The expert surfer paddled clear of the pier and then caught a big wave to ride back to shore. F4.5 at 1/2000, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

My dad and I left early this morning and headed south, following reports that the largest waves would be found closer to Michigan City and Chicago. Our first stop was Grand Haven. The waves were disappointingly small, but the quality of light was nice. After a 10-minute wait, I finally captured a wave splashing up on the lighthouse. F8 at 1/640, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm