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A Coast Guard self-righting motor lifeboat reached sheltered water inside the Grand Haven pierheads after “heavy weather” training operations on Lake Michigan in the large waves generated by Superstorm Sandy. The 47-foot vessel is designed to operate in seas up to 30 feet and winds up to 50 knots.

Ludington's Queen of the Great Lakes

I am feeling envious as I watch a Coast Guard self-righting motor lifeboat head out of Grand Haven harbor for training in the big waves generated by Superstorm Sandy. I was privileged to drive Coast Guard motor lifeboats in big seas on Lake Michigan for 30 years before retiring from the Coast Guard Reserve in 2005. I miss the roller coaster rides on these 47-footers and the 44-footers that preceded them. F5.6 at 1/1600, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 175mm

My dad and I headed out to the north side of the channel in Grand Haven today to photograph the abundance of fisherman catching perch, steelhead, and salmon. The pier was packed and several people were showing off their catches. The fog was "pea soup," as my dad would say, so I was not expecting to see many boats heading out for a joy ride. To my surprise, Karizmaddie, a racing sailboat, was venturing out into the fog.

Sunset at Grand Haven Lighthouse

I have not experienced a winter with this much snow and ice since I was a little kid. I am in heaven this evening at the beach in Grand Haven. My dad and I love to photograph Michigan all year long, but we are especially fond of cold winter days when the sun is shining. D7000, F22 at 1/15, ISO 100, 10-20mm lens at

Each year many people get engaged in front of Michigan lighthouses. Our good friend, Eric Uitvlugt, recently proposed to his girlfriend at the Grand Haven lighthouse so I named this photo in their honor.

It was a great sailing day in Ludington today. With a stiff and steady wind, I watched several sailboats cruising the lakeshore. I was geeked when one of the bigger sailboats decided to pass the pier heads under full sail.

Storm in Grand Haven

A few years ago, they took the catwalk down off the pier in Grand Haven. Tonight was my first time photographing the lighthouses without the catwalk being in place. I have heard that a private group is trying to raise enough money to pay to have the catwalk refurbished and then put back into place. I hope that happens soon!

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12-24-22

12-24-22 All Is Calm

Yesterday my dad and I stood on the north shore of Grand Haven for almost six hours and photographed during the storm. The waves were running 15 feet with an occasional 18-footer. This was the largest wave we saw all day hit the lighthouse and it was well over 20 feet tall. The spray went over 100 feet in the air. I named the photo "Fuel Injected" because after shooting, on the drive back home to Ludington last night, my dad said that having all that wind in his face for so long made him feel alive and fuel injected.

Double Your Luck

Make the Journey

Ludington Lunar Sunrise