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During our Thursday night workshop tonight I noticed the sun hitting one of these large pieces of limestone. I waited over 30 minutes for the correct angle of sunlight and for a large enough wave to cover the front and backside of the rock. I am not usually a very patient person, but tonight it paid off. F22.0 at 0.6, 100 ISO, 70-200 mm lens at 70 mm

Several customers came in the gallery earlier today telling us how unbelievably warm the water was in Lake Michigan. Tonight after work, I went to the second curve at Ludington State Park. I stood waist-deep in the warm water with my camera on a tripod and used my flash to help freeze the motion of the rushing waves. F4.5 at 1/25, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Alarm clock goes off at 5:45 A.M. and I roll out of bed. Get dressed, grab a quick bite to eat and fire up the truck. Heading to Pentwater for the Junior Women's Club Annual Art Fair. The sunrise is amazing. Stop on Old US 31 near the Pere Marquette River Flats and am finally awake enough to make this photograph. F9.0 at 1/500, ISO 250, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I enjoyed my first-time charter fishing with Hiatus Charters tonight. Todd, Debbie, Brad, and I all had the chance to head out on Lake Michigan hoping for a chance to reel in the big one. Well, I reeled in a whopper! A 28-lb salmon! This sunset followed us as we headed back to the dock. What a memorable day!

One of our favorite ways to photograph Lake Michigan is by actually getting in the water a little way. This helps put the viewer of our work into the scene. People will be more likely to feel like they are really at the beach. Shoes and clothes will dry. Get in the water to shoot next time you are out photographing. You won’t regret it!

Today my dad and I and our associate Greg Dunn put on our first-ever workshop on Adobe Photoshop. For the evening session of the workshop, we all headed to Ludington State Park to photograph the sunset. The "magic light" was gorgeous, and as usual, very fleeting. F8.0 at 1/320, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Julia wanted to go swimming tonight at the Hamlin Lake beach inside Ludington State Park so she and I loaded into my truck and headed that way. On the way, the sunlight broke out of the clouds over Lake Michigan and I pulled off the road near the second curve on M-116 and made this photograph. F9.0 at 1/800, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

One of the best gifts my dad has given me in photography is the ability to stand in one spot and survey an entire landscape, envisioning what a photograph would look like from different vantage points and with different lenses, without ever moving from one spot. It is nights like tonight that I really appreciate him teaching me to previsualize photos. F10.0 at 1/50, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 135 mm

Most grand scenic photographs need a strong foreground, middle ground and background. Sometimes it is difficult to have a strong foreground if there are no objects in your photograph that are close to the camera. One trick is to angle your lens down at a 45 degree angle and distort the foreground to make it look larger than it really is. F4.0 at 1/200, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 90 mm

While driving out M-116 along Ludington State Park, I had my eye on the gorgeous sunset over Lake Michigan. When I pulled off the road to shoot the sunset, I noticed the large moon. I got back in my truck and found a tree to put in my photo. I love surprise photographic opportunities like this. F22.0 at 0.3, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 95 mm

After a busy few weeks, it was nice to spend a few minutes down by the lakeshore, soaking up the sunshine and fresh breeze. The second curve at the Ludington State Park was especially quiet today

Another shelf cloud was quickly heading to shore this morning as I was heading to work. I drove to Stearns Beach and ran down to the water’s edge to make this image before the storm came on shore.

A Pure Ludington moment of two tourists enjoying a wonderful sunset off Stearns Beach. I love meeting new people, especially when they love Ludington as much as I do!

Using my 60-600mm lens tonight at 600mm, I was able to isolate the colorful, pretty parts of the sky in the camera. Most of the sky was boring and flat looking, but right around the sun it was an intense orange color. We teach our workshop students that you need to learn to see like your camera sees.

I have always wanted to salmon fish along the Sable River in Ludington State Park, but have never taken the time. However, I do get great joy from photographing the skilled fishermen who frequent the three rivers near Ludington. F8.0 at 1/1000, ISO 200, 70-200 mm lens at 86 mm

It is hard to beat the intensity of the sunlight right at sunset in late November. While making this photograph it reminded me that I am blessed to live in such a beautiful and diverse area of the natural world. F3.5 at 1/20, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 38 mm

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

My uncle, Rod Marble, has a beautiful log home along the Lincoln River northeast of Ludington. This view is on his property and is one of my favorite spots near his home, especially in the winter months. F22.0 at 0.6, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Workshop at Ludington State Park