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August looked more like October when I crested a dune to find this view of the Bass Lake dam, the outlet, and Lake Michigan. Like so many small outlets along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Bass Lake Outlet follows the path of least resistance to the big lake. That path shifts with changing winds and seas.

 

Underwater Lincoln River

 

Our friend, Larry VonDrasek, took my dad and me in his new drift boat down the fly-only zone of the Pere Marquette River today so we could photograph the fall color. Larry also let me try my hand at fly-fishing for the first time. I proved to be a professional log catcher.

Hamlin Ripples

Bass Lake Outlet changes its course almost daily it seems. Every time I show up to photograph it, I am shocked at how different it looks. Today, it was full of drama. Before I made this image, I previsualized it as a black-and-white.

The Equalizer

A bayou along the Seven Islands trail at Ludington State Park turns as blue as the sky on a September evening. The Seven Islands Trail is a treasure trove of beautiful settings. Magic light transforms the view into an extraordinary one.

the Grounds at Legends Deer Ranch

Triangles of snow-covered ice line a creek near the corner of Meyers and Conrad Road. I am en route to West Shore Community College to teach photography. I am cutting it close on time but I stop to make this picture. I rest easier knowing that I always tell my students the only valid excuse for being late for class is stopping to make a good picture. F7.1 at 1/200, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Two minutes before I made this image of Sutton's Bay, the shoreline was dark and in the shadows. The magic light of October instantly transformed this scene into a powerful and graphic photograph. I set my ISO to 3200 so that I could "borrow" that light and put it into both the depth of field with the aperture and into the shutter speed so I could freeze the ripples in the water. By freezing the motion in the water, the reflections of the building, boats, and trees became more distinct.

 

Hamlin Lake

This is the first photograph I have ever made of this part of Lake Leelanau. I didn't realize until today how large or how beautiful the lake is. Today is proving to be one of the best Wednesdays for photography so far in 2014. D800, F22 at 1/13, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 70mm

The Riverside Park in Scottville, Michigan, is a popular spot for many. I love that stretch of the river. On this particular day, I climbed down the bank right next to the bridge. The twists and turns of the shrubbery along with the calm river were a fun pairing

 

 

 

When I was working up this aerial photograph of Hamlin Lake on the computer, I noticed how three-dimensional this image was. The shadow on the north edge of the lake makes the trees and homes off of Nurnberg Road appear to be coming off the page. D800, F8 at 1/100, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 14mm