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My dad has lived on or near Lake Michigan his entire life. He drove Coast Guard boats on Lake Michigan for 33 years and has been capturing her beauty with his camera since 1971. My dad certainly is "One with the Great Lakes." F8 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

With an underwater camera housing, I got a unique perspective of the dam at the Bass Lake Outlet. The water coming over the dam felt as warm as a hot tub. I could have stood in the water the entire day. F9 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

When I am out photographing, especially when the light is extraordinary, I feel like my soul is coming to life. During this incredible sunrise over the Pere Marquette River Flats, every muscle in my body was twinging with excitement as the world around me was also coming to life. F8 at 20 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

This Tuesday morning sunrise just kept getting better and better. As the sun rose, it created fog over the Pere Marquette River Flats. The calm water easily reflected the trees and clouds while the sun painted the entire scene beautiful pastel colors. F8 at 1 second, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

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

The fresh, clean waters of the Pere Marquette River snake their way through thick Michigan forests every day of the year. This view is from a section of the fly-only zone of the beautiful National Wild and Scenic River. F7.1 at 1/400, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 34mm

Dave Johnson took Rachel and me flying today so that we could make images for our 366 Project. We flew over Rachel’s family farm and then followed the Pere Marquette River back towards Ludington. Partway between Scottville and Ludington, I opened the window of the plane and leaned out into the rushing air to make this image.

As Brad and I were driving back to Hart to pick up the kids, we drove past St. Mary’s Lake. I decided to swing through by the boat launch. What a welcome treat!

The narrow bridge that carries cars over the channel from Bass Lake to Lake Michigan has a sign that says "No Fishing." There are not any signs saying "No Photographing." I am glad of that as I make this sunrise picture. F4.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

The shape of the Bass Lake Outlet changes every day. It has only been one week since we last visited the outlet but it has already taken on a straighter, more direct route into Lake Michigan. F9 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Bespop’s pond always reminds me of an African sunset or sunrise. Tonight, it was especially calm, and the reflections were wonderful. The piece of wood in the foreground always reminds me of a swan.

Morning glory! Frost-coated swamp grasses turn to gold as the sun rises over the Pere Marquette River. What a way to wake up to the first day of November. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

Morning glory! Frost-coated swamp grasses turn to gold as the sun rises over the Pere Marquette River. What a way to wake up to the first day of November. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

Every year I look forward to seeing this view of Lincoln Lake. I love when you can see the limbs and trunks of the trees on the northern edge of the lake while still seeing some of the color in the remaining leaves. F10.0 at 1/80, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 34 mm

Today is shaping up to be a good day to see the unusual. This unexpected view greeted me at the south end of Torch Lake. I wonder if the boathouse doors were painted in place or painted and then erected. Either way, the paintings and their reflections look fascinating. F7.1 at 1/400, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 185mm

While getting all our deer hunting stuff ready for opening day on the 15th, my dad and I took a break shortly before sunset and walked down in front of our cabin to the banks of the Pere Marquette River. We had excellent clouds, sun rays, and golden light as I made this image.

The bridge on Jebavy Drive over the Lincoln River seems wide while driving your vehicle on it, but as a pedestrian holding a camera, those cars seem mighty close zooming by at 55 miles per hour. While questioning my risk assessment, I made the shot just in time. F8.0 at 1/100, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Our friend Bill Castonia can fix and build anything. My dad’s deer hunting tower down in the swamp along the Pere Marquette River had a bent metal leg that the ice had destroyed. It made the 22-foot tower unsafe and unusable for eight years. Bill came and looked at it and said he could fix it, no problem. A week later I made this image of my dad from that tower as he was walking by deer hunting.

I have always wanted to make a good photograph of Whalen Lake, the little lake that is east of Baldwin, Michigan. However, I have always been in too much of a rush or the conditions were not right to get out and photograph it. This morning however, my dad and I couldn't resist stopping to photograph the foggy morning sunrise. I am sure hundreds of little lakes across Michigan looked just like this today. F8 at 0.6, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Just a few miles west of Alpena, Michigan on M32 my dad and I discovered an old abandoned shale quarry. A good portion of the quarry is now full of water and trees, many of which appear to be dead. The fantastic clouds and low wind made this quarry picture-perfect today. F11 at 1/125, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm