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Before work this morning, I took a nice drive around the Ludington State Park. It was great to have a few minutes of peaceful quietness before starting the workday. This interdunal pond matched my peace.

Before the sun rose this morning, I was in position to shoot the sunrise along Old US-31 over the Pere Marquette River Flats. I was excited to see we had great clouds forming as the sun finally rose enough to turn the swamp grass in front of me gold. After I made this image, I headed to the grocery store. When I came out of the store, I was blown away by how awesome the clouds had gotten.

Adverse weather doesn't deter Norm Dwyer from fishing for steelhead on the Pere Marquette River. Norm is used to dealing with adversity; he fought fires for nearly 30 years as a Pere Marquette Township fireman. F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

Well, Brad and I did it again. I was making my way into work and knew the clouds were too good to pass up. I turned on old Pere Marquette highway and parked at the river flats. It wasn’t until the next day that I realized Brad had shot there 40 minutes before I did.

Lake Michigan and the Sable River outlet at Ludington State Park were eerily calm this afternoon. With the water being so still, it was reflecting the blue and turquoise colors from the storm clouds above. F6.3 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 22 mm

Rachel and I headed to Crystal Mountain to go downhill skiing today. As we got close to the resort, the snow started falling hard. It was the wet, sticky snow that very quickly can transform a normal scene into a winter wonderland. We pulled over and I shot this photo of the Betsie River.

This swampy spot was near Hart, Michigan. I drove up and down this road, choosing the best spot to pull over and shoot. The framing around this opening is what helped me decide this was the place to shoot.

As gray as yesterday was for me, the magic light was back today. Ice is starting to form around the waterways. I loved the juxtaposition of fall-like color in the background, to icy river in the foreground.

I don’t venture to the west side of the bridge over the Pere Marquette River in Scottville, Michigan very often. I tend to pull into Riverside Park instead. I drove as far as I could off to the west and then walked as far as I could go. I sat there for several minutes. Soaking up this view.

I took a detour on my way home tonight. I stayed off US-10 and drove mostly backroads. Color started to fill the sky. The only thing I needed was a subject. This tree was placed perfectly in the roll of the hill.

Most of Michigan was hit with a nasty winter storm overnight. Unlike most people, my dad and I love when winter strikes hard. Ethan and I made our way down M-116 and I made this photograph of Epworth Heights from the bridge over the Lincoln River. F22.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Calm and beautiful is the best way to describe the Pere Marquette River Flats. My favorite time of the day on the river is sunrise. This morning, the sunrise is gold and blue. This is heaven on earth to me. F9 at 1/250, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

I liked the delicate look of the patterns made by these grasses, lily pads, and reflections on a pond at Kensington Metro Park. I composed the image to feature only those elements that I found exciting.

The Sauble River Outlet at the Ludington State Park was half frozen this morning. We are always looking for s-curves in nature to include in our photographs. The outlet can change shape drastically by the day. Today the ice helped define the s-curve I was looking for.

We are so blessed to have the Ludington State Park in our backyard. People often ask us where our favorite to place to shoot photographs is. Without hesitation, I always say the Ludington State Park. These 5,300 acres are diverse, natural, and beautiful.

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

A few weeks ago during Week 37 of the Tuesdays Project, my dad and I discovered a public boat ramp on Upper Hamlin Lake off Nurnberg Road. We discussed that it would be an excellent place to photograph a sunrise. There are not a lot of great vantage points in our area to shoot stunning sunrise photos so we were really excited. This morning I knew right where to head first. F22 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 32mm

Javen Dillenbeck is dreaming of catching a big salmon on his first fall salmon fishing trip to the Pere Marquette River with his dad and other family members. My camera catches him wading in the P.M. at Gleason's Landing. The Dillenbecks love traveling north from Jonesville in Hillsdale County to enjoy the Michigan outdoors surrounding their Baldwin area cabin. F2.8 at 1/640, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

For years I have been seeing photos on Facebook of fall color at the Lake of the Clouds inside the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Earlier this year my dad and I decided that we would head to the Lake of the Clouds during peak color for our Tuesdays Project. I am so glad we did. It is one of the most beautiful views in all of America. I shot this photo in total darkness an hour before sunrise. I love that digital cameras see in the dark. F4.5 at 179 seconds, ISO 200, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

If this is not God’s world I don’t know what is. I waited in the dark along with my son Brad for more than an hour for the sun to peek over the mountains at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I felt like a very small person as the sun began to light the big, beautiful world around me at Lake of the Clouds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.