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Our assistant manager, Rachel Gaudette, lives very close to Ford Lake in the eastern part of Mason County. For several years, she has been telling my dad and me to shoot a sunrise over her lake. Today, I finally took her advice and was blown away by the gorgeous sunrise that erupted.

I have been known to do crazy things to get a photograph. On this occasion, I was frustrated because I could not position myself to capture this sailboat and its reflection, yet omit the other boats from the scene. I had two options; climb a tree along side of the road, or stand on the roof of my car. My car still has a large dent in the roof.

Calm water, geese, fog, and a colorful sunrise are common ingredients in outdoor photography. When you combine all four of them in one photograph, you have a recipe for success.

Morning Light on Lost Lake

Calm water, geese, fog, and a colorful sunrise are common ingredients in outdoor photography. When you combine all four of them in one photograph, you have a recipe for success.

 While shooting the sunset out at the Ludington State Park, I was disappointed at the lack of color in the sky. The water however, was radiant and beautiful. I knew that I had to act quickly before the color and light disappeared. I thought about what I needed to do, changed lenses, and got off three shots before it had faded away and the water went back to normal. While I typically shoot the “grand scenic” type images, it paid off to step outside my comfort zone and challenge myself. I came out with an image that I absolutely love!

 

South Bayou of Hamlin Lake

Hamlin Lake Off Pontoon Boat

I have always enjoyed the challenge of building strong, unique compositions utilizing reflections. In order to get the building, red roof, and tower of Au Sable Point Lighthouse to show up in the reflection, I had to lie on my stomach in Lake Superior. Thankfully, it has been a record breaking warm winter, but the water temperature still had my full attention. F8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

My hat's off to all of the Great Lakes sailors who have to work on Christmas Day and many other holidays. The shipping business on the Great Lakes rarely stops and they all help keep America's economy going day in and day out. Michigan is a better state because of these floating beauties and they make me proud to be a Michigander. F4 at 1/400, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 600mm

Lake McDonald Lodge

Lake McDonald Magic

Distortion is not a bad thing in photography; you just need to be aware it is happening and compose strong images working with the distortion. My underwater camera housing is set up to use my old Nikon D7000 camera body along with a fisheye 10-17mm lens. I made this image at 11mm knowing it would be greatly distorted, but I really liked the end result. D7000, F8 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 10-17mm lens at 11mm

The nearly century old Alpena Light stands out on the Lake Huron shoreline. The distinctive light structure is also known as Thunder Bay River Lighthouse and the Alpena Breakwater Light. I got a close-up view as we passed by on the Lady Michigan shipwreck tour boat en route to Lake Huron from the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. F10 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

Lake of the Clouds

The view of Lake Michigan from the Pere Marquette Township campground is among the most panoramic from point to point. Rough water and storm clouds can add drama, but exceptional quality of natural light I like to call "magic light" or storm light is essential to making the view the most spectacular.

Workshop at Ludington State Park

Sunset on Hamlin Lake

Ludington's Queen of the Great Lakes