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This is the fourth photo of the evening that I have gotten at the creek at Summit Park. For over an hour, I lay in the creek exploring the rocks, stumps, and creek bottom for different patterns and compositions. The entire creek is less than 30 yards long before it makes its way into Lake Michigan. By lying in the creek and putting my camera a few inches above the water, I was able to eliminate size perspective and sense of scale in this photograph. F22 at 1/10, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

By now you have probably read or heard my dad and me say several times that we believe good photography is all about feeling. We work hard at building our compositions so that the viewers of our work feel like they are really experiencing the scene and not just looking at a two-dimensional photograph. By getting close to our subject, we build in a sense of immediacy and that helps viewers become more emotionally involved with our photographs. F22 at 1/4, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

It is so strange not rushing to get ready for the West Shore Art Fair this year. Normally this time of year we are super busy at work getting ready for the summer rush and for the art fair season. This year has helped us all slow down a bit and enjoy simple sunsets like this one.

I don’t believe I have ever made an image at Lincoln Lake. I left Ludington later than I had planned, and sunset was fading fast. I parked past the bridge on M-116 and walked quickly in between cars to capture this sunset over Lincoln Lake.

My wife Debbie and I are returning to Buttersville Park from a trek to photograph the clay banks in the evening light when this scene presents itself. I already have the picture I set out to take but can't pass up this shot of a group of Kalamazoo College students savoring a bonfire and the sunset afterglow. Another hike to the clay banks lies ahead. F4.5 at 1.0, ISO 250, 12-24 mm lens at 22 mm

My wife Debbie and I are returning to Buttersville Park from a trek to photograph the clay banks in the evening light when this scene presents itself. I already have the picture I set out to take but can't pass up this shot of a group of Kalamazoo College students savoring a bonfire and the sunset afterglow. Another hike to the clay banks lies ahead. F4.5 at 1.0, ISO 250, 12-24 mm lens at 22 mm

Looking through the viewfinder of my camera tonight with my 300 mm telephoto lens, I can't believe my eyes. It appears as if the sun is melting into Lake Michigan. The color of the sky this year seems to be more intense than previous years. I wonder if it has to do with the volcano eruption in Iceland earlier in the year. F22.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 300 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 450 mm

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

Last summer I noticed what seemed like hundreds of stone sculptures built along the rocky shore of Mackinac Island by visitors. Today there seem to be only a few dozen, perhaps because the forces of nature toppled most of them during the fall and winter storms. This one along the west shore of the island stands out today. F9 at 1/250, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

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

The rocky shoreline of Mackinac Island is beautiful all year round. Today, the bright sunlight and high winds were creating bright white foam along the shoreline. The water and shoreline in this photograph look more like the ocean to me than the Great Lakes. The Mackinac Bridge in the distance however, screams Michigan. F11 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 46mm

Don't forget to turn your cameras vertical when composing photographs. Often, my dad and I will try to shoot the same scene vertically and horizontally. Vertical photos make great magazine covers and that can be a lucrative business deal. F11 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 46mm

The rocky lakeshore along US31 south of Petoskey is, I believe, one of Michigan's most picturesque shoreline drives. I cannot resist making an image combining the patterns of the rocky shoreline and the dramatic sky looming overhead.

For years our family has stopped on US31 near the Susan Creek Nature Preserve along Lake Michigan between Petoskey and Charlevoix to look for Petoskey stones. This vantage also provides a great view of the lake, and tonight I am witnessing one of the most cobalt blue skies I have ever seen. I am so glad that I have my camera, tripod, and waterproof shoes so I can capture the moment. F11 at 1.3 seconds, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

The rocks are what most intrigued me during a 2008 shoreline hike at Sleeping Bear Point. I love the color blue, so I was also therefore drawn to the blue look to the rocks in the shadowy twilight. It took me longer than it should have to understand that the natural world often looks richer in dimmer light than brighter light. With adequate exposure, magic often appears on film or sensors in very low light.

Neighbors on the Buttersville Peninsula have left a pleasing arrangement of beach chairs in front of their home. The soft blues of the evening sky and Lake Michigan complements the chairs. I am getting that tropical feeling that makes me want to relax in one of the chairs with a Shock Top beer. Instead I savor the view while making the picture. F22.0 at 2.5, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

Photographing Michigan is for Brad and me as much about experiencing Michigan as it is about making images. We have stopped along one of our favorite stretches of rocky shoreline between Petoskey and Charlevoix to immerse ourselves in Michigan artwork. F10 at 1/60, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

What a way to start my day. It is 5:58 a.m. as I am eased awake by the soft glow of the moon as it sets over Lake Michigan at Buttersville Park between Ludington and Pentwater. This is one of those gentle "wine shots" that are great to savor with a cup of coffee while the tripod holds my camera. F16 at 2 seconds, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 23mm

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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!