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The first time I photographed Big Point Sable Lighthouse at night was in 1970. It was an assignment for a photography class at Michigan State University while pursuing a journalism degree. I continue to enjoy hiking to the light, setting up my tripod in the sand, waiting for darkness to fall and the light more than 100 feet overhead to beam forth. The solitude of the 30 to 45 minute walk, in the dark, back to my vehicle makes the photo trek to the lighthouse more gratifying.

Surf's up! Even on a winter day, Michigander Saeth Gronberg, a former Californian, is drawn to Lake Michigan when the waves are big. Here he waits for the right timing to catch a big wave as another big wave explodes against the Frankfort, Michigan lighthouse.

Little Sable During Advanced Workshop in Morning

Nobody is going to believe this is real. I can't believe what I am seeing. The clouds, the rain, the haze, the sun, the big waves, the Badger, and the color! Surreal. These were the thoughts running through my head the evening of August 20, 2009 as I was shooting this photograph during one of our weekday summer workshops. I was just glad our students were there to verify that this dream actually happened.

Nobody is going to believe this is real. I can't believe what I am seeing. The clouds, the rain, the haze, the sun, the big waves, the Badger, and the color! Surreal. These were the thoughts running through my head the evening of August 20, 2009 as I was shooting this photograph during one of our weekday summer workshops. I was just glad our students were there to verify that this dream actually happened.

 

Marvelous Manistee

Last fall during one of our Picture Perfect Weekend Workshops, I realized that you could see Big Sable Point Lighthouse from the top of the second big dune north of the Beach House at Ludington State Park. I finally made a good photo from that vantage point tonight. F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 190 mm

I love the unique shape of the Muskegon South Breakwater Light. This evening I am also struck by the symmetry of trees framing the lighthouse. I choose to make a long exposure to show the movement of the tree tops swaying in the October breeze.

Having 35 years of local knowledge is the only reason I was able to make this photograph. While standing on Conrad Road between Ludington and Scottville, I hypothesized that if I were near the Buttersville campground that I would be able to line the rainbow up with the Ludington North Breakwater Light. Just as I arrived at the campground beach, the SS Badger was heading out the harbor. One second after shooting this photograph the rainbow disappeared. F13 at 1/400, ISO 400, 70-200mm lens at 170mm

Ludington North Pier Light

Underwater Housing at Little Sable

Spirit of Manistee

I have not shot many sunrises at Big Sable Point Lighthouse because it is so hard to get to early in the morning, but one of the beauties of the Tuesdays Project is it is forcing us to get out of bed early. As the sun just starts to peek out above the sand dunes, I am filled with excitement and anticipation of what this new day will bring. Life is what you make of it and everyday is a new beginning. F22 at 1/13, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 24mm

Another Happy Place

Manistee Light

Ludington Lighthouse

Today is the start of the second annual Westmaas family week-long vacation near Manistee, Michigan. Over twenty members of my mother-in-law's family come from all over the country to enjoy the shoreline and waters of Lake Michigan. The house we rented this year is near the 5th Avenue Beach in Manistee, Michigan. F22.0 at 0.4, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

My dad and I headed out to the north side of the channel in Grand Haven today to photograph the abundance of fisherman catching perch, steelhead, and salmon. The pier was packed and several people were showing off their catches. The fog was "pea soup," as my dad would say, so I was not expecting to see many boats heading out for a joy ride. To my surprise, Karizmaddie, a racing sailboat, was venturing out into the fog.