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United States Coast Guard Helicopter HH-65c 6517 out of Traverse City was flying a search pattern tonight over Lake Michigan. The men and women of the Coast Guard are well trained and hard working and in times of great need, our community of Ludington truly embraces their presence along our shores. F4.5 at 1/1600, ISO 320, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

During one of our advanced photography workshops, Rachel and I tried to convince several students to walk out the Manistee pier in the rain with us to hopefully get a shot of the lighthouse if the sun broke out. None of the other students took the risk. Just after we made it to this spot, the rain poured down on us as hard as I have ever seen it rain. We had no rain gear on and our cameras and lenses were literally filling with rain. I told her to leave her lens cap on and to preset her exposure based on the sun popping out of the clouds because I knew it would be a one-shot deal. By the second shot the end of the lens would be so full of raindrops, the shot would be ruined. Luckily for us, the sun did break through the clouds for a few glorious moments and we each got one shot off that was properly exposed and in focus.

We like to immerse ourselves in a scene. On this February afternoon, my camera and I are very close to the ice-covered shoreline and waves breaking inside the Pentwater pierheads.

Point Betsie Light Station looks brand new following an exterior restoration project. The interior of the lighthouse is also being restored but on this bright winter afternoon I am delighted to see the outside looking so good.

Only cormorants live on Gray's Reef Light anymore. The unmanned lighthouse marks one of the most treacherous shoals in Northern Lake Michigan. I like the understated yet carefully detailed design of the 1936 structure. F6.3 at 1/800, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

Rachel's Birthday Light

I was en route to Ludington State Park with a truckload of photography workshop students on October 2, 2018 when I saw magic light break out on the Ludington waterfront. Instead of turning north on M-116 to head to the park, I made an instantaneous decision to continue west to the west end of Ludington Avenue. We piled out and went to work making images of our own vision. I left my truck unlocked for the students, thinking at least a couple of them might need a warming hut due to the extreme wind and ice-cold windchill. The storm light got so dramatic, everyone was too busy shooting up a storm to think about being cold.

Wind contorts my face, waves roar and crash just short of the feet of my tripod, sun gleams and dances across the water, clouds paint the sky. I am in my glory. This is as good as it gets for a Lake Michigan photographer. These are the days I dream about and rarely experience. This mid-September day of 2001 on the Ludington waterfront was one of the best moments of my life. My camera recorded it so I and others can experience it again and again.

As darkness fell and the lights of Big Sable Lighthouse and the keeper's dwelling emerged, I was certain I was in the best spot to make the strongest picture possible of the famous landmark. I shot several dozen shots over a period of 45 minutes, when the cloud patterns added to the composition of the picture. But it was in the last few minutes of shooting that the electric lights and remaining light in the sky balanced the best. I packed up my gear, shouldered my tripod and strode excitedly down a big dune to meet up with my son Brad, whom I had lost sight of an hour ago. I showed him my "trophy" shot on my digital camera; then he showed me his. It was obvious that his was a Boone and Crocket "trophy" shot compared to mine. I was glad for his greater success but still exhilerated by my own visual experience and capture.

My photographer son Brad and I study light as intensely as some people study engineering. We cannot build strong photographs without excellent light quality. Today, May 7, my birthday treat is amazing light and amazing color along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Point Betsie. What a gift Mother Nature has presented!

One of the most spectacular lightning storms I have witnessed in my lifetime showed up on my wife Debbie’s birthday, September 4, 2014. We were guests at my Aunt Carol Garneau’s home on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Ludington Harbor. While photographing bolt after bolt as cells of the storm rolled past me for more than an hour, this granddaddy of them all exploded over the top of the Ludington lighthouse. I made this 30-second time-exposure image with my 500-millimeter Nikon telephoto lens from an open window of Auntie Carol’s second floor art room. I named it Positive Energy because she was always so positive and lit up the world with her presence.

White Fish Point Lighthouse

Little Sable Point Lighthouse was shining bright tonight. I always love when the bright sunlight hits the Fresnel lens inside the top of the lighthouse and reflects in unique ways. I also love looking at Little Sable on nights like these where one side is brighter, and the other side is in the shadows. The details of the red brick on the brighter side are visually stimulating to me.

One of the indicators that my dad, Rachel, and I use to help us determine the difference between a really good sunset and an excellent sunset is if the sunlight gets so intense that it appears to be making the beacon of the Ludington North Breakwater Light glow red, orange, or gold. Tonight, the sunset turned the beacon red and orange for less than one minute.

Pentwater North Pierhead Light attracts many people on summer nights, but its main purpose is to help guide boats into Pentwater harbor. Its conical tower stands 43-feet high to help mariners, find the harbor by day. By night, a green light on top of the tower flashes to aid boaters in finding the harbor entrance.

I wanted to photograph Little Sable Point Lighthouse for my photo of the day on Christmas Eve to commemorate the first published photograph my son Brad ever took with a professional grade camera. He made his "Little Sable Christmas Eve" picture on Christmas Eve 1998. F16.0 at 1/10, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 15 mm

Coast Guard Station Manistee's 45-foot rescue boat heads past Manistee Lighthouse on a Lake Michigan patrol. A summer squall has passed and the Coast Guardsmen are making certain mariners in the vicinity are safe.

I feel like I am in a sculpted ice tunnel as I make this January image of Point Betsie Lighthouse. I am never disappointed visiting Point Betsie and this morning I am far too exhilarated by this frozen view to think about being cold.

Standing out after nearly 140 years in operation, Tawas Point Light towers over Tawas Bay near the Lake Huron shoreline. The lighthouse is located in Tawas State Park. Volunteers are on hand during the peak visitor season to give tours and help bring the history of the light to life.