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The kids and I were working on splitting wood this afternoon, when my brother, niece and nephew stopped by. I asked if they wanted to help with my photo for today. I lay on my back, and they all tossed leaves in the air above my head.

While sitting in my truck at the drive-through car wash on Washington Avenue, I noticed this tapestry of colors across the street. When my truck was done being washed, I stood on my tailgate and made this image with my big telephoto lens. The fall color has started to finally get good in Ludington this week.

I used the boards of my deck to frame this leaf. Don’t give up hope on a rainy day. The rain can help brighten the colors..

I am hunting this evening for the two big bucks I photographed in July at the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant when their antlers were in velvet. I think these big guys might be the same ones. F8.0 at 1/15, ISO 1250, 500 mm lens with 2X extender at 1000 mm

While eating a delicious meal at Table 14 in downtown Ludington tonight, I was captivated by this funky pumpkin that was on display in the restaurant. After shooting this photo with my iPhone, I learned that the employees had a pumpkin carving contest going and they were asking customers to vote on which one was their favorite. This one got my vote.

After I dropped the kids off to their dad for his weekend, I drove home from Hart the backway, through Pentwater. On my way there, on Lake Road, I came across this field of overgrown asparagus. I’ve always liked the way that it looks! The grain in the wood of this barn was the perfect subject to place with it. The hardest part was steadying the tripod against the wind!

Soaring on a brisk autumn wind, a seagull passes overhead as I am looking for pictures along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Fortunately, I am prepared to make the shot of the graceful bird. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

Several tom turkeys passed in front of my truck as I turned the corner from Conrad Road onto Meyers Road this morning. I threw on a larger lens and ran after the birds. The fall leaves on the ground add to the composition. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 500, 70-200 mm lens at 120 mm

As Brad and I were driving back to Hart to pick up the kids, we drove past St. Mary’s Lake. I decided to swing through by the boat launch. What a welcome treat!

The larger the millimeters on your lens, the shallower the depth of field or focus will be. Also, the closer you are to the subject you are focusing on, the shallower the depth of field. And, of course, the larger the aperture hole in your lens, the shallower the depth of field. Today, I was very close to this Eastern Kingbird with a 600mm lens and a 1.4 extender and I shot it with a huge aperture hole at F5.6. That is why the bird looks very sharp and everything behind the bird becomes soft and out of focus. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 840mm

Rachel and I and several other hunters were enjoying a five-course meal today at Legends Ranch when this guy came walking by the lodge. I photographed him with my iPhone through the window as the buck walked by in the rain.

My dad and I have photographed several bald eagles this year on different Tuesdays, but this was the first day we actually set out to specifically photograph the majestic animal at the Ludington State Park. In two short hours, we successfully photographed five different bald eagles. I never tire of seeing these massive birds populating the woods in Michigan. F5.6 at 1/6400, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 840mm

A mature bald eagle approaches touchdown in a white pine tree along the west shore of Hamlin Lake at Ludington State Park. I am so glad to see more eagles thriving in Michigan in recent years. F6.3 at 1/1250, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 500mm

While walking with my friend and guide, Corey Ford, to the Stump Blind at Legends Ranch, we stopped in one of my favorite woods in the entire world, so I could make this image of the sunlight dancing through the trees. The fall in Michigan is by far my favorite time of year.

An immature bald eagle banks to make a turn toward Hamlin Lake as it descends from a fishing perch at Ludington State Park. While perhaps not as striking and noble looking as adult eagles, I find the immature eagles impressive and beautiful in their own right. F4 at 1/1250, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 500mm

One of my favorite views is from this spot on First Street. You can see the huge base of the basswood tree at the end of my parents’ drive in the distance. You know you are “home” when you spot the tree. Tonight was particularly memorable.

Carl Sams, the famous wildlife photographer from Milford, Michigan, took the best bald eagle photograph I have ever seen. It show an adult eagle, wings completely straight, flying directly into the camera during a blizzard. I liked the image so much that I bought my dad a 40-inch panoramic canvas of it for our cabin. I have always wanted to make an image similar to Carl's. This is as close as I have come. The eagle in this photo is only a few years old and does not have the pure white head yet. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 840mm

Rachel had the opportunity to harvest her first ever whitetail buck tonight, and she made the most of it. She and I, along with her guide, Corey Ford, sat in Island Blind, and anxiously awaited the right moment. This gorgeous typical buck presented a shot, and Rachel followed her training, and made a great shot.

Todd and Brad have explored Legends Ranch with their cameras more times than they can count. This year was the first time that I joined along. Brad and I were working at capturing different lake views on their grounds when I noticed a huge buck resting near the water’s edge. Quietly, I worked on my composition before he moved.

Aspen trees in the fall have always been one of my favorite subjects to photograph. This morning, while camera hunting at Legends Ranch, I knew where I wanted to head to make my image of the day. Just east of Island Blind, there is a picturesque stand of mature aspen trees. I had seen them the night before and noticed they were close to peak color. Today, they were finally at peak.