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These apples in an orchard along Meisenheimer Road south of Ludington may not be ready to pick yet but they sure look good enough to eat as I look through my viewfinder after a brief rain shower. F4.0 at 1/13, ISO 160, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Some of my favorite memories growing up were made in our apple orchard. The tire swing, baseball diamond, and the biggest dandelions were there. Let’s not forget the apples. We would eat them right off the tree, or make homemade apple sauce, pie, crisp, or butter. The apples that were too bruised I would pick up for my brother, Kevin, to put out for deer. This apple tree is in my yard, and we love it.

The flowers in my mom’s garden made a great brilliant backdrop to this water-droplet-filled leaf.

At last, Bespop’s grapes have ripened! I have great memories of picking these with him or drinking the homemade grape juice we made from them on a cold winter day.

My dad and I had several friends call and email us about the fields of pumpkins and squash along Chauvez Road south of Ludington. I photographed these just in time. The farmers and their equipment were right behind me getting ready to make their harvest. F5.6 at 1/640, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

These large mushrooms are always fun to spot in the summer. The kids found this one down our long lane at the farm.

As the sun rises over the Northern Michigan countryside, I find myself mesmerized by the sight of corn waving lazily in the morning breeze. It makes me crave Michigan-made Kellogg's Corn Flakes. F2.8 at 1/640, ISO 200, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

I was on my way to Brad’s when I passed by The Market on US-31. It was closed, but the cattails surrounding it were just waiting to be photographed. I used their exterior lights to add depth to the photo. Cattails always bring back memories of picking them at fair, and then forgetting them in the camper until we would find them exploded the next spring. My mom does not miss those days.

Sean and I, and about 26 of Sean’s friends from all over the country, met in Lansing today for the start of the annual golf outing that Sean organizes. Today, while playing Timber Ridge, the light got really good for a few minutes so I put my golf clubs down and grabbed my camera. This decorative grass was near one of the tee boxes. I lay on my back on the golf cart path and made this image.

This is the second photo in the 365 Project that I have made of the pumpkin patch and farm along Chauvez Road south of Ludington. I have been by at least five other times, but the light was never good enough. Early this morning however, the light was fantastic. F10.0 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

Doing these year-long shooting projects, where you have to try and find a book-quality image every single day, gets hard. I remember in 2010, while my dad and I were shooting the 365 Project, that by the time October rolled around, I was anxiously awaiting the end of the year so I could take a mental health break. It is especially hard on days like today when you come down with some nasty bug.

Who knew that zucchini plants have such beautiful flowers? Not me. But am I glad I got out of the car to check out the flowers up close and personal. I later learn that this female zucchini flower will only be open for a few hours daily during its short life, allowing little time for pollination. F11 at 1/80, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

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.

Knowing that Michigan's apple crop was nearly wiped out by frost this year, I am delighted to see these healthy looking apples growing in a Mason County orchard. I hope the grower is able to get a handsome price for the relatively few apples that survived the premature arrival of spring weather this year. F5.6 at 1/800, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

In our apple orchard on our property along Conrad Road, I found this cool little plant while looking for my photo of the day. By getting extremely close to it with my macro lens and shooting with a large aperture, I was able to make the background very soft and painterly. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

The boulevards on Ludington Avenue are lined with beautiful berry trees. I used my largest lens, got as close as I could, and lined up a contrasting background in order to make the red berries pop. I also used a slower shutter speed to show the movement of the snowflakes. F5.6 at 1/100, ISO 800, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

The golden light from the beautiful sunrise this morning turned the entire forest a vibrant golden-yellow color. Look at the detail on these berries. A few minutes earlier they were dull and shapeless looking. Minutes after making this photograph the light got too bright and all of the detail was washed away. Timing and chasing the light is everything in photography. F10 at 1/13, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Picking out her pumpkin is a big task for 18-month-old Alice Stutzman. She checks some excellent prospects at Tice's Farm Market in Clare, Michigan. The pumpkin harvest is a traditional, colorful sign of the arrival of fall in Michigan. F11 at 1/125, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

One of my favorite West Michigan roadside fruit and vegetable stands is Kistlercrest Farms on Pere Marquette Highway between Ludington and Pentwater. While buying their homegrown apples and famous Kistlercrest maple syrup, I spot a large display of gourds that I find irresistibly photogenic. F32 at 1/6, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 26mm

Raindrops cling to Michigan berries long after it has stopped raining on a November morning in the woods between Ludington and Scottville. A long-abandoned 1955 Chevrolet provides the backdrop. F2.8 at 1/1600, ISO 3200, 80-200mm lens at 135mm