Search

With the wet spring we have been having, this swamp is overrun with water. It worked out perfectly to capture the reflections among the clumps of grass. I had to wade in to get the composition that I was looking for. I tried to convince myself that the water was too chilly for any snakes to swim in!

Snowy Creek

Our wet spring has turned most places into a wetland. This spot was no exception. The straight trees surrounding the green triangle-shaped moss was a showstopper.

Growing up, some of my best memories are in the orchard at our family farm. Whether it was picking apples, playing baseball, or swinging on the tire swing, there was always activity amongst the apple trees. Joshua loves to climb this tree in my backyard, and while watching him one day, I noticed this specific clump of apple blossoms. I knew I had found my photo of the day.

Every time I visit Clarksville, Tennessee, I make time to take a walk with my mom along the Cumberland River. Today, Rachel, my mom, and I, had perfect clouds, blue skies, and sunshine to make this image.

I don’t know what kind of strange fungi this is in my front yard, but it is very large and super cool looking. My new yard never ceases to amaze me with all of its fun surprises.

I have tried to make a photograph of the grapes up in Bespop’s grape arbor for several years. Either I was too late, or the animals had already eaten them when I have tried before. This year, I was determined. I made almost daily visits to the arbor and finally decided the time was right.

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.

Today Rachel and I drove from Kalkaska to Traverse City. Just as we were leaving our hotel on Grand Traverse Bay to head to dinner at the Boathouse Restaurant on Old Mission Peninsula, an incredible sunset erupted out of nowhere. In my dress clothes and dress shoes, I quickly made an image before the light show ended. These colors are 100% real. It was one of the more intense sunsets I have ever photographed.

I planned an early birthday vacation for Brad this weekend. We were supposed to be photographing hot air balloons over Torch Lake; however, Mother Nature decided otherwise. Instead, we drove around exploring areas of the lake we had never photographed before.

It was another fun day in the Traverse City area photographing and exploring. We ended up at the Jolly Pumpkin for dinner and hoped to be finished eating before sunset. After dinner, we walked to a nearby beach to catch the last of the sun’s rays.

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.

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

It is starting to feel like fall! I am always intrigued what makes one particular tree turn (or partially turn) before the others.

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.

My dad, Tad, Sean, and I went to Crystal Mountain today to play 18 holes of golf. I found these birch trees reflected in one of the beautiful ponds that are spread out around the course. Luckily, the water ripples, caused by my horrible shot, had gone away and the reflections were back in time for me to make this image.

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.

The good thing about sporting events, besides enjoying watching your kids, is traveling to and from when you live in a picturesque state like Michigan. The meet today was in Pine River. I was early, so when I passed Howe Lake, I had to turn around and find the right place to stop and shoot. To get the view I wanted, I had to climb on my van roof.

Eagle Eye Golf Club near Lansing, Michigan is best known for its island green on hole 17. This par three took a few of my golf balls this morning because I was too stubborn to take a drop. It reminded me of a scene from a famous Kevin Costner movie.