Search

I spot a bald eagle on a favorite morning fishing perch overlooking Lake Michigan along South Lakeshore Drive. I set up nearby and wait about 20 minutes to capture its takeoff. F4 at 1/1250, ISO 100, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

I love the sense of adventure and scale of this image as I compose it in my viewfinder. Brad and I call this kind of shot "the little person in the big world." Lake Michigan is definitely a big world. F7.1 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 155 mm

As this fawn's first year on earth continues to evolve, it now gets to experience balmy summer evenings, luscious grasses and other tasty foods. Life in West Michigan appears to be treating this healthy-looking deer kindly. I hope it continues to eat well while the warm weather food supply is abundant. F2.8 at 1/250, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

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.

I headed to Copeyon Park on Pere Marquette Lake this morning to photograph the fog and mist. As I was composing a photograph that showed the west side of Pere Marquette Lake with fall color, a swan swam out of the fog and into the sunlight. The photograph of the fall color will have to wait. F5.6 at 1/250, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

My family has been hunting pheasants for decades. Today, we hunted with the Wright family at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. Their red lab, Drake, was the most impressive hunting dog I have ever witnessed in the field. He also is one of the best-looking hunting dogs I have ever seen.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

We were exploring a different part of Legends Ranch today when a falcon flew above us. Luckily, I was ready with my camera.

Betsy, the kids, and I have been in our new house for a couple of months now and this is the first wildlife photograph I have made from inside the house. We have lots of deer and squirrels in our backyard every day and I can photograph them out the sliding glass doors. Julia helped me spot this squirrel. F4.5 at 1/100, ISO 1600, 600 mm lens at 600 mm

Hunting with a camera can be exciting. I have been stalking this big buck for weeks and here he finally is in front of my camera within 30 yards. I like this moment when he is on the trail of a doe that came through a few minutes earlier. F4.0 at 1/250, ISO 800, 500 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 750 mm