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I have chased these birds and a hundred others for several blocks, taking pictures periodically, but knowing I was not making a strong picture. Now I finally have a handful of them right where I want them. F5.0 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

A box turtle makes its way along the edge of a country road near Ruby Creek. I am eye to eye with this beautiful creature because its sunshine-bathed yellow shell and body grabbed my attention like a turtle-crossing sign as I was driving eastward across the Michigan countryside. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

I am back at the Andersen elk ranch on Amber Road to try once again to make an image I like of a big elk. Today he surprises me by ambling over to the edge of a neighboring enclosure to share a friendly moment with a younger elk. F2.8 at 1/100, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

As I drive by the W.C. Cornwell Ranch north of Clare, Michigan, I get a quick look at a nice young buck trotting through one of the many pastures of the big centennial farm. From the looks of this deer, the eating is good at Cornwell Ranch. F10 at 1/800, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

A fox darts for cover moments after I spotted it lying in a farm field south of Clare, Michigan. At first I thought I was seeing a fawn lying down in the grass. What a surprise to see a fox pop up. F9 at 1/800, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

My dad and I stayed at the Konteka Hotel and Restaurant during our trip to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The Konteka is a great experience in itself. The staff and owners were extremely friendly and the food was great. The best part of our stay was seeing the coyotes that feed behind the restaurant. From near our dinner table I photographed this coyote that was running around outside. I had my dad stand up behind me to block the reflection of the salad bar in the window. The final photo turned out a lot cooler than I ever imagined it would. To me, it evokes a feeling of "Man Versus Wild." F2.8 at 1/13, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 46mm

A pair of mute swans keeps its lone surviving cygnet close at hand as they float along the shoreline of Pere Marquette Lake just after sunrise. Mute swans have proliferated in Michigan to the point that efforts are being made to reduce their population. I, for one, never tire of seeing the graceful birds and watching for peak or unique views of them. F2.8 at 1/2000, ISO 1600, 80-200mm lens at 145mm

A great blue heron stands as motionless as a lawn ornament in the yard of a cottage on Bass Lake near Pentwater, Michigan. I have to look twice to make certain the bird is real rather than plastic. F3.5 at 1/2500, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

Our friend, Don Nelson, notified my dad and me about a wild ruffed grouse that had befriended him during the last two weeks. Wherever Don went around his yard, the gorgeous bird would follow. After a week, the bird would even climb onto Don's shoulder. Right after I made this photograph, Herkimer (the bird) climbed up onto my camera and posed for an iPhone photo. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

This wild ruffed grouse befriended our friend, Don Nelson, last week and I couldn't wait to photograph the beautiful animal. After I made the photograph I had imagined of the bird in some brown ferns, I asked Don if he could get the bird to land on my 300mm telephoto lens. With surprising ease, Don had Herkimer posing on my lens in no time. F8 at 1/125, ISO 800, iPhone

After making a photograph of this red-tailed hawk from several hundred yards away, I drove to within 50 yards of him, got back out of my truck and made this image. Though red-tailed hawks are not as big as bald eagles they are equally beautiful and majestic, especially while in flight. F4 at 1/1600, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

Driving down the big hill on Old US31 I noticed a large red-tailed hawk sitting in a tree over Conrad Road. From several hundred yards away I made this image with my 600mm F4 Nikkor lens. F4 at 1/160, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

A Red Shoulder Hawk Perching on a Birch Tree

Being an avid whitetail deer hunter, I have had many daydreams about seeing a buck this large while hunting. With opening day of firearm deer season only two days away, I am hoping my dream will come true this year. If only this buck lived near our hunting property. F4 at 1/1250, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

An impressively large whitetail buck is in full rut as he chases his girlfriend. I watched this chase go on for several minutes before the buck finally caught up to her. F4 at 1/1250, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm

For several minutes I watched this 12-point whitetail buck chase this doe all over the woods. She finally stopped and he caught up to her. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 3200, 600mm lens at 600mm