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Large telephoto lenses are great for photographing wildlife because they allow you to keep your distance from the subject. Many times the subject doesn't even know it is being photographed and its behavior will continue in its natural state. This great blue heron was focused on finding fish in Hamlin Lake and was not bothered by me while I photographed it with a 1050-millimeter telephoto lens.

A great blue heron remained motionless while waiting for his fish dinner to swim past his position along a bank of the Pere Marquette River. I have long admired the stealth and patience of these beautiful birds. As an outdoor photographer, I have learned to be more stealthy and more patient to increase my chances of capturing wildlife magic moments

Ludington State Park

Sandhill Cranes looking for a Landing

With a good perch and a good view, a heron fishes on a pond near Lincoln Lake.

Sunrise on the Pere Marquette River—designated by Congress a National Wild and Scenic River—revealed a scene to match the designation. The affectionate sand hill cranes did not appear to notice my presence. I remained as motionless as possible while frequently shooting as their positions and the light constantly changed.

My brother and sister-in-law used to live on Johnson Road in Custer. I would travel it regularly. Since they moved many years ago, I realized I don’t drive here very often. I took this route home and to my luck, came upon magic light coating a heron.

I love watching people's reactions to this photograph. I have found that people either really like this image or they don't. Personally, this is one of my favorite photographs I have ever taken. That is the beauty of art. It is in the eye of the beholder.

For the blue heron

After striking down at its prey, the blue heron comes up with its catch so quickly that, according to the electronic data recorded by my digital camera, only one second elapsed between the previous photograph and this one.

After pausing briefly with its catch, the blue heron extends its neck and dumps the fish down the hatch. My parents live near the Ludington State Park. They are most happy if the herons find the fishing good on the Sable River rather than the goldfish pond in their backyard.

A white egret slowly walks in the shallow waters of the Sable River while hunting for food on a warm fall evening at the Ludington State Park.

For nearly a century, people have been enjoying the five-and-a-half-mile Toonerville Trolley wilderness train ride. Today Brad and I are aboard the narrow-gauge train that starts out near Soo Junction in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. From my vantage point in the front car, I am getting an up-close view of a pair of sandhill cranes. From the rear car, Brad has already seen a black bear at a distance.

Today is my dad’s 78th birthday. We celebrated with him at the farm, and afterwards I took a winding drive through the woods along the Pere Marquette River. To my surprise, I saw a sandhill crane in the water. I grabbed my camera and big lens and climbed halfway down the steep bank. I waited until she walked into the clearing and her reflection showed in the calm river.

Who would expect to find an egret beside the Chicago area Tri-State Tollway? After visiting my wife's childhood home in Deerfield, we are on an entrance ramp to one the world's busiest roadways when Debbie spots two egrets in a pond beside the toll road. I pull well off onto the grass and sprint 100 yards to make a "Florida picture" in Chicago. F4.5 at 1/1600, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

While photo hunting from our little 13-foot Boston Whaler on Hamlin Lake at the Ludington State Park, my dad spotted this great blue heron with his binoculars from a quarter mile away. We slowly made our way within 50 feet of the master angler. F5.6 at 1/800, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

A great blue heron takes off from one of its fishing perches on Hamlin Lake. I look forward to seeing one of the big birds on most of my hikes and voyages at Ludington State Park. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Using trees for cover, I have stealthily made my way to within 15 yards of this great blue heron. Fortunately for me, the heron's attention is primarily focused on the water and his quest for dinner. F3.5 at 1/500, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

A great blue heron stands motionless, waiting for lunch to swim his way on a pond at Kensington Metro Park between Brighton and Milford, Michigan. I love the elegant posture, self-control, and patience of these keen hunters. F22 at 1/500, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm