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Lying in the middle of a hilly, curving country road is not a good idea, but it was necessary for this photograph. Luckily Sarah Genson and my dad were my spotters and helped me avoid being run over. I used my largest telephoto lens in order to soften my background and get rid of the "junk" in the rest of the scene. F8 at 1/250, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 840mm

The Sun of God

My wife Betsy and I left for Hawaii today. While we were flying over the mountains in California on our way to the Los Angles airport, I used my iPhone and took this photo out the window of the airplane. I loved the patterns on the Earth in the foreground of the photograph. The patterns helped create a very three-dimensional feel to this photograph. F2.8 at 1/1000, ISO 70, iPhone camera

The view from the top of South Manitou Island Lighthouse is well worth the long climb up the circular stairway to the top. The lighthouse has helped guide ships through the Manitou Passage between the island and Michigan's mainland since 1872.

A chipping sparrow chirps away while basking in the morning sun near the top of a pine tree in southern Oceana County. The bird seems as excited as I am that the sun has finally come out on this April day. F4.5 at 1/4000, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 500mm

I watched in awe for two hours as wave after enormous wave slammed into the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse on February 24, 2019. I have rarely witnessed or photographed bigger or more frequent waves exploding against the seemingly invincible structure. Many of my several hundred exposures show water flying up to 100 feet in the air and the lighthouse nowhere to be seen. Persistence paid off when I finally caught one huge descending wave still higher than the lighthouse as the next one shot skyward above the lighthouse during its ascension. I had never seen two waves tower above the Ludington lighthouse at once. I was fortunate to artistically document the rare moment.

Mom's Tree

I'm a sucker for dandelions and this is turning out to be a great year to photograph them. Today I find them to be a colorful component in a picture of Kevin and Nancy Hansen's centennial farm, along with Victory Trinity Lutheran Church and some of the Victory Township countryside. F11.0 at 1/500, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 145 mm

This chipping sparrow came to say hello to my dad and me today and it sang us the most beautiful little song. The warm sunshine made all three of us feel joyous and in the mood to sing. Unfortunately, nobody wants to ever listen to my dad and me sing. F7.1 at 1/3200, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 840mm

White Lightning

Morning Stroll

Morning Wait

Today was our first full day on the island of Maui. We took our rented Mustang convertible for a nice drive to the Iao Valley State Park. The peak on the left hand side of this photograph is the Iao Needle. The famous Hawaiian landmark is covered by dense rain forest and measures 2,250 feet above sea level. F7.1 at 1/320, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 24 mm

No matter the weather, the bison often pastured along the highway south of Traverse City seem oblivious to the elements. I always enjoy seeing them but especially enjoy the winter views when the white landscape makes them stand out even more.

The natural and manmade beauty of downtown Grand Rapids is reflected in the mirrored windows of the Gerald R. Ford Museum. I think Grand Rapids boasts one of the most beautiful downtowns anywhere. Walking through the downtown is, for me, always a visual treat. F5.6 at 1/250, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 120mm

Never Gets Old

Some clouds just feel good. These popcorn clouds make my day brighter than anything else I have seen to photograph today. Brad and I say: "Clouds are your friends." Some are friendlier than others. F3.5 at 1/2500, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

A Jeep passing by my camera position looks color coordinated with the fall color image I am working hard to make along M22. This might look like a stroke of luck, but after finding a vantage point that would show the highway, colorful trees, Lake Michigan, Frankfort Lighthouse, and Point Betsie, I have waited for nearly an hour for just the right vehicle to include in the scene. I have photographed others but when I see this one I know it is the perfect added ingredient.

This might be my favorite photograph so far of the entire Tuesdays Project. Flies in general kind of freak me out and they are gross, but when this one landed on the giant glass window of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids today, I was glad that my wide-angle lens is also a macro lens. The macro lens allowed me to show all the detail of the fly and its shadow. F11 at 1/125, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 46mm

Betsy and I went snorkeling today for the first time at Kapalua Beach on the upper west edge of Maui. Kapalua Beach is often rated as one of the best beaches in the world. This is also the place where I lost my wedding ring while snorkeling, so a piece of me will always be in the coral reef off this beach! F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm