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Rolling Over Pentwater

On those glorious winter mornings in Michigan when the air is crisp and the light is sharp, it is a joy to be outdoors. On this ice-cold morning I was especially blessed because upon arriving at Big Sable Point Lighthouse I discovered some of the most unique and beautiful ice formations along the Lake Michigan shoreline that I have ever witnessed. Many of the ice creations looked to me like crystal sculptures. It was an amazing sight on an amazing morning.

Legends Ranch

Sailboat Sculpture

Looking out from the Rock River Canyon Ice Caves, better known as the Eben Ice Caves, I am thinking that the rock ceiling and ice look like a winter sunflower with "petals" of ice emanating from the center of the "flower." Any way you look at them, these caves at Eben Junction near Chatham in Michigan's Upper Peninsula are impressive.

Cameras do lie! This lawn ornament is a small, but working, windmill at the Greene Farm on Conrad Road. The super dramatic sky and cool blue light this morning really added the drama I needed to get the feeling I wanted for this image.

Shoreline Trek

The carferry Badger slips quietly through the early morning mist on its way out of the slumbering Ludington harbor. I was glad to be out early to appreciate the view from a field along the north channel wall.

When I spotted this wintry scene south of Ludington, it immediately reminded me of a famous picture long used to promote Steamboat ski resort in Colorado. I always loved that picture and I loved the one that was in front of my eyes just a few miles from my home.

Little Point Sable Light has stretched 108-feet skyward since 1874 to stand out by daylight and by night with its powerful beacon. Despite the modern array of electronics on many boats and ships, the lighthouse provides visual verification that a vessel is where electronic position systems indicate location. I have learned to not place all my trust in the electronic marvels.

This scene reminds me of the one-on-one battle between man and fish Ernest Hemingway wrote about in The Old Man and the Sea. Serious fishermen are like serious photographers; they dream day and night of being there to experience those exhilarating, unforgettable moments they can't imagine living without. For some it goes beyond being a pastime; it is an important part of their being.

United States Coast Guard Helicopter HH-65c 6517 out of Traverse City was flying a search pattern tonight over Lake Michigan. The men and women of the Coast Guard are well trained and hard working and in times of great need, our community of Ludington truly embraces their presence along our shores. F4.5 at 1/1600, ISO 320, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

This is one of the more well known and photographed trees in Ludington. It is just north of the north concession stand at Stearns Park beach. I find this tree beautiful all year long. F22.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 30 mm

The light is blazing along the Lake Michigan shoreline tonight. I quickly line up some dune grass and the sun in a way that gives me the feeling that the sun is a big ball rolling down hill. F4.0 at 1/6400, ISO 800, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

An artist friend, Lewis King, loves to meander across the countryside to see what he can find to paint. I share his love for the country. This morning I am excited to discover this scene on Kinney Road south of Scottville to paint with light. F18.0 at 1/250, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

During one of our advanced photography workshops, Rachel and I tried to convince several students to walk out the Manistee pier in the rain with us to hopefully get a shot of the lighthouse if the sun broke out. None of the other students took the risk. Just after we made it to this spot, the rain poured down on us as hard as I have ever seen it rain. We had no rain gear on and our cameras and lenses were literally filling with rain. I told her to leave her lens cap on and to preset her exposure based on the sun popping out of the clouds because I knew it would be a one-shot deal. By the second shot the end of the lens would be so full of raindrops, the shot would be ruined. Luckily for us, the sun did break through the clouds for a few glorious moments and we each got one shot off that was properly exposed and in focus.

After being stuck behind the slowest driver in Mason County and not being able to pass them, I was sick to my stomach for missing a shot out at the Ludington State Park of the largest double rainbow I had ever seen in my life. I missed it by less than 30 seconds. Disappointed, I drove to the Ludington City Beach to watch the sunset and to cool off. To my surprise, we had a colorful sunset appear. Luckily for us, my dad captured the double rainbow and it has become one of our fastest selling images of all time and made the cover of our newest book Wonderous West Shore.

We like to immerse ourselves in a scene. On this February afternoon, my camera and I are very close to the ice-covered shoreline and waves breaking inside the Pentwater pierheads.

I wonder how many times since I was a young boy that I have climbed to the top of the dunes on Hamlin Lake to take in this incredible natural view. My son Brad looks like an ant in the distance as he makes his way to a spot from which he plans to make a more intimate image of the landscape. I can't get back here soon enough!

After following this same snowy owl the entire day, I was finally able to sneak close enough to the mystical creature to capture all the intricate details of its feathers and magnificent eyes. The beautiful side lighting made the eyes of this snowy owl look even more dramatic and powerful.