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Lake of the Clouds

Julia, Ethan, and I have only been living in our new house for six weeks and we already have names for several of the deer that live in our yard. This is “Socks” because she has four white feet.

Nikon D850. F8 at 1/6400. 60-600mm lens at 600mm. June 7, 2020 at 5:28pm.

Hamlin Ablaze

On the morning of Christmas Eve, 1999, I was eager to try out the new camera that my dad had bought me for Christmas. He and I drove to one of our favorite places in the world, Little Point Sable Lighthouse. On the way, it began to snow unbelievably large, soft flakes. As soon as we arrived, I stepped out of the truck, set my camera on the tripod and took this photograph before the snow stopped falling.

This tree graces the Ludington beach near the entrance to Stearns Park. It often frames picturesque views of Lake Michigan. On this night the tree takes center stage, leaving an anchored freighter to play supporting role.

The view of Lake Michigan from the Pere Marquette Township campground is among the most panoramic from point to point. Rough water and storm clouds can add drama, but exceptional quality of natural light I like to call "magic light" or storm light is essential to making the view the most spectacular.

Some of my favorite Christmas tree ornaments that my family has are the rocking horses that Hallmark put out in the 1980s. This last Christmas, I enjoyed pointing them out to my daughter Julia. This scene near Crystal Mountain Ski Resort in Benzie County reminded of those horses. F3.5 at 1/200, ISO 640, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I have always enjoyed this vantage of Pentwater harbor channel and tonight the view looks and feels like summer. A sailboat provides an important added ingredient. F9.0 at 1/320, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

While unloading artwork for an exhibit at the Muskegon Lumberjacks hockey game in Muskegon my eye is drawn to the graphic designs created by the superstructure of a World War II landing craft on display in Muskegon harbor. F5.0 at 1/1600, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

It never gets old photographing the sunrise at the north bridge on Old US31 over the Pere Marquette River flats. This morning, my dad and I are greeted with a unique cloud pattern and a powerful sunrise.

For seven years, I have been trying to make this image of an albino squirrel that lives at my Papa Bill and Nana Bev's house near Hamlin Grocery north of Ludington. On Christmas Eve, it finally all came together. As I was making this image, I was trying to ignore my older brother Tad as he shot me with the dart gun that he got for Christmas. Some things never change!

Given the choice between the Yellow Brick Road and this path to the beach along Lake Michigan in Buttersville, I would choose this path. I felt like I struck gold when I spotted it after rushing to get to the shoreline before sunset. I knew from the golden light painting the countryside along the US31 freeway south of Ludington that if I could just get to the beach in time I would have the opportunity to make an image that would look and feel far more like summer than winter. My instincts were well rewarded.

As a Coast Guardsman who was privileged to serve as the coxswain (captain) of one of these 47-foot Coast Guard motor lifeboats, I may be prejudiced when I say that I think they are one of the most impressive vessels on the water. The self-righting rescue boat reminds me of the movie "Back to the Future." I think the design looks like it is simultaneously from both the past and the future. This 47 is on patrol on the Grand River in Grand Haven, Michigan during the annual Coast Guard Festival. F9 at 1/500, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 20mm

Stearns Beach During Workshop

Wednesday

Point Aux Barques Guardian

Blue Fog Light

Two Towers

Workshop at Ludington State Park