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Buckley Rollway

November Storm in Grand Haven

Ludington Sculpture Park and Badger

Lower Tahquamenon Falls

Tahquamenon Falls was surprisingly busy this winter day as many others enjoyed the magical light along with us. The contrast of dark water before it tumbled over the crest and showed its true tannins caught my attention. I set up in the farthest corner of the viewing platform and worked hard to include each ripple and movement that I wanted.

I pulled the truck off the road this morning on the way to go skiing at Crystal Mountain to photograph this majestic old barn and Christmas trees on US-31 between Scottville and Manistee. I love the layers in this picture. It has a distinct foreground, middle ground, and background.

Strapped to their 44-foot rescue boat and hanging on as the small but mighty vessel takes on another huge Lake Michigan wave, Ludington Coast Guardsmen head into the teeth of a storm. If it were to capsize, the boat is designed to right itself within 15 seconds and forge ahead. Crews purposely go out to train in such weather conditions in order to be able to safely and successfully aid mariners in distress in similar wind and seas. As a Coast Guard Reservist, I served as a “coxswain” or captain of this incredible vessel, 44345, for more than 25 years. Oh to have been able to take photographs during some of those boat rides! I scrambled part way out the Ludington north breakwall to take this off-duty photograph. I think it speaks volumes and will always be one of my favorite photographs, especially because I like to think of 44345 as a best friend, one that never has failed me and never will

Winter is a quiet time at Ludington State Park, a time when rental boats are of no practical value on frozen Hamlin Lake. I selected this boat for its artistic value.

Turning your camera into a paintbrush is as simple as "painting" across a subject with your camera during a long exposure. The results are often both impressionistic and surprising. During one of our photography workshops I demonstrated how to "paint" some overturned kayaks stacked together along Hamlin Lake. I liked the results more than I expected.

Thanks to our friend, Mike Schlitt, and a few other members of the Charleviox Camera Club, my dad and I found out about this iris farm on M72 between Traverse City and Empire. Several families were there this evening paying to pick their own flowers. It is such a wonderful place for people of all ages.

A hummingbird takes aim at another wild iris bloom along a trail in the Ludington State Park. Fortunately for me, the bird was attracted to the same flowers I had already discovered.

I always get a thrill out of photographing the moon as it is about to set in the west. On this frosty morning, the moon looks particularly huge and bright.

After a quick drive in the dark to Little Sable Point Lighthouse, my dad and I were as excited (and loud) as middle-schoolers riding a school bus. We had both just made some fantastic shots of the Northern Lights over Ludington. Our goal now was to get a photograph of the Northern Lights over Little Sable Point Lighthouse. Neither of us have ever had any luck in making that shot before. We have both tried several times, but the Northern Lights either never showed up, or they disappeared before we could make the 35-minute drive. Our luck was about to change. The Northern Lights were much dimmer now and almost invisible to the naked eye. However, like Galen Rowell taught all nature photographers, you have to learn to see like your camera sees. I tried to line up the North Star right above Little Sable Point Lighthouse. I made a few test exposures and then set my camera to F8 at ISO 200. I used my cable release and my iPhone as a timer and took a 32-minute exposure. The stars in the night sky made a perfect circle around the North Star and my camera could easily pick up the color from the Northern Lights. What a magic morning along the shores of Lake Michigan. I made this image at 4:54 a.m. on our 17th Tuesday of 2012. F8 at 32 minutes, ISO 200, 14mm lens at 14mm

My three-year-old son Ethan, like many little kids, loves watching tugboats. I wish Ethan had been with me today in South Haven to see the mini tugboat Wilhelm Baum. According to my dad, the Whilhem Baum is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary rescue boat. I would love to go for a ride on it sometime. I guess I am a big kid at heart because I love tugboats too! F2.8 at 1/640, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 34mm

The American Flag waves gently in the summer breeze on the porch of one of two keeper's dwellings at the New Presque Isle Light, which despite its name is more than 140 years old. The 1870 "New" light tower is the tallest lighthouse tower accessible to the public on the Great Lakes. F8 at 1/800, ISO 100, 28mm lens at 28mm

Divine Moment

Sunset on Hamlin Lake

Buckley Rollway

Badger Light