Search

The 45-minute hike to Big Sable Point Lighthouse is rewarding even on those rare occasions when a good picture seems nowhere to be found. On this evening dune grass framed against the twilight provided a still life that stood out even more than the famous lighthouse.

The coldest, clear mornings are among my favorites for viewing and photographing the Ludington waterfront. I found this frosty scene with carferries as a backdrop early one winter morning along the shore of Pere Marquette Lake in Buttersville.

I have always been envious of my cousin Ryan Reed's artistic abilities. Not only is he a world class photographer, he also has a talent for drawing and painting. If I could draw or paint well, these wildflowers would be my inspiration.

Brad and I like to say, "Clouds are your friends." I certainly like the clouds and God beams this evening along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The wind-chill is below zero so I concentrate on the ever-changing beauty of the clouds, looking for the peak moment. This moment feels best; click. F2.8 at 1/400, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

My good friends, Joe and Tracy Cooper, had put a photo on Facebook yesterday of a porcupine that was hanging out in their front yard. I contacted Tracy and asked if I could come over and photograph it with my big camera. After I got her permission, my daughter Julia and I drove to their home south of Ludington and found "Quillis" chilling and eating some apples. It was raining and very windy outside, but this little guy didn't seem to be bothered by anything. Julia and I had a blast photographing him.

More and more often I find myself lying on my stomach to make my photographs. Getting extremely low to the ground or water gives me a fresh perspective on the world and it ensures that my photographs have immediacy which adds emotional impact and drama to a photograph.

I love the iconic nature of this photograph. A gorgeous sailboat, a person fishing off the pier, and a beautiful Lake Michigan Lighthouse all bathed in blue and silver light. I captured this photo today 7:15 p.m. on the shoreline at South Haven, Michigan. F20 at 1/640, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 160mm

One of the high-performance sailboats from the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac looks fast even while made fast to a dock at Harbor Springs a few days after finishing one of the longest fresh-water races in the world. I am attracted to the shadows made by some of the many people attracted to the sleek vessel. F7.1 at 1/125, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 21mm

Workshop at Ludington State Park

Sky Drama

Taken at Gerlach Workshop in Munising

Ludington North Pier Light

Scouting Mission

Cotton Candy - Panoramic

Just as I was getting ready to photograph this pair of swans, they both decided to feed at the same exact time. Luckily the camera was ready to capture this funny moment.

A local farm field is often a popular spot for Bald Eagles. The snowflakes on this particular day were thick and heavy. Several eagles were flying around, but this one sitting in the tree struck me. Even with all the snow, the white head and tail stood out beautifully.

Big Sable in April Light - Black and white

Batten down the hatches! Storm clouds tumbling mixer-style steamroll threateningly ashore along the Lake Michigan shoreline on a June afternoon. This scene and the "Hot Pink" scene are among the hundreds of spectacular big sky views I have witnessed from my home near the Lake Michigan shoreline south of Ludington. They reflect the similar amazing scenes that unfold frequently all along the shores of Lake Michigan.

The bold paint job on Big Point Sable Light distinguishes it from other lighthouses along the Lake Michigan coast by day. By night its "fixed white light" shines continuously to enable mariners to distinguish it from other lighthouses in the region whose lights flash at various intervals.

My wife and I watched from a high dune vantage point. We waited, for over two hours, for the sunlight to come into line with the water that was winding its way to Lake Michigan from the Bass Lake Outlet. I liked the resulting picture but looked forward to photographing that S-curve with a sky filled with storm clouds. I returned on such a day only to find winds and waves had swept away the S-curve and left a straighter stream behind.