Search

Looking downstream from the Leland River dam, it is easy to imagine what this fishing village looked like a century ago. The citizens of Leland have gone to great lengths to preserve the historic look of this still active commercial fishing port.

Tall Ship and Ludington Light Vertical

Tonight there were more boats salmon fishing near the Ludington harbor than I have ever seen, and several of them were busy catching fish. I wanted to be out there fishing with my older brother, but he wasn't able to make it home this year. Maybe next year! F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 1000, 70-200 mm lens at 160 mm

Kayakers enjoy the Michigan outdoors on West Bay in Traverse City while sailboats stay at their moorings until their crews have the time to get them back underway. Even an occasional voyage on Michigan waters tends to restore my soul. I am sure others feel reborn too when they set sail.

Carferry Badger Last Sailing

Carferry Badger leaving home Sailing off across Lake Moichigan

Carferry with Storm Clouds

Wednesday May

We took another family hike today along the Sauble River at the Ludington State Park. Not far from the dam, I made this image of some people enjoying their quiet kayaking adventure together. I really loved the reflection of the trees in the water and the fun clouds in the background.

The Lake Michigan Carferry Badger passes beneath a rainbow on the same October morning I witnessed the other end of the same rainbow appear to land upon a golden dune near my home south of Ludington.

I never tire of watching the carferry Badger sail into Ludington harbor. Of the thousands of times I have seen this grand ship steam into port, this October evening was one of the most spectacular. My wife and I were enjoying dinner at a relative's Crosswinds Estates home, near the harbor mouth, when the Badger and sunset-lit storm clouds approached Ludington simultaneously. Fortunately, I excused myself from the dinner table long enough to shoot as the ship entered the harbor.

For just a moment, from my vantage point on Grand Traverse Bay, sailboats underway fit perfectly into the spaces between the sailboats tending from their mooring buoys. My previsualization of what could happen has happened. My visual poem is complete; nothing left to do but to click the shutter. D800, F5.6 at 1/200, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 160mm

There is something about the crispness of all the blue and white colors one sees looking eastward at Round Lake from downtown Charlevoix at the height of the summer boating season. Charlevoix is one of Michigan's most picturesque and popular boating harbors. F13 at 1/80, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 15mm

Badger in Fog

The Lake Michigan Carferry Badger passes beneath a rainbow on the same October morning I witnessed the other end of the same rainbow appear to land upon a golden dune near my home south of Ludington.

I never tire of watching the carferry Badger sail into Ludington harbor. Of the thousands of times I have seen this grand ship steam into port, this October evening was one of the most spectacular. My wife and I were enjoying dinner at a relative's Crosswinds Estates home, near the harbor mouth, when the Badger and sunset-lit storm clouds approached Ludington simultaneously. Fortunately, I excused myself from the dinner table long enough to shoot as the ship entered the harbor.

The sunrise this morning over Harbor View Marina is gorgeous. I have heard the saying "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning!" but I don't think this sailor has anything to worry about. F22.0 at 5.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Sarah CC

I admire the craftsmanship and the beauty of Jeff LaPrad's wooden vessel as it sails past me onto Lake Michigan into another spectacular Ludington sunset. I have seen the handmade sailboat before and longed to be able to photograph it closer to my vantage point. Tonight I am on the end of the South Breakwater and the view is picture perfect. F3.2 at 1/800, ISO 400, 80-200 mm at 200 mm