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Passing by Whitefish Point

The sky is filled with color this morning so I have hustled to get to the waterfront at Crosswinds to make a photograph of the harbor and sky. Steam from the co-generation plant looks from this vantage point like it is coming from the carferry Badger's stack. Ducks provide another added ingredient to the picture. Looks good. F16.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 175 mm

My son, Tad was the first to see that this empty dock ought to be included in night shots we were taking of Pentwater from the opposite side of Pentwater Lake. I learned long ago, from National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, that compositions with a triangular shape at the base of a picture tend to lead viewers strongly into the scene and provide a stronger sense of depth. Tad was operating more by instinct. He knew the picture felt good. Rules, tips, and guidelines are fine, but feelings are the most important ingredient in making decisions about the quality of a potential picture.

All I could think about as I was taking this image in way-below-zero weather was how well it illustrated the impact on Ludington of the Polar Vortex. Just about everything was closed for a couple days as January roared to a close. This historic commercial fishing building at the Lake Michigan carferry docks looked like it was in Siberia.

The Star Line Ferry Radisson makes way past Round Island Lighthouse in route to Mackinac Island. I photographed this scene from Mission Point Resort the morning of October 21, 2019 as seas were building in the Straits of Mackinac.

Nothing says Ludington better than the carferry Badger and Ludington lighthouse. On this July evening the Lake Michigan Carferry passes the Ludington North Breakwater Light en route to its dock after ferrying passengers and vehicles from Wisconsin.

Nothing says Ludington better than the carferry Badger and Ludington lighthouse. On this July evening the Lake Michigan Carferry passes the Ludington North Breakwater Light en route to its dock after ferrying passengers and vehicles from Wisconsin. Nikon D800. F10 at 1/500, ISO 200. 14-24mm lens at 14mm. On a tripod without a flash. July 21, 2016 at 5:24pm.

Crisp, haze-free air, brilliant light, billowy clouds - all the ingredients that made for a good day for photography - were present on this fine October morning. Throw in the Ludington North Breakwater, lighthouse, and the carferry Badger, and it gets even better. The final ingredient - a location from which to take the photo - brings the mixture together to make a picture better than the sum of its parts.

While sitting in my truck in the rain, I envisioned this photograph. I quickly drove a few miles to the parking lot next to the carferry Spartan and drove back and forth with my head out my truck window looking at the puddles. I was certain if I found the correct spot, I could get both the Spartan and its reflection in the same photograph. F16.0 at 1/5, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Annual Fish for Freedom in Ludington harbor.

Badger going out on an August Fall morning.

Fish on for Freedom in Ludington. Spring 2025

Orvis fishing guide Frank Willetts looks on as customers fly fish for trout on the Pere Marquette River, one of many world-class trout streams in Michigan. Customers come from across the country to fish the Pere Marquette. Willetts co-owns the Pere Marquette River Lodge in Baldwin.

The Badger looked like a ghost ship this afternoon in the fog. Our biggest tip with shooting photographs in the fog is to make sure to shoot at least a stop and a half, if not two stops, to the plus side of your meter. If you shoot fog photos on any auto mode, your photo will be underexposed.

The "Baby Badger" stops at Waterfront Park to allow the children aboard its train of toy boats to watch the real Badger dock. This celebration of the Badger's start of the sailing season showcases three great things about Ludington

The Badger’s maiden voyage each year is a really big deal in Ludington. For me it feels like the official kick-off of summer. The Badger had smooth sailing today to start its sailing season.

In my rush to capture this intense rainbow and magic light over the Badger tonight, I almost fell off the rocks at the Ludington Municipal Marina and into Pere Marquette Lake. My lens cap did end up in the lake, but luckily it was shallow water, and I was able to retrieve it after making this image.