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A Michigan fruit grower has probably invested a small fortune in planting and caring for this orchard, hoping it will yield dividends this year and for many years to come. My dividend today is being able to see, appreciate, and photograph these trees planted on a ridge overlooking Grand Traverse Bay. F22 at 1/80, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 120mm

It looks like a field of dreams as I look at a meadow of mustard grass through my large telephoto lens. The view is equivalent to looking through 10-power binoculars. I focus farther away and closer until the picture feels just right. F4.0 at 1/640, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

Traveling Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City when thousands of cherry trees are in bloom is one of those Michigan experiences that are unforgettable. This spot on M37 is one of many Old Mission locations where motorists can see orchards, rolling hills, and Grand Traverse Bay all at once. For landscape photography lovers like me these scenes provide the opportunity to make "grand scenic" pictures that feature a strong foreground, middleground, and background. F11 at 1/250, ISO 200, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

This grand old barn stands proud and strong on the backroads between Silver Lake and Pentwater. I thought it was cool how the pattern in the clouds matched the pattern in the old metal roof. I also really liked the vines growing on the barn

My neighbor down the street, TJ Christiansen, has built a 16-foot giraffe out of four sheets of steel. It is shocking how realistic the magnificent piece of artwork is. He has nicknamed the giraffe Geoffrey. F16.0 at 1/60, ISO 500, 18-50 mm lens at 40 mm

A sudden snow squall on an April day diminishes the light falling on Old Mission Lighthouse but gives the scene a painterly feel. Using a telephoto lens and focusing on shoreline grasses instead of the lighthouse beyond gives the historic structure even more of an impressionistic feeling. F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

When I look upon the heron rookery that Don and Mary Klemm told me I could find along US 10 west of Clare, all I can think is how eerily beautiful the scene looks. This great blue heron stood out among the many herons we watched. F4.0 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

I made a family portrait of Sean, Betsy, and the kids today on our hike at the Ludington State Park. I used my external flash to light up their coats and faces. We don’t shoot portraits for hire at this point, but we might someday, and I enjoy practicing on my family.

The underside of an old fishing vessel is a great place to explore with a camera. The colors and patterns can be mesmerizing. F22.0 at 1/10, ISO 500, 18-50 mm lens at 27 mm

When I was born someone gave me a little white stuffed lamb that I later named Lambo. It was always my favorite. The bright white lamb at Shoup's farm that I photographed today for Week 15 of the Tuesdays Project brings an extra big smile to my face. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 400, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Snakes startle me sometimes but I appreciate their beauty. My brother Budde discovered this garter snake while we were mushroom hunting near our Pere Marquette River cabin with my nephew Ryan and his girlfriend Erica. F3.2 at 1/500, ISO 200, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

After chasing the rooster that had gotten loose all around the yard at Shoup's farm, I set my focus on this beautiful hen. I loved the contrast between her gorgeous black and white feathers and her bright red face. By getting my 200mm telephoto macro lens right up against the fence of the chicken coop and setting my aperture to F2.8, I was able to make the fence in the foreground totally disappear and the shallow depth of field made the fence in the background very soft and not nearly as distracting. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Color Coordinated

Eric Riggs bought this brown duck when it was only a few weeks old and released it into the wetlands near his home. The duck is technically a wild critter now, but he is very friendly and curious. Julia, Ethan, and I got a kick out of his honking abilities as well. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 1000, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I imagine that this old Dodge was the pride of the Motor City back in the 1950s, but after sitting in one place for several years on the Shoup's farm east of Custer, Michigan, Mother Earth has taken its toll on this beauty. I love how it has become one with its surroundings. F6.3 at 1/80, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

This tom turkey displays its full regalia while strutting amongst a flock of turkeys in the morning light. How can a bird that often looks ugly look so magnificent looking when it wants to? I was glad to have shot him (with my camera) during turkey hunting season. F5.0 at 1/125, ISO 250, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

My grandparents, Bud and Dorothy Reed, had a house on the Pere Marquette River for 50 years just upstream from where I made this photograph today on the Shoup's property. This was a fresh view for me and it reminded me of all the amazing times the Reed family had at my grandparents' house. The reflections of the clouds in the river are what caught my eye and drew me down the steep bank to the river's edge. F7.1 at 1/200, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

Dotties Delight

Betsy and Sean’s house on Riverview in Ludington has always had beautiful crocuses growing in the backyard. I used my 105mm prime macro lens to shoot a close-up photograph of one of the crocuses. I was attracted to the wild purple and white patterns on the inside of the flower.

This is my first good photo of a Caspian tern. I have not seen many of these birds around West Michigan until recent years. They are beautiful, agile and incredibly nimble in the air. Just after I made this photo, the tern dove head first into the water and came out with a nice treat for dinner in its beak. F5.0 at 1/2000, ISO 640, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm