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Tonight my dad, Rachel Gaudette, and I made photographs of the Grand Haven lighthouses and we all had the same initial reaction when we looked at the backs of our cameras. To our eyes, the sky and water did not look that orange, but all three of our cameras were seeing the real color in the sky that our eyes couldn't pick up because our eyes were normalizing the color. Galen Rowell always preached that you have to learn to see like your camera sees. Tonight was the proof of that! F8 at 1/500, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Kasey is a forever lover of all God’s creatures. Including this frog….or these frogs?? You decide!

I think Iris Road got its name because so many Iris flowers grew there before the Pere Marquette Township road was named. This morning on my way to work this particular flower looks picture-perfect from a distance. A closer look confirms my hunch. F4.0 at 1/125, ISO 100, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

Long after sunset, and more than 45 minutes after making my first "sunset shots" at Grand Haven pier, I am still able to make good images. In fact, this "after dark" view is my favorite. I have learned to bring a tripod and continue waiting and shooting long after my mind thinks and emotions feel it is no longer bright enough to make a strong image. Wait, wait, wait! F2.8 at 0.6, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

I stumbled upon a paper wasp nest in my neighbor's front yard tonight. For some strange reason I decided to take my macro lens and stick it extremely close to the wasps in order to make this photo. Luckily I did not get stung and the pictures turned out well! F6.3 at 1/200, ISO 1250, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I never get tired of listening to the music Lake Michigan makes every day. Tonight, her song is quiet, rhythmic, and soothing. I must admit, I can't wait to photograph her next rock and roll concert. F22 at 15 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

We adventured around the pond today. There are a couple new calves that the kids wanted to check out. Since we were close to the pond, we decided we should check for frogs and turtles. The dragon flies were very busy today!

My dad and I are always looking for repetitive patterns. This morning on Grand Traverse Bay, the clouds, shoreline rocks, and the calm water combined into a gorgeous arrangement of blue, black, and white patterns that had me grinning from ear to ear. F13 at 1/125, ISO100, 14mm lens at 14mm

The kids and I love having snowball fights in springtime, courtesy of these snowball bushes! I will often fuel my mom with blossoms so she can ambush the kids from the porch.

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

I was able to sneak up on a young mourning dove that thought it was totally hidden from me. My new Sigma 70-200mm Macro F2.8 lens came in handy because I could hand hold the lens in the thick bushy tree and get my camera within three feet of the beautiful bird. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

The sunshine is so intense tonight that I can't shoot towards the setting sun in the west without my photograph looking washed out. But I really want to document the great beach weather. So I find a Harley Davidson motorcycle and make my photograph in one of its handlebar mirrors. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

My Great Grandma Benson always told us to make sure we looked down at the little things in life while we were walking outside. She spent the last 20 years of her life confined to a bed inside a nursing home. I shot this photo for her. F7.1 at 1/160, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 112mm

We always try to help as many turtles travel safely across the roads as we can. After we helped this little guy, I captured him in the safety of the grass.

Like clockwork, it is the end of May and I find a mute swan at its usual nest site with her newborn cygnets near Long Bridge on Pentwater Lake. I shoot quickly so I don't scare them. F3.2 at 1/200, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

One of my don't-miss stops in charming Sutton's Bay is the Michigan Artists Gallery. This fish sculpture, by Michigan contemporary folk artist Jesse Hickman, lures visitors to see a myriad of Michigan artistic creations inside the always exciting, always surprising gallery. F20 at 1/60, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 19mm

Vertical God beams that are this distinct are a rare sight along the Lake Michigan shoreline. I can’t get out of my truck fast enough! Luckily, my gear is organized and I was able to get set up and capture this image at the first curve before the God beams went away.

A trio of fox kits is living near Buttersville, south of Ludington and we got a tip on where to find them. These kits are very curious and slowly came to get a closer look at my camera and me. F5.6 at 1/200, ISO 1250, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

There are a lot of beautiful wineries in Leelanau County, but I think Black Star Farms is hands down the most spectacular looking winery in Michigan. It reminds me of a smaller, red version of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Today was perfect lighting, especially with the dramatic Michigan sky in the background. F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

My backyard is full of wildflowers. The kids and I love exploring each and every one. Today, these vetch plants stood out to me.