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Mother Nature and the Ludington Fire Department have teamed up to light up the Ludington waterfront on a July evening. The community bonfire special event gives the public a chance to enjoy a bonfire on a public beach where fires normally cannot be permitted for safety and environmental reasons.

Hustling from Scottville, Michigan to the Ludington State Park to photograph the sunset, I made a last minute decision to not shoot right along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and instead, turn down Piney Ridge Road and shoot from a location that my dad discovered during Week 6 of our Tuesdays Project. Once I got on top of the massive dune, I knew I had made the right decision. F11 at 1/13, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

While on a hike with my cousin Ryan, I made this image south of the first curve at the Ludington State Park. I stood at the bottom of this steep dune and shot upwards.

Until tonight, I had never seen purple sand at the Ludington State Park. Not far south of the first curve at the park, I was walking the shoreline when I spotted purple, magenta, and black sand all mixed together. When I went in for a closer look, I found this heart shaped rock sitting in the uniquely colored sand.

Stearns Park Takeoff

A runner enjoys the warm sunset this evening along the Ludington North Breakwater. The waterfront in Ludington is a great place to exercise and enjoy nature at the same time. F2.8 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

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.

Sometimes simple sunsets can be the most peaceful. This calm, warm night was just what the doctor ordered.

Looking through the viewfinder of my camera tonight with my 300 mm telephoto lens, I can't believe my eyes. It appears as if the sun is melting into Lake Michigan. The color of the sky this year seems to be more intense than previous years. I wonder if it has to do with the volcano eruption in Iceland earlier in the year. F22.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 300 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 450 mm

During our Thursday night workshop tonight I noticed the sun hitting one of these large pieces of limestone. I waited over 30 minutes for the correct angle of sunlight and for a large enough wave to cover the front and backside of the rock. I am not usually a very patient person, but tonight it paid off. F22.0 at 0.6, 100 ISO, 70-200 mm lens at 70 mm

After I wait an hour for a break in the clouds, magic light falls upon the beach and beach house at Ludington State Park. Time to shoot! F22.0 at 1/6, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

After I wait an hour for a break in the clouds, magic light falls upon the beach and beach house at Ludington State Park. Time to shoot! F22.0 at 1/6, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

A wave bursts over one of the pilings left from a dock that once jutted out into Lake Michigan at Oval Beach in Saugatuck. I like the repetitive patterns of the worn pilings and the way the waves and light play on them at sunset on a June evening. F8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 32mm

One of my fellow CrossFit friends, Patrick Mousel, was out for a sunset run along the Lake Michigan shoreline at the Ludington State Park tonight. As he quickly approached, I got into position and made this "Pure Ludington" image. F22 at 0.4, ISO 100, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

Just recently, we had a first time visitor to our gallery telling us that she had never been to Michigan before. She went on to tell us that the night before was her first time experiencing a sunset over Lake Michigan and that when she saw with her own eyes that the beach and sand really do turn neon pink during sunset, she started to cry. I was thinking of her when I made this image a few days later. F4.5 at 1/40, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

I never tire of the adrenaline rush I get when I see a great sunset forming, especially when I am not in position to shoot it yet. When I first realized that I needed to get to the shoreline of Lake Michigan tonight to shoot the sunset, I was standing on the tarmac at the Mason County Airport. I knew I only had about 15 minutes to get into position. I rushed off to the second curve at Ludington State Park and this was my reward. F13 at 1/15, ISO 100, 10-17mm lens at 16mm

I am getting wet making this picture but moving close to these jetties is, I know, vital to making an image that will put the viewer there. The water rushing over the tops of my waterproof shoes is cold and distracting but the image in my viewfinder is also a rush. F4.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

Among the most overlooked beautiful places at Ludington State Park are the dunes on the inland section of the park east of M-116 and south of the Sable River. This evening the view as I see it is spectacular. F4.5 at 1/125, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 13 mm