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Red White and Blue Sailboat

Hamlin Lake is one of Michigan’s largest man-made lakes and is certainly one of the most popular. The lake is named after Hannibal Hamlin, who was Vice President of United States under Abraham Lincoln. He lived before the advent of human flight, so sadly, he never got to see this view of his namesake.

 

Little Sable Point Lighthouse was shining bright tonight. I always love when the bright sunlight hits the Fresnel lens inside the top of the lighthouse and reflects in unique ways. I also love looking at Little Sable on nights like these where one side is brighter, and the other side is in the shadows. The details of the red brick on the brighter side are visually stimulating to me.

Home feels good tonight. I took time to explore around the yard after unpacking the camper. I have always thought Queen Anne’s lace does not get the attention it deserves. I decided to use her for my star.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer is hoisted to a Coast Guard MH65 Dolphin helicopter during training offshore from Ludington in the late 1990s. Station Ludington’s 44-foot motor lifeboat stands by, its crew ready to assist and conduct joint training with the helicopter crew. The Coast Guard established its rescue swimmer program in 1984 to increase its ability to save mariners, downed aviators, stranded hurricane victims, injured hikers and others in distress.

Pentwater North Pierhead Light attracts many people on summer nights, but its main purpose is to help guide boats into Pentwater harbor. Its conical tower stands 43-feet high to help mariners, find the harbor by day. By night, a green light on top of the tower flashes to aid boaters in finding the harbor entrance.

Watching from atop the Ridge Trail as this lone vessel sailed north on a September Lake Michigan cruise, I couldn't help but think of the hundreds of times I had cruised the same waters aboard Coast Guard rescue boats. When not too busy focusing on a mission, I was always awe-struck by the natural beauty and remoteness of the dunes and forests these recreational voyagers were undoubtedly appreciating this day. It made me long for those Coast Guard boat rides, both the calm ones and the really rough ones. Big Point Sable is on average the windiest spot on Lake Michigan.

My dad is fond of saying, "Clouds are your friends!" This photograph is all about the quality of the light that is bouncing off the clouds and onto the water.

Coast Guard Station Manistee's 45-foot rescue boat heads past Manistee Lighthouse on a Lake Michigan patrol. A summer squall has passed and the Coast Guardsmen are making certain mariners in the vicinity are safe.

Distortion is not a bad thing in photography; you just need to be aware it is happening and compose strong images working with the distortion. My underwater camera housing is set up to use my old Nikon D7000 camera body along with a fisheye 10-17mm lens. I made this image at 11mm knowing it would be greatly distorted, but I really liked the end result. D7000, F8 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 10-17mm lens at 11mm

Workshop at Ludington State Park

Watching from atop the Ridge Trail as this lone vessel sailed north on a September Lake Michigan cruise, I couldn’t help but think of the hundreds of times I had cruised the same waters aboard Coast Guard rescue boats. When not too busy focusing on a mission, I was always awe-struck by the natural beauty and remoteness of the dunes and forests these recreational voyagers were undoubtedly appreciating this day. It made me long for those Coast Guard boat rides, both the calm ones and the really rough ones. Big Point Sable is on average the windiest spot on Lake Michigan.

 My family and I had just finished a nice dinner with my mom and dad, and my brother Paul’s family at his house. On our drive home my eyes were on the sky. I knew that I wanted to get to the lakeshore and shoot the sunset. We hurried home to get my tripod, and had plans to head in, as a family, to enjoy what I hoped would be a nice evening with great light. My two and a half year old son David Benjamin had other ideas! He actually begged to stay home. Daddy and David Benjamin stayed and held down the fort at home while I headed towards the beach with my five and a half year old daughter Kasey Mae. She loves to help mommy shoot, and I thought for sure I’d have to fight her for my camera. However, within seconds of seeing the water she was asking if she could go in and play. Upon hearing my approval, she ran into the water, with her shoes and socks still on! It was a fun night of shooting for me, and playing in the water for her. I named this photo “Mae’s Rays”. It was shot the last day of May 2014; Mae is Kasey’s middle name as well as my mom’s middle name. My mom and Kasey Mae play a very important role in my life, and I’m happy to have made this image for them.

An April night at Little Sable Light finds the 108-foot tower standing starkly against the twilight sky. I have made dozens of photo trips to the lighthouse near Silver Lake, often accompanied by my wife Debbie, sons Todd, Brad and Willie, and nephew Ryan. On this night we shot for a couple of hours as the light changed, and different pictures presented themselves. Whenever I go there, I think of the many good times we have shared looking, searching, waiting, talking, and shooting.

Photographing life rings is one of my hobbies. The weathered appearance of this ring aboard the tugboat Karl E. Luedtke caught my eye while the Frankfort-based tug was working on a Ludington harbor improvement project. Photographing familiar objects, over time, is a good way to learn to see the objects and light better, and to watch my photography evolve.

You don't have to be a sailor yourself to enjoy watching the sailboat races that have been taking place for more than a century in harbors along the Lake Michigan shoreline. I marvel at the expert close-quarters racing on Pentwater Lake on summer days.

I love front row seats for watching Michigan storm fronts arrive. This evening my vantage point is picturesque Snug Harbor Marina in Pentwater. Within moments it has turned from daylight to dark and the wind has picked up from 15 to 45 knots. Gotta love it! F22 at 1.6 seconds, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

The nearly century old Alpena Light stands out on the Lake Huron shoreline. The distinctive light structure is also known as Thunder Bay River Lighthouse and the Alpena Breakwater Light. I got a close-up view as we passed by on the Lady Michigan shipwreck tour boat en route to Lake Huron from the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. F10 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 80mm