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For years, I have enjoyed observing sailboats swinging from their mooring buoys with the wind in the harbors along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This summer night in Ludington harbor I watched the water and sky around a sailboat on the hook on Pere Marquette Lake transform from electric orange at sunset to shocking pink minutes later.

Those who climb their way to the top of the Skyline Trail are rewarded with a birds-eye view of the southern portion of the park. If they time their hike to the schedule of the carferry S.S. Badger, and look through a good pair of binoculars or a large telephoto camera lens, they might also enjoy one of the best views they have ever seen of the big ship heading out of Ludington harbor.

The shoreline at Little Sable Point extends westward toward Wisconsin farther than any spot of land in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. I feel on top of the world looking southwest over Lake Michigan from the tower observation deck over 100 feet above the shore atop Little Sable Point Lighthouse.

Badger in Fog

Pure Ludington - Panoramic

Those who climb their way to the top of the Skyline Trail are rewarded with a birds-eye view of the southern portion of the park. If they time their hike to the schedule of the carferry S.S. Badger, and look through a good pair of binoculars or a large telephoto camera lens, they might also enjoy one of the best views they have ever seen of the big ship heading out of Ludington harbor.

Many of my summer evenings in Ludington are spent with family and friends. I had not shot any photographs for a few days, so on this evening, my wife, Betsy, and I politely excused ourselves from a family gathering and drove to the First Curve at the Ludington State Park. A delicate blade of dune grass first caught my eye. I lay down on my stomach and started shooting. Summer

The old Coast Guard station and lighthouse mark the harbor at Beaver Island as we pass by on the Emerald Isle ferry on our way back to the Michigan mainland at Charlevoix. A fresh breeze straightens the American Flag. It is a beautiful day for a cruise, a perfect ending to experiencing the island. F4.5 at 1/800, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

Tall Ship & Sunset

 Although, over the last few years I’ve made many images that I’m extremely proud of, one photo that I still had not captured was a great image of the Ludington North Breakwater Light. I’ve made images of the lighthouse, just none that I was in love with. I had the chance to stay in town to shoot the sunset on May 21st, and I was crossing my fingers that the rain would stop, and the clouds would break just enough for the sun to shine through. It could have gone either way, but I was ready and waiting. I chose a telephoto lens, so that I could focus on just the lighthouse and the setting sun. Thankfully for me, the sunset turned out to be gorgeous! I could see others taking a nightly run to the lighthouse, or taking in the sunset with family or friends. It was just me, my camera, and the setting sun enjoying that special night on the south side of the beach, listening to Lake Michigan tell her summer secrets.

 

I have learned hundreds of photography hints from my dad, but one of the most important things he has taught me is that the sky often displays the best color about twenty minutes after sunset. I had just captured the Breezy Night photograph when Betsy and I drove further into Ludington State Park to look for more photographs. As we passed over the Sable River Bridge, Betsy noticed a heron in the water below. I grabbed my gear and I was off. To get the best photograph possible, I knew I would have to get in the river. Not wanting to threaten or disturb the heron, I waded ever so slowly to within fifteen yards of the bird, and quietly captured the photograph I was looking for. Thanks for the helpful hints, Dad.

Big Point Sable Lighthouse guides mariners safely past its treacherous shallows as it has since 1867. The famous landmark stands guard at the north end of a C-shaped 35-mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline that meanders from Big Point Sable to Little Point Sable. Big Point's tower rises 112 feet from its base to the top of the lamphouse.

Seagulls

Blue Takeoff

Hiding in Plain Site

Bathed in evening light, a sailboat graces the east end of Pentwater Lake. The view is from Long Bridge, which links the opposite shores of the lake.

This is the view in front of the home my family is renting for the week on Portage Lake near Onekama, Michigan. I have been building this photo in my head since the moment we arrived. Now that it is Wednesday, I have my camera and tripod ready to shoot the sunrise. The hardest part of making this photograph was figuring out how to turn off the automatic sprinklers.

Sunset Off Stearns Park Beach