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Rugged ice and towering waves define the Lake Michigan shoreline in the coldest winter months. On cold, clear days when the sun graces us with its presence, the ice displays different shades of blue and white. On this day, my friend, Rob Alway, and I made our way out on the ice and we each came away with some powerful photographs.

I hiked up and down a lot of sand dunes and through several swales before finding this picture in a cedar swamp area between dune ridges. It was a warm June evening and I was hot. As I tried to photograph this bluebell, my glasses kept steaming up. Finally, I gave up trying to repeatedly wipe the glasses and set them aside. I made the picture and happily set off back over the dunes and through the woods. I was almost back to my car on M-116 when I realized I was not wearing my glasses. It was not such a happy walk retracing my steps. I did find them, thanks to the flowers beside them. Had I not, I still think the shot

The moon is an extremely difficult subject to photograph. If you set your exposure according to the camera meter, then you get some detail in the night sky and foreground, but the moon is a solid white circle with no detail. If you underexpose by three or four stops, then you get the "cheese" of the moon, but no detail in the sky or foreground. The moon also moves so quickly that it requires a relatively fast shutter speed. When it's dark outside, the only way to get a fast shutter speed is to raise your ISO or film speed. However, high film speeds are grainy or noisy. The choice is yours.

Night Crossing - Panoramic

 

August Bloom

My dad and I have taken many beautiful photographs at the end of Ludington Avenue. On rough days, that location allows you an unobstructed view of the Ludington North Breakwater, while still offering some protection from the blowing sand and water.One risk still present is thin ice. Just after I captured this photograph, the ice beneath me gave way. Luckily, only my feet got wet.

A blue jay pauses along the Sable River before spotting the photographer tucked in some nearby bushes trying to stay hidden while waiting for one of the State Park's resident otters to come into view. Sure enough, the small bird spots me and sounds out its familiar sharp alarm, announcing to all the wildlife within a mile that danger is here. My presence revealed, I decide to give up on the otter for now and turn my camera's attention to the one who blew my cover.

Craig Goodman

 

On fire with the light of the setting sun, waves explode like fireworks against rocks lining the Ludington South Breakwater. Lake Michigan's energy never ceases to amaze and excite me.

I would not have gotten a photograph of the fox at Ludington State Park if it were not for this chipmunk. The chipmunk had been playing at ease on the log in front of me for several minutes when suddenly it became motionless. I made this picture of my new furry friend and then turned around to see what she was so concerned about. It was then that I spotted the elusive fox.

After the Storm