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For many of the months my dad and I were shooting at Ludington State Park for this book, my older brother Tad was busy fighting the war in Iraq. The park became a safe haven for my dad and me, a place to clear our heads and our hearts. The park allowed us to somehow feel closer to Tad. This tree on the north edge of the Ridge Trail became a special place for me and I named the spot "Tad's Tree."

I had already seen a dramatic storm front image Brad made less than two weeks earlier at Duck Lake Outlet. Not a person was in sight when Brad took that picture. Here I am on an August afternoon less than two weeks later with the opportunity to show an entirely different Michigan mood at the same popular spot. Today the outlet is packed with swimmers and sunbathers.

A Hidden Treasure

I took my daughter, Kasey Mae, along with me shooting tonight. She enjoyed playing in the water while I went to work. It was an amazing night with just the two of us!

My kids love collecting stones. I am not sure where this one came from, but I loved the textures, colors, and patterns in it.

Last week my daughter Julia and I discovered a new road we had not ever driven on. We took Scenic Drive from Whitehall all the way to the Muskegon State Park. Along the way we passed over the Duck Lake Outlet. The light was not good that night, but I knew that I would be back to that spot soon when the conditions were better. Last night I left Ludington about 5:15pm and drove back down to the Duck Lake Outlet. I had no cell signal, but I could see a shelf cloud coming toward me over Lake Michigan. Just before 8pm the storm was on top of me and it started to pour. This was my last shot of the night, and then I ran for cover.

Father and Son Time

Grand Traverse Light

Almost Summer

This beautiful tree is on the south shore of Lake Michigan at the Duck Lake Outlet. The strength and perseverance of trees like this along the shores of the Great Lakes always amaze me. The wind, water, snow, ice, and lightning has not stopped this tree from thriving.

A Great Night

Over the last few years, my dad and I have made some many great memories with Team Reed and other workshop students on the beach at the Lake Michigan Campground in the Manistee National Forest. Tonight, we had our Heaven on Hamlin students out there shooting the sunset. It was a gorgeous night.

Feeling the Heat

The Sable River Outlet is one of the most beautiful and popular spots at Ludington State Park. Hundreds of people flock to the river mouth on a hot summer day. But it is during quieter times, like this early May evening that it calls to me the most.

A solid gold sunset greeted me on the Lake Michigan shoreline this evening. I loved the way the light was playing on the beach and small outlet.

Five Lakes of Hesperia

Butterfly

Glow Time

Cherry Point Farm