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As I was opening the door to a Port-a-Jon in Cartier Park, I saw three baby raccoons near me. I decided I could hold it a while longer and ran back to my truck to get my biggest lens and tripod. I found the babies snuggled together on a tree branch, but my lens was so large, I could not fit all three raccoons in the frame, so I picked the cutest two. F4.0 at 1/80, ISO 1250, 600 mm lens at 600 mm

This wild tiger lily is one of dozens of these colorful roadside attractions lining Meyers Road between Ludington and Scottville. It is a bit breezy so I will have to shoot at a fast shutter speed and bump up the ISO to make a sharp image, but I like the way the picture looks in the viewfinder. F3.2 at 1/250, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I can’t wait to see how big this buck in my backyard gets in the next few months. It always amazes me how close the deer in my yard allow me to get to them.

I round the bend of the Ludington North Breakwater with a photography workshop student and am surprised to see a bride and groom strolling toward me. With no time to get the camera on the tripod, I draw on skills honed in my newspaper days and quickly compose a hand-held shot of the newlyweds, Ashli and Jon Solitro. F5.0 at 1/200, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

This eagle looked a little rough today as it soared over us on the boat. We all commented on how it seemed to be missing several feathers. Bright summer sun and clear blue skies are usually not a photographer’s friend, but today they worked in my favor for this image.

Just after photographing the Badger leaving the pier heads, I noticed a beautiful bride and groom walking around the top of the Ludington North Breakwater Light. Luckily for me, Ashli and Jon Solitro were eager to be models for my photo of the day. Oftentimes, found moments like this make the best photographs. F8.0 at 1/400, ISO 400, 70-200 mm lens at 190 mm

After taking some shots of Brad and a student of ours photographing a mature bald eagle at Ludington State Park, I switch to my big lens just in time to watch the eagle take off after an immature eagle swooped down at it. The mature bird flies over my head so close that I have to shoot without looking through the viewfinder to track with it. Awesome! F4.0 at 1/4000, ISO 800, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Today we had a customer who wanted to take a private lesson with us and wanted to go shooting out in the field. The weather was great so we decided to take Billy York to Ludington State Park to try photographing the bald eagles. We succeeded on our first attempt. We had a blast and it was a great way to spend an afternoon. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

The Lister family is always so gracious to Brad and me when we ask to photograph their farmland. Based upon their recommendation, I headed to Blundell Road this evening to photograph tart cherries. Wow do these cherries look great to me in the viewfinder. I could almost eat the picture! F3.2 at 1/25, ISO 200, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

Some images will always have a special place in my heart, and this is one of them. While having a blast golfing tonight with my brother Tad and Sean at Golden Sands Golf Course near Silver Lake, Tad spotted this large toad in the grass. I quickly grabbed my cell phone and lay on my stomach and got face to face with this prince. Lots of laughs and jokes went along with this moment that will always make me happy.

I have always been drawn to abstract art and have been inspired to try becoming more abstract with my own photography. This photograph is of Lake Michigan at sunset. I zoomed my lens while exposing. F22.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 80 mm

A monarch butterfly takes off from a milkweed flower along the west shore of Pere Marquette Lake. The scene reminds me of my childhood enjoying such natural wonders in the fields that bordered our Ludington home. F3.5 at 1/500, ISO 160, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Betsy and I took the kids to play on the playground at Wilson Park on upper Hamlin Lake tonight. Wilson Park is located at the very end of Jebavy Drive and is a beautiful little park and a busy boat-launching site in the summer time. I made this photograph from the dock at the boat launch. F5.6 at 1/50, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

A neighborhood deer grazes near our home on the Buttersville peninsula south of Ludington. Her summer coat looks splendid in the evening light. F2.8 at 1/160, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Vern Collins has the most spectacular silver poplar trees in his yard near the corner of Sixth Street and Old US 31. I have always wanted to try making a photograph that could show the beautiful contrast in the silver and green leaves. Today the light and clouds are perfect to showcase the magnificent trees. F3.2 at 1/800, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I don’t believe I have ever made an image at Lincoln Lake. I left Ludington later than I had planned, and sunset was fading fast. I parked past the bridge on M-116 and walked quickly in between cars to capture this sunset over Lincoln Lake.

My wife Debbie and I are returning to Buttersville Park from a trek to photograph the clay banks in the evening light when this scene presents itself. I already have the picture I set out to take but can't pass up this shot of a group of Kalamazoo College students savoring a bonfire and the sunset afterglow. Another hike to the clay banks lies ahead. F4.5 at 1.0, ISO 250, 12-24 mm lens at 22 mm

I worked hard following this butterfly all over my backyard. Usually, butterflies sit longer and are easier to photograph. This one was super active in my yard and didn’t sit still for more than a few seconds at each landing spot.

My wife Debbie and I are returning to Buttersville Park from a trek to photograph the clay banks in the evening light when this scene presents itself. I already have the picture I set out to take but can't pass up this shot of a group of Kalamazoo College students savoring a bonfire and the sunset afterglow. Another hike to the clay banks lies ahead. F4.5 at 1.0, ISO 250, 12-24 mm lens at 22 mm

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