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One of my photography heroes, the late great Galen Rowell, made some stunning photographs of campsites during climbing expeditions. I thought of his poetic camp images while envisioning this shot at Fisherman's Island State Park. I am combining and balancing the light still remaining in the sky with lantern and bonfire light. F4.0 at 30.0, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

A shelf cloud was forming off Stearns Beach in downtown Ludington today. It was interesting watching the different weather systems collide and then come on shore. The water in this photograph was super calm. Within fifteen minutes, I was watching small white caps

Jen Satterfield had her three-year-old German Shepard, Bella Carlisle, fetching a water bottle in Lake Michigan tonight near the Loomis Street Boat Ramp. I couldn't resist walking over with my camera for a closer look. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 800, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

With one of her youngsters safely tucked behind her, an adult otter clutched her other baby after a swimming and food hunting expedition on the Leland River at Fish Town. A mooring line ran between them. The scene reminded me of swimmers hugging between lanes after finishing a race. I am certain this was an emotional moment for the otters.

The flowers in my mom’s garden made a great brilliant backdrop to this water-droplet-filled leaf.

The clouds have been stunning all day. I have already made several good Lake Michigan shoreline photographs. Yet I knew that if the clouds stuck around, the evening light would make the clouds more colorful. Sure enough; with the luck of the Irish, the Emerald Isle ferry returns to Charlevoix from Beaver Island at the peak of magic light. F4.0 at 1/500, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

A mother otter looks back to make certain her other baby is coming after a swim at Fish Town in Leland, Michigan. The otter family lives on the far side of the Leland River, away from most of the businesses in Fish Town, affording privacy from the hundreds of people usually enjoying Fish Town. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

Today Rachel and I drove from Kalkaska to Traverse City. Just as we were leaving our hotel on Grand Traverse Bay to head to dinner at the Boathouse Restaurant on Old Mission Peninsula, an incredible sunset erupted out of nowhere. In my dress clothes and dress shoes, I quickly made an image before the light show ended. These colors are 100% real. It was one of the more intense sunsets I have ever photographed.

On October 9, 2010, the Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 3rd annual Barns & Byways Tour in Mason County. This year, the tour will take place in Victory Township. The beautiful Victory Trinity Lutheran Church will be included on the tour. F6.3 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 27 mm

I have witnessed God beams in the clouds over Lake Michigan hundreds of times, but tonight was the first time I experienced God beams below the surface. The underwater housing I am borrowing this summer allowed me to capture the beauty of the rays perfectly so that I could share them with the world. F5 at 1/250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 12mm

I planned an early birthday vacation for Brad this weekend. We were supposed to be photographing hot air balloons over Torch Lake; however, Mother Nature decided otherwise. Instead, we drove around exploring areas of the lake we had never photographed before.

During a hike from our campsite to Fisherman's Island, my wife Debbie and I are mesmerized by the beauty of the rocky, shallow lake bottom as Lake Michigan waves undulate above the rocks. I shoot as some of the rocks are nearly uncovered between waves. I want to convey the beauty of the rocks and the clarity and liquidity of the water. F3.5 at 1/1250, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I am one of many visitors and local residents alike gathered on the Lake Michigan shoreline at Leland to watch the sun set over North Manitou Island. Experiences like this are why Michigan is such a special place to live or to visit. F22 at 0.4, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 20mm

If you have never had one of the homemade cookies at the Old Mission General Store, do yourself a favor, and go visit this Michigan treasure. The owners are the nicest people, and the store is like walking back in time. Rachel and I had the best visit there today. I blew my diet, but it was so worth it!

You know Lake Michigan is calm when you can see the reflection of people walking on the pier inside the channel. Tonight was a rare night in Ludington and I was happy to be documenting the tranquil sunset with my camera. F8 at 1/640, ISO 800, 10-17mm lens at 12mm

Today, Brad and I explored Old Mission Peninsula. There is so much to see! The Old Mission Lighthouse looked especially stunning today.

Magic light strikes the path to the Green family farm on Beaver Island. Ludington friends Tony and Betty Green invited Debbie and me to visit the 120-acre farm established by Tony's family nearly 150 years ago when they emigrated from Arranmore Island, Ireland to this Lake Michigan island. F4.0 at 1/40, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

After Rachel and I finished eating a wonderful dinner outside at the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery on Old Mission Peninsula, we grabbed our camera gear and walked to photograph the setting sun over Grand Traverse Bay. We stopped so I could make this image of the sun dancing between the trees and their shadows on the lawn of the restaurant. I love finding unexpected photographs like this one.

Our friends Paul and Lisa Cooper have turned their new homestead on South Stiles Road into a little farm they call Carn Brea. Currently they have four mini horses and four of the cutest little sheep I have ever seen. This sheep looks huggable! F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

It was another fun day in the Traverse City area photographing and exploring. We ended up at the Jolly Pumpkin for dinner and hoped to be finished eating before sunset. After dinner, we walked to a nearby beach to catch the last of the sun’s rays.