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I have thought for months that the steeple of Calvary Baptist Church on Jebavy Drive stands out simply and beautifully at night. Tonight I am photographing the cross-crowned spire at twilight to provide a blue background. F8.0 at 4.0, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

The last couple of nights before sunset I have seen large God beams in the sky. Tonight I had to rush to my Uncle Budde and Aunt Sheryl's house on Lake Michigan in order to line up the Ludington North Breakwater Light with the gorgeous God beams behind it. F22.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

I have always been proud to say I am from Ludington. So why not a "Ludington" picture for the 365 project? This sign above the front door of the old fish market at the carferry dock screams "Ludington." F16.0 a 1/20, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

The amazing God beams were back tonight and even more defined. I waited for the sun to peek through a hole in the thick cloud layer. When the sun finally broke through, the light show was even better than I predicted it would be. F6.3 at 1/200, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 70 mm

Brad called early this morning to report heavy frost a few miles inland from Lake Michigan. Sure enough, pine trees four miles east of Ludington are coated with frost. This is just what I was looking for. F8.0 at 1/100, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 185 mm

The Iris family barn was part of the Barns and Byways tour this past October. I have always loved photographing this unique piece of Mason County history. Today with heavy frost covering every tree in sight, the multi-colored barn stood out even more than usual. F5.6 at 1/80, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I am back at the Andersen elk ranch on Amber Road to try once again to make an image I like of a big elk. Today he surprises me by ambling over to the edge of a neighboring enclosure to share a friendly moment with a younger elk. F2.8 at 1/100, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

The overcast sky appears to be dancing in the reflections on the surface of the Sable River today inside Ludington State Park. Using a telephoto lens I am able to isolate and photograph the prettiest part of the water. F2.8 at 1/100, ISO 400, 70-200 mm lens at 190 mm

My cousin Ryan Reed and his girlfriend Erica Karmeisool had a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the downtown building they bought on Ludington Avenue. When all the family arrived, they surprised us with a romantic wedding. Ryan's best friend, Pastor Chris Pedersen, flew from South Dakota to marry the couple on New Year's Eve. F5.0 at 1/8, ISO 1600, 18-55 mm lens at 40 mm

The bird's-eye view of the Pine River while passing over the bridge on US37 near M55 is always spectacular. Today, we park our vehicles and hike onto the bridge to be able to take in the view in slow time instead of at 55 miles per hour, making the view even more impressive. F13 at 1/800, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 180mm

Walking through William Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, Michigan, I am vigilantly looking for the perfect leaf to photograph in the fresh snow that has fallen overnight. I know it when I see it: a perfectly preserved oak leaf jutting out of the snow. Blades of green grass provide an added ingredient. F22 at 1/80, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 70mm

Composing photographs can be like assembling a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. You have to look very closely at every piece to see how they fit together. One missing piece can ruin the entire experience. This winter puzzle I made off the bridge on M37 fit together perfectly. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 82mm

As I was walking back to my truck along a dock on Pentwater Lake, I noticed a single leaf floating on the water. I waited for the leaf to float into just the right spot, in the reflection of a nearby dock. F2.8 at 1/100, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Looking at a classic building like the original part of Ludington Public Library is like reading a classic book; neither ever goes out of style and both become more revered with time. I am so grateful for the preservation and restoration of the library built in 1905-06 with funding from a Carnegie Grant and from the City of Ludington. The Wilson family and many other friends of the library made the recent restoration and expansion possible. F22 at 8 seconds, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

A few months ago I photographed this tree when it was full of leaves. Today, the tree is bare and all the leaves have blown away. With the driving snow, the scene looked delicate, yet strikingly beautiful. F8 at 1/25, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm