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For just a moment, from my vantage point on Grand Traverse Bay, sailboats underway fit perfectly into the spaces between the sailboats tending from their mooring buoys. My previsualization of what could happen has happened. My visual poem is complete; nothing left to do but to click the shutter. D800, F5.6 at 1/200, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 160mm

I have not experienced a winter with this much snow and ice since I was a little kid. I am in heaven this evening at the beach in Grand Haven. My dad and I love to photograph Michigan all year long, but we are especially fond of cold winter days when the sun is shining. D7000, F22 at 1/15, ISO 100, 10-20mm lens at

Fears of a gray day are quickly dispelled by the dawn's early light and color as I look eastward across Ludington harbor toward the Occidental Chemical Corporation plant. This beats the strongest coffee for waking up an outdoor photographer.

I have always wanted to photograph this black horse on US31 near Norwalk, Michigan and today the scene was finally perfect. I have always wanted to photograph this black horse on US31 near Norwalk, Michigan and today the scene was finally perfect.

Appearing to be huddling together against the cold, or perhaps just having a conversation about the "just ducky" weather, two male Mallards endure some fowl weather on the Sable River.

Cool barn! The repetitive patterns provided by this weathered old barn's board and batten siding, tin roof and screened window catch my eye for the first time even though I have passed by the barn before while driving on Gordon Road near Scottville. F4.0 at 1/800, ISO 800, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

Each year many people get engaged in front of Michigan lighthouses. Our good friend, Eric Uitvlugt, recently proposed to his girlfriend at the Grand Haven lighthouse so I named this photo in their honor.

Winter Workshop

Porcupine Summit

I’ve always appreciated this large tree on Sugar Grove Road. Today, with the snow falling, the atmosphere it created was the perfect added ingredient.

Coast Guard Motor Life Boat 44345 is revered by many members of the Reed family. She always took care of her crew and brought them back to shore safely, including my dad. Sadly, she is sitting outside on blocks waiting for a home at the future maritime museum in Ludington. It kills me to see such a fine vessel in less than perfect condition. F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 1000, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

Every time I drive by this tree on US10 just before Chase, Michigan, I check it out to see if it is ready to be photographed. On this frigid February morning as two of my best friends, Sarah Genson and Rachel Gaudette, and I are heading across the state on a photo mission, we get out of my truck to make this image. Like usual, we are laughing at each other the entire time.

Everyone loves seeing apple blossoms decorate the countryside of the Lake Michigan shoreline counties in springtime, but I am among the many who get just as excited to see the apple trees loaded with apples ready for harvest at the end of summer and during fall.

Taken at Gerlach Workshop in Munising

The 410-foot carferry Badger was completely reflected in a small puddle near its dock tonight during a dramatic sunset. I slowly walked into the middle of the puddle and after the water calmed back down, I made this image. Notice the large triangle in the foreground that comes to a point at the reflected smoke stack.

This remains one of the most priceless moments I have ever captured with a camera. On an unseasonably cold October day, I saw a flock of sheep marching single-file across a field. I sought permission from Bernal Burke to venture into his Carr Settlement fields. I arrived where the sheep were heading with just enough time to set up my camera. The lead sheep turned sideways, and the next sheep in line followed his lead, setting up a barricade to protect the flock. As they maneuvered, huge snowflakes began to fall. It was the first snow of the season, and the lead sheep did not appear happy. For many years after my camera froze that moment, a framed print of this image usually hung in a prominent spot in our art fair tent. The image caused a lot of laughter as art fair patrons attempted to mimic the lead sheep’s expression and even try to make sheep sounds. It made people happy and brought us some comic relief from our long weekend grind on the Michigan art fair circuit. I will always be grateful to Bernal Burke for being so kind, accommodating and trusting to allow me to roam freely on his land. Besides being a farmer, Bernal served for many years as the Mason County Treasurer. I always admired and respected him when, as a reporter, I covered county government. I admired him as a farmer just as much. I believe we shared mutual respect, which meant the world to me.

I didn't start out to shoot another ice shot today, but I find this one simply stunning. I shoot some shots with seagulls in the foreground, others with seagulls flying. Then I make this picture with no seagulls because I decide the birds are distracting the viewer from appreciating the beauty of the ice-coated rocks that caught my eye in the first place. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

This sign above Pere Marquette Sport Center in downtown Ludington leaps out with its message to fishermen. I have fond memories of going into this store as a boy to buy bait and other sporting goods with my grandfathers, father and brother. It was called Tuck's Sport Shop then and was owned by our neighbors, Tuck and Ivadel Daugherty. F11.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 100 mm

The ice on Pere Marquette Lake is breaking up with the January thaw. While I would prefer a more severe winter to photograph, I can't complain about the view in front of me this morning.

Taken at Gerlach Workshop in Munising