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My dad and I always call the clumps of grass in the foreground of this image "Cousin Its" because they remind us of the character Cousin It from the Addams Family. This is the first good photo I have ever taken of Ruckel's Bridge at the Silver Lake State Park. Even though it is March, this photo definitely has a fall feel to it.

The fish fry at St. Simons Catholic Church has become a popular community-wide fundraising event in recent years for people of varying religious backgrounds and beliefs. The money raised goes to support the elementary school at St. Simons. Nathan Kroon was one of the many volunteers making the fish fry a huge success. F2.8 at 1/10, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

After stopping in Walkerville to get some breakfast, I continued east on my journey to Legends Ranch in Bitely, Michigan. A few minutes outside of Walkerville, I drove into heavy fog. The fog got so thick that I had to slow down and drive less than 10 miles per hour. When I rounded a bend, I was awe struck to see the sun shining through the top of a huge tree. The intense sunlight and dense fog was a photographer's dream!

Looking down at these grasses near the Silver Lake Outlet at Silver Lake State Park, I can't help but laugh. They look like bad hairdos to me. I decide to zero in on them. F5 at 1/50, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 18mm

Winter Coat

This maple tree along Michigan's west shore is a muse of mine. For years I have checked it out each fall. I don't think I have ever seen it more beautiful than on this October day.

Just to the northwest of Ruckel's Bridge at the Silver Lake State Park, I came upon this miniature looking forest. I loved how the dappled light was highlighting a few of these beautiful plants. F9 at 0.3, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 23mm

Winter Therapy

Water from Bas Lake, carving a path of least resistance, curves through the sand on its downhill flow to Lake Michigan.

In 1936, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the Beach House at the Ludington State Park. The CCC also built many of the current park roads and twelve warming shelters on the trail system. Unfortunately, many of the original shelters were destroyed by vandalism and severe weather. Luckily though, the Beach House remains and is a beautiful piece of history.

The color of the water in Lake Charlevoix often has a tropical feel to it because of its green tint. This morning however, it looked very cold and rugged near shore because of the mix of the rocks and ice. F22.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Two Canada geese flew in tandem next to me this morning as I stood on the side of Long Bridge Road near the Pentwater River flats. I love the graphic nature of this image and it shows the power and beauty of these giant birds. F7.1 at 1/2000, ISO 2200, 600mm lens at 600mm

An ice fisherman is oblivious to cold because good fishing luck could arrive at any time. I eagerly waited, on a bone-chilling winter morning, for the sun to rise over the Pere Marquette River. My perseverance netted a good catch. A day like this helps me understand ice fishermen better.

I have to laugh and smile looking at the face I see on the trunk of this birch tree. We take some pictures just for the fun of it. F11.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

A windmill near Stony Lake catches the afternoon sunlight on its beautifully rusted blades and wind vane. I love discovering old windmills still functioning and still in place in their original farm settings. I find this one especially beautiful. F6.3 at 1/800, ISO 140, 300mm lens at 300mm

Looking westward in the Pere Marquette River Flats, on the same morning I photographed the preceding scene looking eastward, revealed a similar view but one with the Dow Chemical Plant in the background.

Today the weather was spectacular in Ludington. Betsy and I dug out the double stroller and loaded up Ethan and Julia and we all went for a nice walk down to the beach. Just down the road from our house, I made this photo of a freshly cut tree stump. F9.0 at 1/125, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

After putting on a slide show in Fremont yesterday as part of a United Way fundraiser, my dad, my daughter Julia, and I drove to the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Muskegon. We got our permits and then drove around the property looking for snowy owls. My dad's keen eye spotted this one out in a large field near a utility road. We pulled over and I got my cold weather gear on and my giant lens and tripod, and slowly walked towards the beautiful bird. This was the first snowy owl that Julia has ever seen.

Miles of rolling dunes await visitors to Silver Lake State Park. This hiking path at the Ruckel's Bridge Day Use Area near the south end of the state park leads visitors to what I like to call a "big sky country" view of thousands of acres of dunes and Lake Michigan. F22 at 1/13, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm