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Forest Vertigo

The life and death cycle of a forest fascinates me. I have come to realize my life is just a speck in the evolution of any forest. These birch trees at Ludington State Park have fallen victim to birch bark disease. Diseased wood brought to the park by campers has helped spread tree diseases at the park and across much of Michigan. I wonder if birch trees and other diseased trees will stage a comeback generations from now.

Traveling Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City when thousands of cherry trees are in bloom is one of those Michigan experiences that are unforgettable. This spot on M37 is one of many Old Mission locations where motorists can see orchards, rolling hills, and Grand Traverse Bay all at once. For landscape photography lovers like me these scenes provide the opportunity to make "grand scenic" pictures that feature a strong foreground, middleground, and background. F11 at 1/250, ISO 200, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

Lake Michigan

Polar Vortex

One can only imagine how lonely it must have felt for light keepers to spend the entire winter isolated at Mission Point Lighthouse during times gone by. On this February morning the grand old lighthouse at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula north of Northport looks lonely but simply beautiful with a fresh coat of snow.

Fall Color

For a very short time, the fruit country south of Ludington blossoms into a fairyland. This evening view is from Hawley Road looking north. F5.0 at 1/200, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Like so many Michiganders and Michiganders at heart, I love looking at the barns scattered across the countryside of our great state. In recent years more and more Michigan barns are being adorned with wooden barn quilts for owners and passersby to enjoy. This barn quilt brightens a February day on Old Mission Peninsula along East Bay north of Traverse City.

Red Light

Freeze Morning

Of all the farm stands I have seen in Michigan, this one on Old Mission Peninsula may be my favorite. The tiny, traditional hut at Twin Maples Farm on Center Road has a lot of curb appeal, compelling me to get out my camera. I also can't help but get out my wallet so I can take home some Michigan maple syrup.

Frosty Countryside

Frozen Palace

Fruit Country

A giant white cedar tree twists its way toward the sky like a giant corkscrew. This natural treasure is part of a several-hundred-year-old virgin white cedar forest on the southeast side of South Manitou Island. Visitors to the island can take a long hike to view these marvels or can sign up for a wagon tour of island attractions which includes a short hike into the cedar forest.

Kinney Gold

Fall color stretched as far as the eye could see, and the morning mist allowed, as I stood in awe at the edge of the Manistee River High Rollway, also known as the Buckley Rollway. This is, without a doubt, the best grand scenic vantage point for fall color I have discovered in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. How is it that I had never been to this magic spot before?

I wonder what the view from the Manistee River High Rollaway looked like in the 19th century when lumberjacks were rolling logs down it. I know for sure the view looks splendid roughly a century and a half later. This lookout near Buckley south of Traverse City belongs on every Michigander's fall color tour bucket list.