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I have enjoyed several grand scenic landscape views with countless trees along M22 today. But now, near Elberta, just one lone maple tree is putting on one spectacular fall color show.

One day, while living on Hamlin Lake, I was looking for fall color pictures when I spotted this young boy on a neighboring dock. I could see the finished picture in my mind, and everything seemed to balance. I liked the setting and composition, but it was the boy who made the picture come together.

Pine needles, a birch log and a maple leaf came to rest together on the forest floor. It was the first day of November and colorful leaves were scattered everywhere along the Lost Lake Trail. I spent much of the afternoon looking down. But of all the thousands of colorful leaves I saw that afternoon, this one stood out.

I am always moved when I see attractive classic church steeples. I find it especially moving today seeing the First Congregational Church in Frankfort flanked by maple trees in peak color.

Make the Journey

Monton Farm

I was having a rough day missing my brother who was deployed in the Army. As I was driving around looking for photographs, I found this awesome chicken coop alongside the road. It brightened my day and made me smile. As soon as I got back in my truck, my brother called me from overseas. It was fantastic.

October Clouds

Music To My Eyes

 I joined Todd and Brad Reed for the shooting portion of one of their Weekend Photography Workshops at the Ludington State Park. Standing at the Beach House, I could see the sun hitting the water on the shore, and at times the dune grass. I remembered a close up shot I had taken in Pentwater of the dune grass and a beautiful serene sky behind it, and wanted to try it out with the storm like sky we were seeing this night. I booked it over to the dunes and got in place. The shot I was thinking of wasn’t coming together, however, the beach, water and sky looked glorious. I studied the scene, set up my tripod and went to work. The Spirit of the Shore came through to me in this image.

The rich crimson color of these maple leaves stood out in the forest like colorful jewels when I discovered them from afar on the Piney Ridge Trail on a mid-October morning. As the leaves drew me closer, I was also drawn to the beautiful patterns the red leaves and dark branches made against the backdrop of green leaves not yet turned color.

One More Adventure

Music To My Eyes - Panoramic

A black squirrel paws beneath the leaves and grass, hunting for food in the Beechwood Campground. The squirrel, a couple fishermen camped nearby, and I appeared to have the campground to ourselves this late October evening. It is fun to see the Ludington State Park campgrounds bustling with people and activity in summer. But the lone squirrel or a deer or raccoon is the kind of company I would rather have.

Two fellow Team Reed members, Rachel and Dustin, went on a two-day shooting trip with me. Our most northern point was the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. After photographing the lighthouse for a few hours, we headed towards home on M22. We all made many strong images that day along the famous Michigan highway, but this old barn was one of my best from the entire trip.

Old Grand Dad

One of the best places in Michigan for watching salmon and steelhead jump close enough to touch them is Homestead Dam just east of Benzonia.

A motorist reaches the 45th parallel while northbound on M22 along Grand Traverse Bay between Suttons Bay and Omena. I am glad to also be heading north on this glorious autumn morning in Northern Michigan.

Pere Marquette Expeditions