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Although Nordhouse Lake has dried up and is covered with grasses and flowers this summer, I still find the view from this high spot along the south shore of the wilderness lake to be splendid. Best of all, Brad and I find this shady natural overlook to be the perfect spot to rest while savoring the view. We pause for a while to watch and listen to sandhill cranes on the far side of the lake bed. F18 at 1/60, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

The Manistee National Forest has been transformed overnight into a winter wonderland. After driving to the Walhalla area, I discover these snow-coated red pines on a two-track road east of Weldon Creek. F22.0 at 0.4, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

The moss-lined Ridge Trail in the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness beckons me forward to see what is around the next bend and over the next hill. This is one of the most pristine trails in the only federal wilderness area in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. F16 at 1 second, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

While many of the trees further upstream along the Pere Marquette River had already begun turning color, this green giant and another nearby still wore their summer colors. I liked the way they stood out on this late September Michigan morning.

Tom and Yvonne Beatty have one of the most beautiful barns in all of Mason County. Trillium Creek Gardens is the name of their magnificent red barn located on Conrad Road between Ludington and Scottville. We have photographed the barn several times and today I went for a closer look. F11.0 at 1/6, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I don't know if this tree fell victim to the record high water levels more than 15 years ago or was perhaps toppled by high winds like many others nearby in the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness. What I do know is that the tree is returning to the earth in beautiful fashion as it decays. F18 at 1/60, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

The artistry of Mother Nature and the craftsmen who did such fine work on the wood trim of this stately old home complement each other today. I have returned to Scottville this morning to re-shoot this picture in better light. F22.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

This very small clump of grass was glowing and caught my eye from several yards away. I moved in close with my wide-angle macro lens and captured the rim lighting on the finger-like blades of grass. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 100, 18-55mm lens at 35mm

This is my first year as a mentor in the STRIVE (Students Taking Renewed Interest in the Value of Education) program at Ludington High School. Drew O'Neal is my student and today all of the STRIVE students and mentors went cosmic bowling at Country Lanes Bowling Center. We had a blast. F2.8 at 1/5, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 40 mm

A dried up snail was found on what was the bottom of Nordhouse Lake. With the warm weather this year and the lack of rain, all of the water from Nordhouse Lake evaporated and disappeared. This poor snail was left high and dry. F22 at 0.3, ISO 100, 105mm lens at 105mm

Seven years ago this ice-coated railing at Pentwater pierheads was the subject of my very first digital photograph. Today I am back shooting the railing and newly formed icicles with my Fuji S5 digital camera. F22.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

I have not spent much time at the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness that is located along Lake Michigan between Hamlin Lake and Manistee. Just recently my dad told me about a small lake he read about called Nordhouse Lake. Early this morning we headed out to photograph the lake at sunrise. When we arrived we were shocked to learn that because of the hot weather and drought this year, the lake had dried up. Instead of finding water, we found a giant field of wildflowers. F22 at 1/100, ISO 400, 18-55mm lens at 18mm

Bone chilling temperatures today made it very difficult to take this photograph. My fingers were so cold I could barely operate my camera. With a huge rush of adrenalin from seeing the incredible sunset unfolding before my eyes, I was able to push through the pain and make the needed adjustments. F5.0 at 1/6400, ISO 100, 600 mm lens at 600 mm

After sounding out their unmistakable tune on and off for 20 minutes, a pair of sandhill cranes takes off and passes right by my resting spot at the edge of Nordhouse Lake in the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness between Manistee and Ludington. F9 at 1/1250, ISO 200, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

The front doors of St. James' Church in Pentwater have me seeing double. I feel compelled to make a tight, simple shot of the doors and Christmas wreaths that I hope causes others to see double. F8.0 at 1/6, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 86 mm

With 150 feet of heavy-duty line tying my life jacket to a secure object on land, I was ready to do battle with the six-to-eight-foot Lake Michigan breakers that pounded the Ludington city beach. With my camera safely within waterproof housing, I spent 45 minutes bouncing around and chasing the waves. It was the most fun I have had in a long time. F7.1 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

The boulevards on Ludington Avenue are lined with beautiful berry trees. I used my largest lens, got as close as I could, and lined up a contrasting background in order to make the red berries pop. I also used a slower shutter speed to show the movement of the snowflakes. F5.6 at 1/100, ISO 800, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

My son Brad often finds himself in Lake Michigan over his head while capturing spectacular images of waves crashing around him. He is "in it to win it" and finds the results worth any discomfort he experiences. An underwater housing protects the camera. Some days I think Brad needs to be inside a housing when he is being swallowed up by a wave. F16 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

"Follow Me" is the U.S. Army Infantry's motto. "Iron Mike," a statue at the entrance to the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia, dramatically portrays an infantryman shouting, "Follow Me" as he leads the way. F4.0 at 1/50, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

I wish you could have seen the giant grin on my face as this six-foot-tall Lake Michigan roller was about to body slam me and knock me off my feet. Luckily, I was shooting with my Nikon D7000 inside a specially made underwater housing that kept my camera dry and safe. F7.1 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm