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I have always loved this clump of trees inside Stearns Park, but I had never taken the time to photograph them. As Julia, Ethan and I were driving around looking for my photo of the day, I noticed the side lighting hitting the trunks of several of the large trees. After a few minutes of looking at the scene, I finally composed a photograph that I liked. F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

I have long wondered what the view was like from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, which stands high atop a hill just north of Beulah, Michigan. On a cloudy winter day I find the distant view limited yet beautifully atmospheric.

Blazing Light - vertical crop

Bass Lake Outlet changes its course almost daily it seems. Every time I show up to photograph it, I am shocked at how different it looks. Today, it was full of drama. Before I made this image, I previsualized it as a black-and-white.

I have been photographing seagulls on the Ludington waterfront the past few weeks. Today I like the gray-blue sky that makes the falling snow stand out. I just need a cooperative gull to glide past. This one is soaring beautifully. Thank you, bird! F8.0 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

The quaint little village of Beulah, Michigan is surrounded by steep hills and tree lined ridges, but its most famous asset is Crystal Lake. This morning Crystal Lake was covered in thick ice and dotted with ice fishermen as far as the eye could see. I wanted a clean, simple feeling for this photograph so positioned myself to capture a scene in which no fishermen were in view.

I have a deep connection with trees. Their unique shapes and purposes. I can visualize farmers using this shade tree on hot summer days, while working their fields.

The night took my breath away, not from trying to breathe the below zero air but from viewing the icy splendor before me on Lake Michigan at Ludington.

Portrait photographers often use this old building near the corner of James and Melendy in Ludington as a backdrop for senior photos. The brickwork, windows, and varying textures lend themselves well to photography. F8.0 at 0.3, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 35 mm

My dad and I always like to have strong immediacy in our photographs. With my wide-angle lens, I got very close to this frozen fruit tree and then made the barn a much smaller part of the composition. The final photograph is an environmental portrait of Cherry Basket Farm near Omena, Michigan in Leelanau County.

You never know what you will find in the Meijer parking lot. This great blue heron was hanging out in the drainage ditch on the west end of the Meijer parking lot. Luckily, I always have my camera and big lens with me. What makes this image pop is the incredible morning light hitting the majestic bird.

I love the coldest mornings; they often render Lake Michigan waterfront scenes in incredibly sharp and colorful ways. The setting moon and rising steam made this a picture that warmed my soul. I live for moments like this when my camera takes me where my heart wants to go. I tell my photo students, follow your heart with your camera.

Rugged ice and towering waves define the Lake Michigan shoreline in the coldest winter months. On cold, clear days when the sun graces us with its presence, the ice displays different shades of blue and white. On this day, my friend, Rob Alway, and I made our way out on the ice and we each came away with some powerful photographs.

Triangles of snow-covered ice line a creek near the corner of Meyers and Conrad Road. I am en route to West Shore Community College to teach photography. I am cutting it close on time but I stop to make this picture. I rest easier knowing that I always tell my students the only valid excuse for being late for class is stopping to make a good picture. F7.1 at 1/200, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

The architecture of this barn was simply exquisite when it was built more than a century ago just north of the Village of Omena near Northport, Michigan. Now the barn serves as the centerpiece of Cherry Basket Farm, which hosts weddings, private parties, and other events. As an outdoor photographer and lover of classic Michigan barns, I am grateful that the creative use of the barn and other structures on the site enables the owner, Epicure Catering, to maintain the farm in such pristine condition.

My dad and I have taken many beautiful photographs at the end of Ludington Avenue. On rough days, that location allows you an unobstructed view of the Ludington North Breakwater, while still offering some protection from the blowing sand and water.One risk still present is thin ice. Just after I captured this photograph, the ice beneath me gave way. Luckily, only my feet got wet.

When I came out of the gallery tonight the sky in the west looked like it had potential to be spectacular. I checked my phone for the sunset time and knew I had about an hour to kill. Just before six I headed out into the cold. I made this photograph at three minutes after six. It was one of the most colorful sunsets I had ever photographed. F22.0 at 3.0, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Grand Traverse Lighthouse probably looks as good as when the Coast Guard first put it into service in 1858. Its "squared away" appearance makes me wonder how many men and women have had

Clarity