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Boldly beautiful; that is my response to the restored exterior of the historic Glen Haven Canning Co. building at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A view through one of the many windows gives a glimpse of the equally restored interior that now serves as a maritime museum.

On my way to West Shore Community College, I cannot pass up taking a closer look at the frosty branches along the Pere Marquette River. I know it won't get any better than this today. I like the S-curves and dynamic angles of this branch. I like the matching repetitive pattern of the background branches that I keep out of focus to create layers. F3.5 at 1/5000, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

We love including diagonal lines and shapes in our photographs. Angles were everywhere as the ice was breaking up on a sunny March afternoon on Betsie Bay in Frankfort, Michigan.

Muskegon History

Brad and I explored the Ludington State Park this afternoon. We ended at Lake Michigan along M-116, shooting big waves and the sun. Near sunset, the magic light showered over the dunes

My dad and I study a lot of different photographers and their work. Jim Brandenburg is a photographer I admire. Jim's work has a unique "look and feel" that inspires me. While I was making this photograph on the Sable River, it seemed to me the image had a Brandenburg feel. The beauty of art is that the final image has a mix of my style as well as Jim's.

Most of the time I really do not like the looks of snow fences, especially in my photographs. However, the shadows they cast on the sand and snow can be a fascinating subject to photograph. F11.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 34 mm

The sky is filled with color this morning so I have hustled to get to the waterfront at Crosswinds to make a photograph of the harbor and sky. Steam from the co-generation plant looks from this vantage point like it is coming from the carferry Badger's stack. Ducks provide another added ingredient to the picture. Looks good. F16.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 175 mm

Standup paddle surfer Larry Bordine gets launched over the top of a wave as he attempts to paddle his way further out into Lake Michigan before surfing back to shore.

This was the last photo that my Fuji S5 Pro camera took. On the very next shot, I slid down the ice-covered slide. I went faster than anticipated and landed on top of my camera and tripod. It was one of the dumber things I have ever done, especially while photographing! My new used Fuji S5 is coming in the mail tomorrow. F11.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Surfer Saeth Gronberg rides a Lake Michigan wave past the Frankfort, Michigan lighthouse on a sunny winter afternoon.

Frost coats almost everything along the Pere Marquette River this morning. I make a picture of a frost-covered bush with the river as background. Then, following the "twice-as-close rule" Brad and I teach, I start looking for closer pictures. Just a few footsteps closer to the river I find it. Queen Anne's Lace laced with frost looks like a Crown Jewel. F22.0 at 1/160, ISO 400, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

Standup paddle surfer Larry Bordine cruises past the ice-covered Frankfort, Michigan breakwater . Larry is among the hardy Michiganders that make surfing a four-season adventure on Lake Michigan.

Prince of the Forest

Welcoming Winter

For weeks I have wanted to make a photograph of seagulls sitting on the dock posts at the Loomis Street Boat Ramp, but every time I got close enough they flew away. Today I took a different approach. I did the "run and gun" and it worked. I manually set my exposure ahead of time and ran as fast as I could up to the docks. F9.0 at 1/1600, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

Shadow Waves

Betsie River near Crystal Mountain

My son, Brad and I climbed for half an hour to arrive at this dune vantage point on Hamlin Lake. Our family made several summer trips to the dunes and was always rewarded with good pictures and great experiences.

Talk about a traffic stopper. Responding to a tip about some cool looking cows pastured along 72nd Avenue north of Hart, I had no idea they would be this impressive. As I slow to a stop on the side of the road, I attract their attention. I am far more excited and impressed than they are. F6.3 at 1/500, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm