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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

I got up early this morning to be able to shoot a sunrise photo. I drove to the Ludington State Park in the dark and waited to see if the sunrise would be any good. Luckily for me, it was a gorgeous sunrise today.

"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

All was quiet. I was wishing I had been able to capture the sunrise this morning. Finally, alongside the road came a turkey. The calm lighting worked well to showcase her feathers.

The Lange Family on Dewey Road in Hamlin Township really gets into the Christmas spirit every year. Julia and Ethan love to have us drive by the house at night and see all of the Christmas lights. Tonight, Julia and I made this photo and it got me into the holiday spirit. F8.0 at 2.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens with 18 mm

They have been doing construction and rebuilding a much larger seawall down between the Loomis Street Boat Ramp and the North Inner Pier. Around 4:15 PM today the sun broke through the clouds and lit up the shoreline. I left work early and rushed to the end of Ludington Avenue. I found this rebar coated in ice and captured the magic light before it disappeared again.

Looking at a distance like toy soldiers, U.S. Army Rangers fly high overhead on a line suspended from an Army Blackhawk helicopter. The Ranger demonstration at Fort Benning, Georgia, was one of the highlights of a trip to visit one of these brave Americans. F9.0 at 1/160, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 105 mm

As gray as yesterday was for me, the magic light was back today. Ice is starting to form around the waterways. I loved the juxtaposition of fall-like color in the background, to icy river in the foreground.

While giving a private photo lesson this afternoon at Ludington State Park, tall pine trees reflecting in the Sable River got my attention. I also liked how the river bottom was adding to this composition. F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 400, 14 mm lens at 14 mm

I had noticed these icicles the night before, but the magic light had disappeared before I could get out onto the North Inner Pier. I made it my plan that unless we had a great sunrise or some other unique photo opportunity, this was going to be my photo of the day. I love the evenings when we get the super blue light. The blue temperature of the light really adds drama to this scene.

While waiting for my flight back to Michigan from Georgia, I am struck by the arrangement of airplanes on the tarmac and runway and the golden sky above Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. F3.5 at 1/125, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 86 mm

I don’t venture to the west side of the bridge over the Pere Marquette River in Scottville, Michigan very often. I tend to pull into Riverside Park instead. I drove as far as I could off to the west and then walked as far as I could go. I sat there for several minutes. Soaking up this view.

This was my first time experiencing the Santa Train in Ludington. It was so cool. The excitement that the kids and many of the parents felt as the Pere Marquette Rail train rolled to a stop and Santa appeared was electric. F7.1 at 1/250, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 40 mm

Fountain Road is one of my favorite roads in Mason County to photo hunt on. With the fresh snow we got overnight, I was excited to head out to the countryside looking for new photos. I was on a mission to photograph a barn or farm that I had not ever photographed before. While driving down Fountain Road, I loved how this red barn just popped against the white snow.

Taking winter head-on, a tufted titmouse pauses momentarily on an icy rail just outside the kitchen window of my parents' home near the south border of Ludington State Park. Many species of songbirds flock year-around to the feeders, providing great enjoyment for my parents. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I took a detour on my way home tonight. I stayed off US-10 and drove mostly backroads. Color started to fill the sky. The only thing I needed was a subject. This tree was placed perfectly in the roll of the hill.

Most of Michigan was hit with a nasty winter storm overnight. Unlike most people, my dad and I love when winter strikes hard. Ethan and I made our way down M-116 and I made this photograph of Epworth Heights from the bridge over the Lincoln River. F22.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Roger and Marcia Hansen's barn looks like a Christmas card to me today, just as I thought it would. The Christmas wreath I noticed a few days earlier, combined with fresh snow, make the beautifully restored barn even more stunning than usual. F7.1 at 1/100, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

The kids and I spent time at the farm tonight. It was a rain-snow mix earlier today, creating a puddle in the driveway in front of the barn. I worked hard to have the Christmas lights reflect in the puddle. My nephew, Preston, always does a great job with the lights.

With temperatures in single digits the last few days, it didn't take long for Ludington North Breakwater Light to become a giant ice sculpture. The mix of light, wind, and blowing snow turned the frigid waters of Lake Michigan a gorgeous green color this morning. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm