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After the Fire

 While shooting the sunset out at the Ludington State Park, I was disappointed at the lack of color in the sky. The water however, was radiant and beautiful. I knew that I had to act quickly before the color and light disappeared. I thought about what I needed to do, changed lenses, and got off three shots before it had faded away and the water went back to normal. While I typically shoot the “grand scenic” type images, it paid off to step outside my comfort zone and challenge myself. I came out with an image that I absolutely love!

I have witnessed several thousand sunsets on the Ludington waterfront, but I never tire of looking for that next spectacular one, especially for the ones that are dramatically different from all the others. On this April evening, a front was approaching from the northwest just as the sun was setting. The bottom of the clouds looked like fiery flames as they swept toward shore. I am glad I was there to witness and make art of this sunset.

My sister-in-law, Misty Reed, was born and raised in Pentwater, Michigan. The house she grew up in is just a block away from the beach and it is a family tradition to walk down and watch the 4th of July fireworks. Tonight, I was fortunate enough to join her and her family for some beautiful fireworks.

What makes the fire within you burn? What lights my life up the most is having deep conversations with friends, family, and complete strangers or chasing the light with my camera. Tonight while walking out to the North Breakwater Light in my hometown of Ludington, I enjoyed a couple of nice conversations with people I just met, followed by shooting a unique sunset being reflected onto Lake Michigan.

Fireworks in Ludington

Ludington fireworks

Bonfire and Music on Stearns Beach

Ludington Fireworks

Last night after I got done watching a movie at the theater, I drove out to the First Curve on M116 at the Ludington State Park to see if the Northern Lights were out. I knew they had been out the night before, but the clouds were so thick in our area, you couldn't get a good photo of them. The application, Aurora Forecast, that I use on my iPhone, was measuring a level 5 on the KP scale. Usually at a level 5, you can see a tiny bit of color with a trained eye and some of the white pillars if they are out, but your camera will pick up the color much better. Standing in the parking lot of the First Curve, I could see the white pillars, but no color. It took me a few minutes to get my boots, warm clothes, headlamp, and hat on and to get my camera pre-set at the truck. I hustled up the small dune to the north of where I parked with my camera and tripod and this was the first exposure I made. It turned out to be the best shot of the night because the light show was short lived. The red light in the foreground is from a car's headlights as it was approaching from behind me at the very end of the exposure. I was fired up to say the least.

On fire with the light of the setting sun, waves explode like fireworks against rocks lining the Ludington South Breakwater. Lake Michigan's energy never ceases to amaze and excite me.

Jagged icicles in the foreground create a unique look at the Lake Michigan shoreline. The ice formation changed before my eyes with each powerful wave that pummeled the shore.

Fireworks Viewers

Fire Light

Mother Nature and the Ludington Fire Department have teamed up to light up the Ludington waterfront on a July evening. The community bonfire special event gives the public a chance to enjoy a bonfire on a public beach where fires normally cannot be permitted for safety and environmental reasons.

It always amazes me how mesmerizing it can be to sit and watch a campfire burn. Every flame and fire is different. The same goes for Lake Michigan sunsets. Both a fire and a good sunset warm my soul. F11 at 1/4, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

For years I have heard from friends that the fireworks at the Western Michigan Fair are as good or better than the Fourth of July fireworks at the Ludington city beach. After experiencing both shows this year, my vote is for the Western Michigan Fair. I love music and it was cool that the fireworks display was timed perfectly to the music being played through the grandstand at the fair grounds. F8 at 2 seconds, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

I have photographed my way westward across Michigan today. Clouds have been an important ingredient in several of my shots. Now my hunch that the supersized marshmallow clouds in the western sky are going to help create one of the most spectacular sunset light shows of the year is paying off. I have reached the Grand Haven shoreline just in time to see the sky on fire. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

The maple leaves are so bright that this birch trunk looks like it is on fire in the White Birch Forest along Lake Superior in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Grand Marais. F22 at 1/200, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm