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Stop the TRUCK! This is what I heard right before four of our workshop participants shot out the passenger side of my truck with their camera gear in tow. I quickly gave chase and we all ended up on a large dune ridge facing a brilliant rainbow to the southeast. The entire expanse of dune turned a vibrant gold.

During most sunsets along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the sun appears to tranquilly disappear below the horizon. However, occasionally at dusk, the sun, clouds, water, and sand mold and blend to create a powerful mixture of molten beauty.

My dad and I have found that the best way to photograph lightning is using the longest exposure possible for the given situation. This photograph is a 30-second exposure at F8 and an ISO of 100. It was shot on a sturdy tripod that could withstand the 30 miles-per-hour winds. This fierce thunderstorm headed north very quickly and it took out power in Manistee, Michigan.

Over thousands of years, wind driven sand has polished smooth millions of stones along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The flat-sided stones are called ventifacts. I made this photograph near the Big Point Sable Lighthouse while on a hike to the northern boundary of the Ludington State Park.

When God creates a scene this extraordinary, you pray to God you will be there! Lake Michigan waves flooded the Ludington State Park beach on October 18, 2007, during one of the most apparent meteotsunamis Brad and I have experienced in our photographic lives. These Great Lakes weather-driven meteorological tsunamis happen many times a year. They quickly raise the water level and flood the shoreline. Most of these meteotsunamis have little impact. We have left camera bags high and dry, only to find them sitting in a lake that wasn’t there 15 minutes earlier. We knew from experience to respect the water and realize we and our camera equipment could get swept away if we did not maintain situational awareness. This day, I had chased the storm clouds to Ludington State Park after spotting them while driving to the Ludington beach. Moments after I arrived, I heard noise behind me and turned to see Brad running down to the shore wearing soccer shorts, shoes and T-shirt. It was hilarious to see someone running toward a fall Great Lakes storm dressed in that outfit. But, like me, he knew time was of the essence when he interrupted his participation in a soccer game to chase a storm. People often think we wait for hours to get our shots. But, especially in the case of fast-moving storms, we are often chasing the storm like mad dogs. Just as Brad arrived, the sun popped out of a hole in the clouds and flooded the beach with light. Before us was one of the rarest magical Lake Michigan views of our lives. I will never forget the experience of being there in sun and wind and water. Less than five minutes later, I would witness and capture with my digital camera an equally memorable out-of-this-world moment. Bottom line for photographers, when it looks this great, focus with all your being on your photography until the magic disappears.

Nikon D810. F16.0 at 1/125, ISO 800. 24-70mm lens at 44mm. May 20, 2020 at 9:09pm.

Nikon D850. F6.3 at 1/2000, ISO 400. 60-600mm lens at 600mm. July 23, 2020 at 12:32pm.

Nikon D850. F22.0 at 1/100, ISO 400. 14-24mm lens at 24mm. July 29, 2020 at 8:45am.

Nikon D850. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100. 14-24mm lens at 20mm. July 30, 2020 at 7:34pm.

Nikon D850. F22.0 at 1/20, ISO 100. 14-24mm lens at 14mm. August 28, 2020 at 1:44pm.

Nikon D850. F5.6 at 1/3000, ISO 400. 10-17mm Fisheye lens at 12mm. September 3, 2020 at 6:03pm.

Nikon D850. F22.0 at 1/50, ISO 100. 24-70mm lens at 24mm. September 28, 2020 at 6:35pm.

Nikon D850. F6.3 at 1/1000, ISO 6400. 60-600mm lens at 600mm. October 17, 2020 at 6:29pm.

Nikon D810. F22.0 at 1/320, ISO 800. 24-70mm lens at 24mm. November 4, 2020 at 4:57pm.

Nikon D850. F9.0 at 1/250, ISO 1600. 24-70mm lens at 24mm. November 6, 2020 at 6:20pm.

Nikon D810. F2.8 at 1/8000, ISO 100. 85.0mm lens at 85.0mm. November 11, 2020 at 3:41pm.

Nikon D850. F10.0 at 1/160, ISO 200. 24-70mm lens at 27mm. November 12, 2020 at 6:00pm.

Nikon D850. F22.0 at 2.0 seconds, ISO 100. 14-24mm lens at 14mm. December 4, 2020 at 6:08pm.

Nikon D850. F2.8 at 42.0 seconds, ISO 3200. 14-24mm lens at 24mm. December 9, 2020 at 11:15pm.

Nikon D810. F22.0 at 1/160, ISO 100. 24-70mm lens at 24mm. December 9, 2020 at 9:06am.