Search

I could see sweeping clouds to the west when I walked out for lunch. I knew I needed to get to the lakeshore. The clouds were massive overhead.

October is the time for drama on the Lake Michigan shoreline. This afternoon I am so glad I made the decision to head to Little Sable Point to try to catch a peak moment of light, clouds and waves at the historic lighthouse. F4.5 at 1/800, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 19 mm

After being seconds too late to photograph the magic light at sunrise this morning and also missing great light hitting the Ludington North Breakwater Light with a giant rainbow, I finally got my prize at Big Sable Point Lighthouse this afternoon. Lake Michigan in October is cold, but worth it for the composition I wanted. F14.0 at 1/100, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 22mm

Lake Michigan had an eerie glow over it tonight as I drove through Stearns Park while looking for my photo of the day. As the sun set lower on the horizon, the gold shafts of light became even more apparent. F9.0 at 1/125, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 23 mm

My dad called me this morning and said he was standing on his deck looking at huge waves going over the top of the Ludington North Breakwater Light. I had a few meetings in the morning and as soon as they were done, I headed to the Lake Michigan shoreline and started shooting. After a half hour of shooting several different waves hitting the lighthouse, I knew this one was a winner.

“Class Time” - All semester it has been on my syllabus to have my photography students from West Shore Community College meet me down at the North end of Stearns Beach today for a class shoot. Our timing was unbelievable. Just as we showed up the magic light appeared. We all hustled down to the shoreline and started shooting. Nikon D850. F6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400. 60-600mm lens at 600mm. On a tripod without a flash. November 11, 2024 at 1:15pm.

Wave Action

The Ludington South Breakwater Light is enveloped by a wave during the second day of the big Southwester that has stirred Lake Michigan into a frenzy. This is my kind of day. Oh to be back out there driving a self-righting Coast Guard motor lifeboat right now! F4.0 at 1/1250, ISO 200, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Normally by this time in November, Lake Michigan has become too rough for sunset strolls out onto the Ludington North Breakwater. But tonight, it felt more like a warm August night in downtown Ludington.

A far cry from the snowy day five days ago, today looks and feels a lot like summer, with the thermometer surpassing the 60-degree mark. Jeff LaPrad takes the opportunity for one more sail into the sunset at the Ludington pierheads. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

Mother Nature was showing off her dramatic self this afternoon. I love when clouds layer like this, with the sun backlighting each layer.

It has been a long day of traveling, searching for pictures and shooting, but that does not stop me from running to get my camera and tripod set up just in the nick of time to catch the sunset at Charlevoix, Michigan. Charlevoix has long been one of my favorite Michigan places to watch the sun set. F13 at 1/8, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

I

Twenty minutes earlier the Charlevoix pier was lined with people watching the sun setting. Now, as the afterglow color continues to become more saturated, I have the pier to myself while taking in what has to be one of the prettiest Lake Michigan skies of the summer. Lingering longer does pay handsome dividends. F9 at 0.4, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 34mm

I made a drive north today looking for photographs. I ended up at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. The lighthouse keepers had the historic building decorated for Christmas with several beautiful wreaths in the windows.

I was headed for Ludington State Park to find my picture of the day when I spotted these God beams over Lake Michigan. I diverted to Stearns Park and am now appreciating the gorgeous backdrop behind the Ludington lighthouse. F5.0 at 1/250, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

The golden rays of light over Lake Michigan were drawing a large crowd tonight down at Stearns Park. I ran out on the pier and tried to make a photograph with a fresh view of the Ludington North Breakwater Light and pier before the rays disappeared. I made it by about 30 seconds. F22.0 at 0.5, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 23 mm

The spiral staircase of New Presque Isle Light is as elegant as it is strong. The cast iron stairs once took the keeper, and now takes thousands of visitors, 138 steps to the top of one of the tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes. F6.3 at 1/15, ISO 1600, 24-70mm lens at 26mm

Tonight, the New Presque Isle Lighthouse north of Alpena, Michigan was casting a beautiful shadow of itself on the Earth just east of the tower. I composed this photograph so that the sky was not in the picture because, like my dad always taught me, if it doesn't add to a photograph, it probably detracts. The sky was just a boring blue color with no clouds or detail. By cropping out the sky, I can keep the viewer's eyes on the shadow of the lighthouse. F16 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

This is the highlight of tonight's sunset. For less than a minute the color in the sky is being reflected brilliantly on the railings of the new walkway in Ludington harbor. I expose for the highlights to make them stand out. F4.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm