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The Ludington State Park Canoe Trail is one of the park's least traveled and most beautiful areas for a fall color tour. On days like this many of us ask ourselves why we don't launch a canoe more often. Time passes and too many voyages go untaken.

Wednesday (3378)

Breathtaking does not begin to describe the feeling of witnessing a one-in-a-million sunset like the one that painted the Lake Michigan shoreline with a spectrum of light on this autumn evening. The squall line that accompanied the light provided more drama and heightened one of the greatest picture-taking adrenalin rushes I have ever experienced. Truly a scene to behold, it was also fleeting. Nature doesn't wait for photographers; fortunately, my wife and I saw the storm approaching and I was already shooting when the color peaked.

It was the first day of the 1999 sailing season for the carferry Badger. Providing a colorful sunset, it was as if nature was saluting the grand ship on her return to Ludington harbor.

The Huron River makes its way through Ann Arbor and flows through sections of the University of Michigan's campus. Today the bright sunlight has caused the brilliant fall leaves to be reflected in the gorgeous river that was named in honor of the Huron Band of Native Americans. F2.8 at 1/2500, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 145mm

Manistee

Visitors flock to the Hamlin Dam in summer and in fall when the salmon are running, but few get the chance to see it in winter. Neither Brad nor I could sleep the night before I made this picture and Brad and I made several other images in this book. We knew before going to bed that the overnight snowfall was going to be a photographer's dream. We were kept awake dreaming of the pictures that awaited us. At first light, dreams came true.

A Coast Guard self-righting motor lifeboat reached sheltered water inside the Grand Haven pierheads after “heavy weather” training operations on Lake Michigan in the large waves generated by Superstorm Sandy. The 47-foot vessel is designed to operate in seas up to 30 feet and winds up to 50 knots.

A canoe along the Bass Lake shoreline emerges from the snow as another winter winds down. I can imagine the many seasons of good times the canoe has helped provide its owner. For now, I like the way the vintage watercraft looks resting in the snow. F8.0 at 1/200, ISO 400, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

Brockway Mountain Drive at Sunrise

Holy Smoke

Who knew that Lake Michigan and Point Betsie Lighthouse could look like a tropical island in the Caribbean? With my cold water survival suit on and almost 300 feet of safety line tying me to the steel jetties in front of the lighthouse, I floated into water that was about 20 feet deep to make this image.

What could be finer than sitting on the deck of the Weathervane Restaurant on the Charlevoix channel eating a fine meal with my wife Debbie and watching the boat traffic? I stop eating long enough to make this ringside-seat image of the outbound Beaver Island ferry Emerald Isle. The beautiful ship, the US31 drawbridge, and the Weathervane are Charlevoix icons.

Round Island Light Near Mackinac Island

A cool new tradition in Pentwater every summer night is to give the sun a standing ovation as it dips into the water. I am sure this happens in several Michigan beach towns. It would be fun to try coordinating it statewide on the same evening and make it an annual event. D800, F11 at 1/60, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Salmon Fishing in July Ludington

I made this image during one of our Advanced Weekend Photo Workshops. Michigan State was playing Michigan and it was towards the end of the game. Several photo students were listening to the game on their cell phones. I wanted to listen, but the light and clouds were getting so good that I knew it was "game time" for me to shoot. I got the shot, but better yet, Michigan State had one of the best comebacks of the entire year to win the game on the last play. Go Green!

I had never traveled to the Presque Isle River through the south entrance of the Porcupine Mountains. Due to the time of year, we had to park a long way away. As Brad and I hiked in, we were slightly jealous of the many snowmobiles that we saw. The exhaustion was worth it. The view was priceless.