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Salmon Fishing in July Ludington

The original third-order Fresnel lens shines like new in the lamp house of Little Sable Point Lighthouse. The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association and its several hundred volunteers keep the lighthouse looking shipshape for the thousands of visitors who tour the 1874 structure each year.

Many of my summer evenings in Ludington are spent with family and friends. I had not shot any photographs for a few days, so on this evening, my wife, Betsy, and I politely excused ourselves from a family gathering and drove to the First Curve at the Ludington State Park. A delicate blade of dune grass first caught my eye. I lay down on my stomach and started shooting. Summer

 

Shadows to the Light

I have learned hundreds of photography hints from my dad, but one of the most important things he has taught me is that the sky often displays the best color about twenty minutes after sunset. I had just captured the Breezy Night photograph when Betsy and I drove further into Ludington State Park to look for more photographs. As we passed over the Sable River Bridge, Betsy noticed a heron in the water below. I grabbed my gear and I was off. To get the best photograph possible, I knew I would have to get in the river. Not wanting to threaten or disturb the heron, I waded ever so slowly to within fifteen yards of the bird, and quietly captured the photograph I was looking for. Thanks for the helpful hints, Dad.

This is the view in front of the home my family is renting for the week on Portage Lake near Onekama, Michigan. I have been building this photo in my head since the moment we arrived. Now that it is Wednesday, I have my camera and tripod ready to shoot the sunrise. The hardest part of making this photograph was figuring out how to turn off the automatic sprinklers.

Ludington Beach R

Stearns Beach Days

 

DaVincis Dream

Heaven knows how many times a God beam has lit the Ludington lighthouse. But when I saw this beauty shining down, I felt its spiritual quality more strongly than any other God beam I have seen before or since. On this calm May day of 1993, I was already underway in my tiny Boston Whaler skiff searching for photo opportunities because of the dramatic clouds. I quickly maneuvered closer to the lighthouse and centered the iconic Ludington landmark beneath the glorious beam. I laid over the low gunwale and fired away for about 20 breathtaking seconds before the clouds and spotlight moved away. As a longtime Lake Michigan mariner, there have been many times during the calmest or stormiest voyages that I have felt God’s presence; this was one of those times. As a longtime photographer, I have learned to better know when I am being presented with an extraordinary view with or without looking through the viewfinder; this was one of those views. The image I was blessed to make that day more than a quarter century ago remains my favorite calm day photograph with the Ludington lighthouse in the scene. In 2007, “God Beam” was selected for the cover of an inspirational book titled Hope: pure and simple. The book features “316 thoughts to lift your soul” by famous Christian author Max Lucado. I was humbled to have an image that means a great deal to me personally grace the cover of Pastor Lucado’s hopeful book.

Isle Royal

Sometimes the best way for me to describe a scene is that it is poetically perfect. That is what I was thinking and feeling as I made this image today on Portage Lake.

Stearns Beach Days - Panoramic

 For years I have wanted to visit Cherry Point Farm’s lavender labyrinth located in Shelby, Michigan. On July 21st, I decided to head south a little bit and soak up the lavender. While it wasn’t peak timing, I was still able to make an image that I loved, and the experience was well worth the short drive. I look forward to taking my kids back to share the labyrinth with them!

Royale Sunset

Tahquamenon Falls and White Fish Point

In 1984 my dad bought a used 13-and-a-half-foot Boston Whaler Super Sport. Our family has had so many incredible adventures on this boat. It still looks like new and the old 25-horse power Evinrude outboard motor starts every year with just a few pulls. Now my kids are enjoying making memories on the same boat. Besides family fun, salmon fishing, and pan fishing, the main use of our Whaler today is for photography. With its triple hull, the boat does not tip to the side, even when three grown people are standing on the same side.

The Director