Ludington City Beach/Stearns

Another concept that my dad, Rachel, and I try to use in our compositions is to make sure that the different layers of our images overlap. With this scene, I tried to make sure that the top of the dune overlapped visually into the water. I then made sure the dune grass was high enough into the background layer of the clouds, but not appearing to merge. The tips of the grass fit just right.

I spent years on Coast Guard boats watching Lake Michigan waves curl and break. Their power and beauty demanded my attention then and commanded me to photograph them.

Lake Michigan Sunset in Ludington

Tonight was the most reflective I have ever witnessed Lake Michigan in my entire life. The big lake was a perfect mirror. The kids were busy running up and down the shoreline as I was making this image. Life in Ludington is such a blessing!

Emerald Sea

Bands of altocumulus clouds remind me of a giant striped beach umbrella as they form a canopy over the Ludington beach on a spring evening. F5.6 at 1/640, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Purple Passion

The peach colored sky with the pink, purple, and light green rays in this photograph is one of the most unique light shows I have experienced on Lake Michigan. I stood a few feet into Lake Michigan to get a sense of immediacy in this photograph so the viewers can feel like they are in the water with me. F4 at 1/100, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 20mm

It is always nice when Rachel and I can get out to shoot photos together. Unfortunately, it happens very little. Tonight, we made the most of it and had fun shooting the subtle Lake Michigan sunset near Ludington.

Sometimes the sky and clouds are so beautiful and colorful that it is best to leave Lake Michigan out of the frame. The water tonight looked dark and boring, so I aimed my camera higher into the sky and made this image.

I had hoped there would be a stunning sunset tonight, but it was disappointing. However, the blue hour after the sun had set was beautiful.

I originally had chosen a different image for my photo of the day, but I kept going back to this one and decided to swap them out. After I made my initial photo at Stearns Beach, I headed back to my van. Before putting my gear away, I decided to try an abstract shot. I placed my camera on my tripod and zoomed in on the spot of color above the horizon. Panning my camera side to side while exposing gave it a very painterly feel.

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.

No lifeguards are on duty; the ice-cold water is still keeping all but the hardiest swimmers away. On this evening the shapes of the lifeguard tower on the Ludington beach look interesting to me empty, framed against sand, lake and sky. F8.0 at 1/250, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

From up by the North Concession Stand at Stearns Beach today I used my large telephoto lens and shot down towards the dune grass and Lake Michigan. Telephoto lenses have compression, and they help all the layers of a photograph look closer together than they really are.

A runner enjoys the warm sunset this evening along the Ludington North Breakwater. The waterfront in Ludington is a great place to exercise and enjoy nature at the same time. F2.8 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

It is one of those soft light evenings; there is a glow from the bright overcast sky instead of the golden light of a clearer night that might appear better for shooting. I like this kind of light and so does my Fuji S5 camera. I point it southward from the Ludington South Breakwater and wait for just the right breaking wave to complete the picture. F4.0 at 1/100, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 19 mm

Sometimes simple sunsets can be the most peaceful. This calm, warm night was just what the doctor ordered.

Looking through the viewfinder of my camera tonight with my 300 mm telephoto lens, I can't believe my eyes. It appears as if the sun is melting into Lake Michigan. The color of the sky this year seems to be more intense than previous years. I wonder if it has to do with the volcano eruption in Iceland earlier in the year. F22.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 300 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 450 mm

During our Thursday night workshop tonight I noticed the sun hitting one of these large pieces of limestone. I waited over 30 minutes for the correct angle of sunlight and for a large enough wave to cover the front and backside of the rock. I am not usually a very patient person, but tonight it paid off. F22.0 at 0.6, 100 ISO, 70-200 mm lens at 70 mm