Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse

A Light From Above

From shore, the Ludington lighthouse resembled a giant ice sculpture after an early winter gale subsided. I knew I needed to get close to get the strongest photograph. The treacherously slippery hike to the lighthouse left me questioning whether I should have attempted it. The view in front of my camera gave me my answer. As darkness was closing in, I was slipping and sliding my way back to shore, questioning my sanity but feeling good that I had mad this picture envisioned from shore.

A Michigan Moment

A valuable composition lesson I have learned from my dad is that visually small objects, or

I grew up with orchards, flowering bushes, and gardens surrounding our farmhouse. I was fortunate to purchase a home that also has apple trees and several flowering bushes in the yard. This is one of my favorites.

August Blast

My dad has taught me how to use my camera to convey different emotions within the same scene. To portray a peaceful summer evening mood, I stood in the puddle and positioned my camera and tripod inches above the water

The base of the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse juts seaward like the bow of a ship as the carferry Badger returns to Ludington harbor on a late summer evening.

Ludington Light Redone

A momentary lull in the wind stops the nearby snow from blowing long enough for me to make an image of the intriguing patterns of the sand, snow, fences, and waves along the Lake Michigan shoreline today.

Blazing Light

Blazing Light - vertical crop

The night took my breath away, not from trying to breathe the below zero air but from viewing the icy splendor before me on Lake Michigan at Ludington.

Rugged ice and towering waves define the Lake Michigan shoreline in the coldest winter months. On cold, clear days when the sun graces us with its presence, the ice displays different shades of blue and white. On this day, my friend, Rob Alway, and I made our way out on the ice and we each came away with some powerful photographs.

I love the coldest mornings; they often render Lake Michigan waterfront scenes in incredibly sharp and colorful ways. The setting moon and rising steam made this a picture that warmed my soul. I live for moments like this when my camera takes me where my heart wants to go. I tell my photo students, follow your heart with your camera.

My dad and I have taken many beautiful photographs at the end of Ludington Avenue. On rough days, that location allows you an unobstructed view of the Ludington North Breakwater, while still offering some protection from the blowing sand and water.One risk still present is thin ice. Just after I captured this photograph, the ice beneath me gave way. Luckily, only my feet got wet.

When I came out of the gallery tonight the sky in the west looked like it had potential to be spectacular. I checked my phone for the sunset time and knew I had about an hour to kill. Just before six I headed out into the cold. I made this photograph at three minutes after six. It was one of the most colorful sunsets I had ever photographed. F22.0 at 3.0, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Clarity