Ludington Point to Point

Maple trees planted when horse and buggy traveled a country lane now tower over anything or anyone passing their way. The stretch of Decker Road, between Ludington and Scottville, is one of the few country roadways in the area that remain more of a lane a road. Because of its natural look and the magnificent maples, it has long been one of my favorite spots to drive through and to photograph.

Like a scene out of the past, a classic wooden speedboat docked at Pentwater Yacht Club brings back my visions of the 1950s and 1960s, when such boats were popular on area lakes.

I was on a scouting expedition to find good locations for photographing fall color when I came across this pastoral scene along Sugar Grove Road west of Round Lake. The red barns caught my eye, but it was the sheep in the foreground that made me stop to make a photograph.

Long after it had outlived its usefulness as a boat, a rusting hulk remains in the water on tiny Fox Lake in eastern Mason County. I wonder about its history and the enjoyment it probably brought people in years past. Even though half rusted away, I find it beautiful as a still life subject.

Young maple trees and an old barn on Fisher Road caught my eye while en route to West Shore Community College to teach a photography class. I tried to persuade my students to always have their cameras with them and tell them that stopping to take a photograph is one of the few good excuses for being late to class. I tried to leave home early so I could make a picture and still get to class on time.

From atop a high sand dune south of Big Sable Point Lighthouse, I could see the light projecting from the lamphouse intersecting with the light of the tail of the Comet NEOWISE. I decided to try to make a tight image that would emphasize that connection of light in the starry sky. Showing less of the light tower and none of the keepers’ dwelling kept the focus on the story I wanted to tell. Less is so often more..

Sunsets like this one, painting the beach and cottages along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Epworth Heights, are so exhilarating I feel privileged to be there to witness them.

Once in a great while, a sign in the outdoor world appeals to me. This one on the hull of a weathered rental boat beached on Hamlin Lake was one of those rare exceptions.

Little Point Sable Light has stretched 108-feet skyward since 1874 to stand out by daylight and by night with its powerful beacon. Despite the modern array of electronics on many boats and ships, the lighthouse provides visual verification that a vessel is where electronic position systems indicate location. I have learned to not place all my trust in the electronic marvels.

Shoreline Trek

The carferry Badger slips quietly through the early morning mist on its way out of the slumbering Ludington harbor. I was glad to be out early to appreciate the view from a field along the north channel wall.

When I spotted this wintry scene south of Ludington, it immediately reminded me of a famous picture long used to promote Steamboat ski resort in Colorado. I always loved that picture and I loved the one that was in front of my eyes just a few miles from my home.

A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow applies to photography. One summer evening, shortly after telling my wife it was "rainbow weather," we had walked into P.M. Steamers Restaurant when I heard a patron exclaim there were two rainbows. I bolted out the door and raced a couple of blocks to get to a good vantage point to feature the carferry Badger beneath the rainbow. I shot for about two minutes before one rainbow disappeared and the other became less vivid. Good timing makes good pictures; so does always carrying the camera, and postponing dinner.

Pentwater North Pierhead Light attracts many people on summer nights, but its main purpose is to help guide boats into Pentwater harbor. Its conical tower stands 43-feet high to help mariners, find the harbor by day. By night, a green light on top of the tower flashes to aid boaters in finding the harbor entrance.

An April night at Little Sable Light finds the 108-foot tower standing starkly against the twilight sky. I have made dozens of photo trips to the lighthouse near Silver Lake, often accompanied by my wife Debbie, sons Todd, Brad and Willie, and nephew Ryan. On this night we shot for a couple of hours as the light changed, and different pictures presented themselves. Whenever I go there, I think of the many good times we have shared looking, searching, waiting, talking, and shooting.

A clump of dune grass stands unassailable against winter's onslaught. I love to see the changes that snow brings to subjects that appealed to me in a different way before the snowfall.

Photographing life rings is one of my hobbies. The weathered appearance of this ring aboard the tugboat Karl E. Luedtke caught my eye while the Frankfort-based tug was working on a Ludington harbor improvement project. Photographing familiar objects, over time, is a good way to learn to see the objects and light better, and to watch my photography evolve.

This tree graces the Ludington beach near the entrance to Stearns Park. It often frames picturesque views of Lake Michigan. On this night the tree takes center stage, leaving an anchored freighter to play supporting role.

The view of Lake Michigan from the Pere Marquette Township campground is among the most panoramic from point to point. Rough water and storm clouds can add drama, but exceptional quality of natural light I like to call "magic light" or storm light is essential to making the view the most spectacular.

Just before dusk at the Sauble River Outlet, magic light broke out from beneath a cloud layer, highlighting the water's edge. The afterglow made the wait along the Lake Michigan shoreline worthwhile. My son Brad, my nephew Ryan, and I each took our approach to photographing the light.