Miscellaneous Images

For years, this photograph has been living in my head and haunting me. I just hadn't gotten off my butt and made the image. After the truck and tractor pull, I got onto the Pharaoh's Fury ride inside the Midway at the Western Michigan fair. Towards the end of my three-minute gut-dropping ride, I finally figured out the best camera settings and angle to make this picture. It feels good to not be chasing ghosts anymore. F10 at 1/10, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 22mm

For years I have heard from friends that the fireworks at the Western Michigan Fair are as good or better than the Fourth of July fireworks at the Ludington city beach. After experiencing both shows this year, my vote is for the Western Michigan Fair. I love music and it was cool that the fireworks display was timed perfectly to the music being played through the grandstand at the fair grounds. F8 at 2 seconds, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

While Brad is using a wide-angle lens to photograph wake boarder James White, Bass Lake and the famous Three Sisters, I use a telephoto lens to make an up-close and personal image of the 15-year-old daredevil. F8 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

For years Julia and Ethan went to Elaine Buskirk’s daycare in Ludington. They are old enough now that they don’t need to go to daycare, and we always miss seeing Elaine. While driving in our old neighborhood near Lakeview School today, I spotted one of Elaine’s cool Halloween pumpkins in her front yard. Elaine’s sister makes these entertaining Halloween decorations.

My dad knelt down in the warm waters of the Bass Lake Outlet this afternoon as he waited for the defining moment to happen in front of his camera. F7.1 at 1/800, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

My dad and I try to turn photography into an action sport. We like to engage our subject. Often times that means getting wet

My dad has lived on or near Lake Michigan his entire life. He drove Coast Guard boats on Lake Michigan for 33 years and has been capturing her beauty with his camera since 1971. My dad certainly is "One with the Great Lakes." F8 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

Just before I went into Foster School in Ludington tonight to play basketball, I got my big lens and tripod out of the truck and photographed the moon. The sky was clear and the moon was bright, allowing me to get a sharp, detailed photograph of the moon. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

Bicycle tours are a great way to see Michigan and get a lot of exercise in the process. Participants in the Standale Baptist Church summer bike tour pedal through the West Michigan countryside en route to Ludington on a sunny summer morning. F4.5 at 1/4000, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Ahhhhhh! Cory Case of Ludington and his family really get into decorating their yard on North Washington Avenue. I drive by this face everyday on my way to work and it finally dawned on me that it would make a surprising photo of the day. F8.0 at 6.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 40 mm

My Uncle Budde and Aunt Sheryl have an extraordinarily beautiful home just north of the Ludington City Beach on Lake Michigan. This is the view out of their dining room. They both have excellent decorating style.

A fire hose snakes down Rath Avenue, delivering water from a hydrant to a house fire. Luckily, nobody was injured, the owner's dog was rescued, and the fire was extinguished. F7.1 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

A new Ford Mustang Cobra GT 500 was parked behind the gallery this morning. I couldn't resist photographing the iconic snake emblem and its reflection on the front grill of my dream car. F10.0 at 1/40, ISO 1250, 18-50 mm lens at 35 mm

Local knowledge can be very valuable. I can't help but take seriously this sign made by a resident of the area along South Lakeshore Drive. I also appreciate the eye-catching design of the homemade sign. F2.8 at 1/80, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 138 mm

I surprised my kids last night and pulled up at home in a new Chevy Trail Boss pickup truck. Today we had to drive to Grand Rapids for Ethan’s soccer game. On the way home, we took the scenic tour at the rest area between Pentwater and Ludington. We had zero traffic and wonderful fall color, so it was the perfect place to get a fall photo to send to Pure Michigan.

Local fruit farmer Roy Hackert and his family and several other locals donated the newest sculpture at Waterfront Park in Ludington. The sculpture is named "Fruits of Farming," and depicts a farmer and his son worn out after completing the long, hard harvest. I am certain that many farmers feel this way every fall. F2.8 at 0.6, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 46 mm

I was hoping for clear skies to photograph the Halloween “Blue Moon,” a rare treat for a spooky day. It is supposed to be the first full moon on Halloween in 76 years. The weather had other plans, and the cloud cover didn’t allow for a view. Once we got back home, David’s costume was a fun photo to make.

We try to carve pumpkins every year. By having a longer exposure and zooming in and out during it, it gives the jack-o-lantern an extra eerie glow.

The old cemetery at the west end of Hawley Road takes on an eerie appearance on Halloween night. During a 30-second time exposure, I am using my vehicle headlights to sidelight the gate and an off-camera flash to light gravestones in order to make them emerge from the darkness. F11.0 at 30.0, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

As my dad sat in the sunshine in front of a beautiful field of really short sunflowers, I couldn't resist calling his name to get him to look at my camera for this photograph. I was at least 40 yards away from him when I made this image, but my super long telephoto lens brought him up close and personal while blurring the sunflowers in the background. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 600mm lens at 840mm