Oak Trees

Storms seem to be popping up very quickly lately. We were still camping at “The Point” when the wind started to pick up. Everyone pitched in to pack up loose items. I then turned my attention to the clouds passing overhead above the Pere Marquette River.

I have been watching leaves float by for 20 minutes on Hamlin Lake just above the dam at Ludington State Park. Finally, here is a fresh, colorful view that stands out immediately from all the others I have seen. F2.8 at 1/80, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

Today was the most difficult day so far this year for me to find a photograph that I was proud of. After driving around frantically for over an hour, I found this leaf on my friend Gary Ferguson's property. What a re-leaf. F8.0 at 6.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

Curving branches of an old oak tree along the Pere Marquette River stand out today after high winds blew away many of the grand oak's leaves. Most neighboring maple trees have been stripped bare by 30 to 60 knot winds the previous two days. F11.0 at 1/5, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

My dad and I drove to Manistee today to visit a friend in the hospital. The visit was sad and I needed to grab my camera quickly to help ease the pain. Not far from the hospital, we found this row of trees lining Eastlake Road. Photography for my dad and me is very therapeutic. F16.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

As I crested the top of a tall wooded bank along M32 today just east of Alpena, I was stunned to see the tree graveyard below. An old abandoned shale quarry had filled in with water over the years and many of the trees were unable to survive in the harsh environment. The dense cloud cover created a bright overcast lighting effect on the scene. I love how this photograph looks like it was taken in the wintertime. F10 at 1/800, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

The leaves on this oak tree near Bridgman, Michigan, on the way to Warren Dunes State Park, brought me from 60 miles per hour to zero in seconds. I already had spotted a beautiful backdrop in the form of the giant rolling hills. Now I have the perfect subject to place in front of the wooded hills. F32 at 1/25, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

The blue line around the outside edge of this leaf stood out to me as I was walking through a creek near the corner of Peterson and Fisher roads. Rainy days can be perfect for photographing fall color. F22 at 1.3 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Standing in creeks and swamps can be detrimental to your boots. As I was focusing on making this picture, I did not realize that both of my boots were slowly sinking into some stinky, thick black muck. Luckily my boots were tall and tied on very tightly so they didn't come off as I yanked them out of the mud. It was all worth it for this photograph. F22 at 1 second, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

I have been wanting for several years to photograph one of the largest and most symmetrical oak trees I have ever seen. Today I have the opportunity to photograph the beautiful giant that has been growing on the John B. Sobanski farm long before the farm was established in 1919. The meticulously maintained farm is located southeast of Ludington along the Pere Marquette River. F16 at 0.4, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Sometimes this swampy area of our property along the Pere Marquette River is under water. With the unseasonably warm and dry year we have had, this is the driest I have ever seen our swamp. F8 at 1/80, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

The roots of this tree, located in the swampy area of our property along the Pere Marquette River, really look like an octopus or some kind of swamp monster. At least this monster is beautiful. F7.1 at 1/100, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

I moved in twice as close on some roots of a giant tree in the swamp along the Pere Marquette River today in order to make this image. I felt that another perspective of this scene might look busy and disorganized, but by being mobile with my camera, I found a way to make order out of chaos. F7.1 at 1/80, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 23mm

Walking through William Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, Michigan, I am vigilantly looking for the perfect leaf to photograph in the fresh snow that has fallen overnight. I know it when I see it: a perfectly preserved oak leaf jutting out of the snow. Blades of green grass provide an added ingredient. F22 at 1/80, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 70mm