Other Fruit, Vegetables

One of our workshop students found this fungus growing at the bottom of a tree near the Beechwood Campground inside Ludington State Park. Lucky for me, she shared her special find with the rest of the group. F20.0 at 15.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

Milkweeds tend to bring back childhood memories for me. I remember breaking them apart and chasing the girls around the yard at daycare. As I was photographing these milkweeds along Brye Road this morning, I was quietly smiling to myself. F8.0 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Doing these year-long shooting projects, where you have to try and find a book-quality image every single day, gets hard. I remember in 2010, while my dad and I were shooting the 365 Project, that by the time October rolled around, I was anxiously awaiting the end of the year so I could take a mental health break. It is especially hard on days like today when you come down with some nasty bug.

Who knew that zucchini plants have such beautiful flowers? Not me. But am I glad I got out of the car to check out the flowers up close and personal. I later learn that this female zucchini flower will only be open for a few hours daily during its short life, allowing little time for pollination. F11 at 1/80, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

The grasses along Dennis Road south of Ludington looked beautiful this morning as the sun rose in the east. The golden sunrise helped ease my nerves after a long night of howling winds. F22.0 at 1/160, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

When the world in Northern Michigan turns brown, the spots of color that remain in the landscape get a chance to really stand out. So it was today along the Pere Marquette River near our cabin. F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 185 mm

In our apple orchard on our property along Conrad Road, I found this cool little plant while looking for my photo of the day. By getting extremely close to it with my macro lens and shooting with a large aperture, I was able to make the background very soft and painterly. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

The patterns on this stump, along with the fungus and grass, make for an outstanding photograph. After waiting three minutes for the sun to go behind a cloud, I was able to make this photograph in the bright overcast light. F3.5 at 1/100, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

I enjoy trying to make order out of chaos with my camera. My dad spotted this fungus growing on the side of a tree at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park and I set upon making an artistic photograph of it. The hot muggy air was making the fungus steam, but unfortunately, my camera did not record that. F22 at 5 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 20mm

I enjoy hunting for the prettiest flower in a field of Michigan wildflowers. It didn't take me long to spot this gem of a Jerusalem artichoke tonight at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, Michigan. F2.8 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 30mm

This very small clump of grass was glowing and caught my eye from several yards away. I moved in close with my wide-angle macro lens and captured the rim lighting on the finger-like blades of grass. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 100, 18-55mm lens at 35mm

The boulevards on Ludington Avenue are lined with beautiful berry trees. I used my largest lens, got as close as I could, and lined up a contrasting background in order to make the red berries pop. I also used a slower shutter speed to show the movement of the snowflakes. F5.6 at 1/100, ISO 800, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

The golden light from the beautiful sunrise this morning turned the entire forest a vibrant golden-yellow color. Look at the detail on these berries. A few minutes earlier they were dull and shapeless looking. Minutes after making this photograph the light got too bright and all of the detail was washed away. Timing and chasing the light is everything in photography. F10 at 1/13, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

I have seen a lot of beautiful farm fields but none more distinctive than this big rolling field at OK Farms north of Clare. Green Bay Packer fans have to love this green and gold Michigan field, featuring a mix of clover and wheat. Erma Kleinhardt, who has lived on the family farm all her life, said the field will be solid green with clover in time for her granddaughter's wedding next year. F16 at 1/125, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

I have driven by this blueberry patch on Fisher Road near Jebavy Drive hundreds of times, but until today I had never seen it from the air. It was especially beautiful today because of the gorgeous fall color on the surrounding trees. F4.5 at 1/640, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 22mm

One of my favorite West Michigan roadside fruit and vegetable stands is Kistlercrest Farms on Pere Marquette Highway between Ludington and Pentwater. While buying their homegrown apples and famous Kistlercrest maple syrup, I spot a large display of gourds that I find irresistibly photogenic. F32 at 1/6, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 26mm

Raindrops cling to Michigan berries long after it has stopped raining on a November morning in the woods between Ludington and Scottville. A long-abandoned 1955 Chevrolet provides the backdrop. F2.8 at 1/1600, ISO 3200, 80-200mm lens at 135mm

Composing photographs can be like assembling a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. You have to look very closely at every piece to see how they fit together. One missing piece can ruin the entire experience. This winter puzzle I made off the bridge on M37 fit together perfectly. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 82mm

I am right on schedule to meet Brad for lunch after photographing in Manistee all morning. Then these grasses along one of the back roads to Ludington set up a roadblock. Even before setting up the tripod, I know the decision to stop was a good one. The clean, simple dark background provided by some evergreen trees in the shade makes the grasses stand out even more. F16 at 1/640, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm