Panoramic Images

Baby skunks come nose to nose while playing in a farmyard on a June morning. The skunks are among nine babies born this month at Larry and Jo Sholtey's farm along South Lakeshore Drive south of Ludington. The playful youngsters have been providing excellent entertainment for the Sholteys and their guests. F4 at 1/500, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 700mm

The Lake Michigan Carferry, SS Badger passes by the Ludington North Breakwater Light upon reaching its homeport. The historic carferry can transport more than 500 passengers and dozens of vehicles on each of its crossings between Michigan and Wisconsin. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 750mm

I never get bored or tired of photographing the SS Badger coming in or out of the Ludington harbor. Lake Michigan was as calm as I have ever witnessed today and that makes for smooth sailing on the carferry as it crosses to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. F8 at 1/400, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Carl Sams, the famous wildlife photographer from Milford, Michigan, took the best bald eagle photograph I have ever seen. It show an adult eagle, wings completely straight, flying directly into the camera during a blizzard. I liked the image so much that I bought my dad a 40-inch panoramic canvas of it for our cabin. I have always wanted to make an image similar to Carl's. This is as close as I have come. The eagle in this photo is only a few years old and does not have the pure white head yet. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 840mm

Morning glory! Frost-coated swamp grasses turn to gold as the sun rises over the Pere Marquette River. What a way to wake up to the first day of November. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

Before making the five mile round trip hike to photograph a remote area of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, I had grand visions of encountering a world-class multi-colored Lake Michigan sunset that would paint the dunes, sky, and water in neon colors. Unfortunately, we did not have a such a sunset tonight. But the long hike was worth it for this photograph, which was made in a soft, subtle light. F8 at 1/60, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

Some day I would love to go back to Hawaii. If I did I would certainly take some surfing lessons. For now, I will continue body surfing in Lake Michigan with my camera. F7.1 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

The dramatic storm clouds in the distance and the brilliant sunlight combined to create an incredible light show for me today as I stood in Lake Michigan and photographed these monster breaking waves. This wave looked like a fine crystal sculpture, but had the power of a freight train. F7.1 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

The God beams have quickly disappeared and now the sky is flaming red, yellow, and orange. My favorite part of this composition is the lone fisherman standing at the end of the breakwall. He became the little person in the big world and he gives the photograph a sense of scale. The tiny fisherman makes the sky seem 10 times more powerful. F2.8 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

I have jumped out of my Suburban and sprinted up and over a dune to get my camera and tripod into position in time to sharply catch this "magic light" striking Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. After a long day photographing in overcast skies and rain, my perseverance has brought me the "luck" to be here to witness and record this autumn spectacle. How could it get better than this? F2.8 at 1/125, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

The University of Michigan's football stadium is nicknamed "The Big House" because it is the largest stadium in the United States and the third largest in the world. The Big House can hold over 114,000 people. Someday I hope to see Michigan State play Michigan at the Big House. Of course, I will be wearing green and white to that game! F16 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 30mm

Fall color can be so fun to photograph in the fog. The vibrant colors of the leaves are muted by the fog, but still help define the lines in a photograph. I made this photograph of Epworth while standing on the Lincoln River bridge. F22 at 1/6, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

I filled my boots with ice-cold water several times this morning in order to capture this image. Every 10 minutes or so the beach would flood on the north side of the channel in South Haven. This surge was significantly deeper and more powerful than any of the others I experienced in the morning hours. Rest assured Mom, Debbie, and Betsy, I was not actually in any danger shooting this photo, it just appears that way. Remember, cameras do lie! F9 at 1/640, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

I filled my boots with ice-cold water several times this morning in order to capture this image. Every 10 minutes or so the beach would flood on the north side of the channel in South Haven. This surge was significantly deeper and more powerful than any of the others I experienced in the morning hours. Rest assured Mom, Debbie, and Betsy, I was not actually in any danger shooting this photo, it just appears that way. Remember, cameras do lie! F9 at 1/640, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

One of the concepts my dad and I teach in our 20/20 Vision Workshops is "little object in the big world." Today, Jon Debruyn of South Haven, Michigan looked pretty tiny as he kayaked out past the lighthouse in his hometown. To my surprise and that of hundreds of other spectators on the beach, Jon was able to hold his own against the giant 18-foot breaking walls of water on Lake Michigan. F8 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 82mm

One of the concepts my dad and I teach in our 20/20 Vision Workshops is "little object in the big world." Today, Jon Debruyn of South Haven, Michigan looked pretty tiny as he kayaked out past the lighthouse in his hometown. To my surprise and that of hundreds of other spectators on the beach, Jon was able to hold his own against the giant 18-foot breaking walls of water on Lake Michigan. F8 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 82mm

Jon Debruyn ventured out today onto Lake Michigan to battle the 18-foot waves that were smashing into his hometown of South Haven, Michigan. For almost an hour I photographed Jon as he navigated like a professional through the breaking surf. He rolled several times, but it never seemed to faze him. I was impressed to say the least. F8 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

As I was composing this photograph I noticed that the repetitive patterns created by this seawall in Monroe, Michigan looked like the teeth of a saw. It was at that moment that I decided I should name this photograph "Sea Saw." F22 at 3 seconds, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 105mm

For a truly dramatic photo of a Lake Michigan sunset, try using a large telephoto lens. With a very narrow view of the Earth, a large telephoto lens will intensify the color and drama in any sunset. The foreground in this photograph is a small dune at Stearns Park between the breakwall and the playground. F4 at 1/4000, ISO 100, 600mm lens at 600mm

Pentwater has to be one of the most picturesque villages in Michigan. With a long exposure this morning, I photographed Pentwater coming to life on a cold December morning. F5.6 at 30 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 27mm