Pere Marquette River/Lake

An ice fisherman is oblivious to cold because good fishing luck could arrive at any time. I eagerly waited, on a bone-chilling winter morning, for the sun to rise over the Pere Marquette River. My perseverance netted a good catch. A day like this helps me understand ice fishermen better.

Looking westward in the Pere Marquette River Flats, on the same morning I photographed the preceding scene looking eastward, revealed a similar view but one with the Dow Chemical Plant in the background.

PM River

PM River

Today I stumbled upon a beautiful feather that was wedged between some wild grasses and a fallen tree along the shores of the Pere Marquette River in front of our family cabin. I had no idea that my dad had been out shooting in almost the same exact spot a few hours earlier. That is the second time that has happened so far with the 365 Project. F2.8 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

The Pere Marquette River winds around the south side of our family farm. There are many spots that we regularly visit, but this area near the natural spring is one of my favorites. Today, the massive, billowy clouds reminded me of Clyde Butcher’s photography in the Everglades of Florida.

Regal River

Wednesday PM River Wildflowers Lake Michigan

Fisherman's Sunrise

While driving home tonight, I stopped on Old US-31 to photograph the setting sun over the Pere Marquette River Flats. I set my lens aperture to F22 to make the sun rays more visible.

Towards sunset, I took a drive by myself through our woods along the Pere Marquette River. This spot is often forgotten, a path to drive through but rarely to stop and view. It overlooks the image I made on Day 83 of 366. The green moss on this downed log was too brilliant not to stop.

Clouds are your friends! The clouds today are a photographer’s dream! I love the marsh land around the Pere Marquette River. I drove to the farm, climbed down a steep bank, and found a log to walk out on. This allowed me to get rid of the smaller limbs along the shoreline and showcase the clouds reflecting in the river instead. Now to climb back up!

My grandparents, Bud and Dorothy Reed, had a house on the Pere Marquette River for 50 years just upstream from where I made this photograph today on the Shoup's property. This was a fresh view for me and it reminded me of all the amazing times the Reed family had at my grandparents' house. The reflections of the clouds in the river are what caught my eye and drew me down the steep bank to the river's edge. F7.1 at 1/200, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

The kids and I spent the afternoon fishing down by “The Point”. The marshland was a brilliant green today. While they fished, I shot….photos that is. It was a great day full of wonderful memories!

After being up most of the night with my son, Brad, photographing Northern Lights and editing the images, I grabbed a peaceful catnap at our family cabin along the Pere Marquette River. Now I am ready for a little exploring. Light dances on the Pere Marquette River as leaves shimmer in the light of a beautiful spring afternoon. The water is high and running fast today. I take up position to make this image and then linger to drink in the scene for a while longer before moving on to see what else I can find along the river. F3.5 at 1/800, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 120mm

The Pere Marquette River has a national blue ribbon fishery rating due to the number of fish caught out of the river and the scenic beauty of the entire river area. I love the blue ribbons of water that were flashing above the gorgeous river rock this afternoon. My camera captured the beauty perfectly. F6.3 at 1/320, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Alarm clock goes off at 5:45 A.M. and I roll out of bed. Get dressed, grab a quick bite to eat and fire up the truck. Heading to Pentwater for the Junior Women's Club Annual Art Fair. The sunrise is amazing. Stop on Old US 31 near the Pere Marquette River Flats and am finally awake enough to make this photograph. F9.0 at 1/500, ISO 250, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Rachel and I took our kids swimming in the Pere Marquette River today, at her family’s farm. While they were all enjoying playing together, I took our underwater camera housing and made this image of the bright summer sun lighting up a spawning bed on the river bottom.