Pere Marquette River/Lake

Brad and I and the kids spent the afternoon in the Pere Marquette River. The kids were swimming, while Brad and I had the underwater camera housing out. I had previsualized a photo of half underwater and half above, showcasing the lily pads. I made an image that day, but the water wasn’t as clear as I would have liked to compete with these clouds and reflections!

After being loaned an underwater housing for my camera this summer, I lay in bed one night trying to previsualize several different compositions that I could make with the new system. One of the photos that kept popping back into my mind was a half underwater shot of a water lily at the Ludington State Park. Knowing that lilies love still, warm water, I was certain I would be able to make my photo on Lost Lake. It turned out way better than I ever imagined it would! F8 at 1/800, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11.5mm

After being loaned an underwater housing for my camera this summer, I lay in bed one night trying to previsualize several different compositions that I could make with the new system. One of the photos that kept popping back into my mind was a half underwater shot of a water lily at the Ludington State Park. Knowing that lilies love still, warm water, I was certain I would be able to make my photo on Lost Lake. It turned out way better than I ever imagined it would! F8 at 1/800, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11.5mm

I took Rachel’s son David Benjamin pike fishing tonight on Pere Marquette Lake. Unfortunately, the fish weren’t biting, but we still had a great time and a fun boat ride in my dad’s Boston Whaler. We stopped the boat on our way back to the boat slip to make this image of the setting sun.

On my way to WKLA to talk on the radio about the importance and value to our community of donating to United Way of Mason County I see my picture of the day along the Pere Marquette River. I pull off the road, run to the water's edge, compose and shoot. Sometimes pictures come fast and easy. F4.5 at 1/125, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

Brad and I took a drive around Ludington this afternoon. He made an image of a tree with fall color near Hamlin Lake, and then we ended up on his aunt and uncle’s farm on the Pere Marquette River. I positioned myself to capture the shadows in the water as my leading line into the photograph in the lower left side of the frame and placed the sunburst in the tree in the upper right.

Indian Bridge over the Pere Marquette River is a popular spot for fishing. When the fishing is hot, it is lined with men, women, and families fishing. Tonight, the banks are empty, the river is calm enough that the vegetation and trees along it are reflected nicely. I was even blessed with magic light!

When I am out photographing, especially when the light is extraordinary, I feel like my soul is coming to life. During this incredible sunrise over the Pere Marquette River Flats, every muscle in my body was twinging with excitement as the world around me was also coming to life. F8 at 20 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

This Tuesday morning sunrise just kept getting better and better. As the sun rose, it created fog over the Pere Marquette River Flats. The calm water easily reflected the trees and clouds while the sun painted the entire scene beautiful pastel colors. F8 at 1 second, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

The fresh, clean waters of the Pere Marquette River snake their way through thick Michigan forests every day of the year. This view is from a section of the fly-only zone of the beautiful National Wild and Scenic River. F7.1 at 1/400, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 34mm

Dave Johnson took Rachel and me flying today so that we could make images for our 366 Project. We flew over Rachel’s family farm and then followed the Pere Marquette River back towards Ludington. Partway between Scottville and Ludington, I opened the window of the plane and leaned out into the rushing air to make this image.

As Brad and I were driving back to Hart to pick up the kids, we drove past St. Mary’s Lake. I decided to swing through by the boat launch. What a welcome treat!

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

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

While getting all our deer hunting stuff ready for opening day on the 15th, my dad and I took a break shortly before sunset and walked down in front of our cabin to the banks of the Pere Marquette River. We had excellent clouds, sun rays, and golden light as I made this image.

Our friend Bill Castonia can fix and build anything. My dad’s deer hunting tower down in the swamp along the Pere Marquette River had a bent metal leg that the ice had destroyed. It made the 22-foot tower unsafe and unusable for eight years. Bill came and looked at it and said he could fix it, no problem. A week later I made this image of my dad from that tower as he was walking by deer hunting.

Before the sun rose this morning, I was in position to shoot the sunrise along Old US-31 over the Pere Marquette River Flats. I was excited to see we had great clouds forming as the sun finally rose enough to turn the swamp grass in front of me gold. After I made this image, I headed to the grocery store. When I came out of the store, I was blown away by how awesome the clouds had gotten.

Well, Brad and I did it again. I was making my way into work and knew the clouds were too good to pass up. I turned on old Pere Marquette highway and parked at the river flats. It wasn’t until the next day that I realized Brad had shot there 40 minutes before I did.

Adverse weather doesn't deter Norm Dwyer from fishing for steelhead on the Pere Marquette River. Norm is used to dealing with adversity; he fought fires for nearly 30 years as a Pere Marquette Township fireman. F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

I don’t venture to the west side of the bridge over the Pere Marquette River in Scottville, Michigan very often. I tend to pull into Riverside Park instead. I drove as far as I could off to the west and then walked as far as I could go. I sat there for several minutes. Soaking up this view.