Pine Trees

One of Michigan's best-kept secrets is the giant white pine forest at the Hartwick Pines State Park, located just north of Grayling, Michigan. The forest is home to Michigan's largest section of native white pine trees. Some are over 300 years old. Most of Michigan would have looked like this forest 150 years ago before most of our state was logged off. F20 at 5 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 24mm

For the third night of deer season, I moved back into the apple orchard tower. It was another slow night of hunting, but the magic light appeared, and I was ready with my iPhone.

Picture hunting from the truck is one of my favorite things to do. While driving across Michigan today, my dad and I spotted this bog full of different kinds of trees and loaded with fog. We got out of the truck on US10 between Baldwin and Reed City and quickly made these images before the sunrise burned the fog away. F8 at 0.5, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 120mm

What a view I am enjoying at the dawn of a new day over woodlands, fields and farmland in Amber Township. This is truly a morning to savor and remember. F4.0 at 1/60, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

The sunshine is a welcome sight today! I love long casting shadows.

The light was bland today, and it didn’t appear as if there would be any color for sunset. I took a walk around the yard to see what I could see. I am always amazed at pine trees and their structure.

Happy 9th Birthday, Bubba! It was difficult to say goodbye to the kids tonight. I have always been with them on their birthdays for the entire day. I tried to find a photo that would cheer me up tonight. These trees decorated in Christmas lights in front of Lake Michigan helped.

The Manistee National Forest has been transformed overnight into a winter wonderland. After driving to the Walhalla area, I discover these snow-coated red pines on a two-track road east of Weldon Creek. F22.0 at 0.4, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

Today feels like a Colorado day to me: cold and crisp, tons of sunshine, a brilliant blue sky, and white puffy clouds. Days like these make me want to sharpen my downhill skis and hit the slopes. F8.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

What a fun afternoon we had! We met Brad and the kids at their cabin. Brad took the kids and me sledding behind the Ranger, which we all loved! The sun was shining, and we had blue skies. You can’t ask for much more than that.

Brad called early this morning to report heavy frost a few miles inland from Lake Michigan. Sure enough, pine trees four miles east of Ludington are coated with frost. This is just what I was looking for. F8.0 at 1/100, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 185 mm

I enjoy making photographs that look like impressionistic paintings. This photo of peak fall color in Victory Township in the Northwest region of Mason County definitely looks impressionistic. Every time I look at it I get a craving for gumdrops. Some photos really need to be seen large to be fully appreciated and this is one of those pictures. F5 at 1/640, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 70mm

I enjoy making photographs that look like impressionistic paintings. This photo of peak fall color in Victory Township in the Northwest region of Mason County definitely looks impressionistic. Every time I look at it I get a craving for gumdrops. Some photos really need to be seen large to be fully appreciated and this is one of those pictures. F5 at 1/640, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 70mm

A blue spruce tree seems to be reaching for the sun but the sun is nowhere in sight on this foggy morning. I like the way the spruce, being close to me, is distinct while the hardwood tree in the background is softened by the fog. Atmospheric days like today help create layers to images. The key is to be close to the foreground layer. F10 at 1/10, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 450mm

I love this view for more than the beauty of this red pine tree branch on a rainy morning. I appreciate it even more because this tree is one of hundreds my brother and I have watched grow on our land along the Pere Marquette River from seedlings to more than 15 feet high. I find all the trees, just one of the trees or a small part of one a joy to behold. F11 at 1/400, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 450mm

A very young pine tree stands proud among more mature pines and hardwoods near the Pere Marquette River. With the much-needed rain we got overnight, I could almost see this little tree growing before my eyes. F20 at 1/60, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

Mother Nature is getting a little help today decorating this spruce tree. The beautiful tree stands in front of one of the ski lodges at Caberfae Peaks. Today this tree is being coated by a snowmaking machine creating manmade snow for downhill skiing at Caberfae. F22 at 1/1600, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

This morning, as I stood on the edge of a farm field near the corner of Schwass Road and Hawley Road, it was snowing so hard that I could barely see the three massive wind turbines in the distance. Normally, the wind turbines are visible from miles away. The wind was blowing pretty strong so the blades were really bending. Even with the driving snow and the whipping blades, the countryside seemed so peaceful and still. F8 at 1/25, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

Betsy, Julia, Ethan, and I picked out our Christmas tree a few weeks ago and decorated it together. We bought it pre-cut from a local tree farm. This row of evergreen trees along Hawley Road reminds me of the good old days when my parents took us out in the woods with a saw to cut down our own tree. Maybe next year I will do that with my kids. F8 at 1/15, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm