Sail Boats

In the last few years Ludington has had several different tall ships visit our port. As the Peacemaker rounded the Ludington North Breakwater Light and headed for the dock in Ludington, I was certain she was the most beautiful tall ship to visit this busy port. I was so impressed she came through the channel with all of her sails up.

Calm, windless nights on Lake Michigan may not make for great sailing, but they sure do make for sensational photographs.

Badger Going Out in Storm

White Lake bustles with recreational boating traffic in the summer. On this July evening, an impressive catamaran is one of many vessels passing by White River Light Station en route for an evening cruise on Lake Michigan.

The Inland Seas sailed the inland sea on Grand Traverse Bay between Traverse City and Suttons Bay on a spring morning. The 77-foot Great Lakes schooner provides inland sea science and sailing adventures regularly from Suttons Bay.

My dad and stepmom Debbie were at the Brooks and Dunn concert tonight at the DTE Energy Music Theatre so I was flying solo while teaching our 20/20 Vision Summer Workshop that we hold every Thursday in Ludington. Just as I was pointing out the two red streaks in the water from the reflection of the clouds, a sailboat passed near by. F2.8 at 1/250, ISO 640, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

This looks like a picture from the Great Lakes' past. The Madeline, modeled after historic lumber schooners, sails into Pentwater harbor. Aboard on this Lake Michigan voyage are the ship's crew and Pentwater Yacht Club sailing students. The original Madeline sailed the waters of Lake Michigan more than 150 years ago. F4.0 at 1/800, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

I haven't spent much time on sailboats, especially on Lake Michigan, but every time I see one catching the wind I think it looks like something I would really enjoy. From my aerial view, I could see the different wind currents on the surface of Lake Michigan. F9 at 1/2500, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

The graphic view in front of me at the entrance to St. Joseph Harbor reminds me of those perspective drawings we learned to make in grade school. Everything appears smaller as it recedes into the scene. Shooting the sailboat at just this spot in its voyage makes all the lines and imaginary lines line up in triangular fashion. F10 at 1/400, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

I have always liked photographs that give a feeling of scale of how big the world we live in is. I call these "little object in the big world" pictures. This is one of my favorites. With storm clouds on the horizons, a small sailboat had just left safe harbor at Ludington, sailing seaward. I felt concern for the safety of the boaters yet exhilarated by the contrast portrayed.

I have been known to do crazy things to get a photograph. On this occasion, I was frustrated because I could not position myself to capture this sailboat and its reflection, yet omit the other boats from the scene. I had two options; climb a tree along side of the road, or stand on the roof of my car. My car still has a large dent in the roof.

The United States Coast Guard motto of Semper Paratus means Always Ready. My dad and I have our trucks packed full of all kinds of clothing, photography gear, and safety equipment, including several hundred feet of high quality rope. Today we put at least 250 feet of that rope to good use in order to make this photograph on Grand Traverse Bay. With my cold-water survival suit on and my underwater camera around my neck, I made my way out to this moored sailboat. My dad was back on shore and tending the other end of the rope. I couldn't have done it without his help.

La Bella Vita

Sailing to the Moon

Sailboat at Sunset

The sailboat Condor strikes a gorgeous pose even while high and dry on its cradle for the winter. The sleek ...... ........graces the waterfront of Pentwater, one of Lake Michigan's most picturesque harbors.

Luci

Red White and Blue Sailboat