Silver Lake/Outlet

Silver Lake shortly after sunrise provided the backdrop for some stored boats on an autumn morning.

Today is Christmas Eve. Everything is still and calm. It is nice to enjoy this quiet view of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes all by myself this morning because I know the next week will be crazy busy with Christmas celebrations and a lot of eating. I take time to reflect on what an eventful year 2014 has been and all the good times I have had with my family and friends. Life is good! D800, F22 at 1 second, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 70mm

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.

As steam rose from the still waters of Silver Lake, the sun peaked over the trees and illuminated the scene before me. I captured this image early in the morning before the daily barrage of boaters flock to their playground.

All is quiet on the Silver Lake waterfront on an autumn evening. Rental canoes remain stacked along the shore. The sun has set on another tourist season at one of Michigan's busiest and most spectacular summer fun spots. I love the stillness and the visual simplicity the lack of activity provides.

Before a big house was built in front of our picture windows, my wife and I enjoyed an unobstructed, grand scenic world-class view of the Lake Michigan shoreline from Ludington to Little Sable Point. Now I use the "twice-as-close rule" to narrow my focus and exclude the big house from the images I make in front of our home. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

Rising dramatically from the Silver Lake shoreline, sections of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes look as grand as the Egyptian Pyramids to me on a September day. The light and shadow playing on the dunes often is the best after the masses have left. We love exploring the dunes during the quieter times of year, especially during September and October when the light is often magical.

Beautiful Silver Lake

Looking eastward from on top of the Silver Lake sand dunes, on an October morning provides a back-lit view of Silver Lake as well as a view of the sunrise.

My dad and I always call the clumps of grass in the foreground of this image "Cousin Its" because they remind us of the character Cousin It from the Addams Family. This is the first good photo I have ever taken of Ruckel's Bridge at the Silver Lake State Park. Even though it is March, this photo definitely has a fall feel to it.

Looking down at these grasses near the Silver Lake Outlet at Silver Lake State Park, I can't help but laugh. They look like bad hairdos to me. I decide to zero in on them. F5 at 1/50, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 18mm

Dune grasses barely move on a nearly perfectly still evening at the Silver Lake Outlet to Lake Michigan. A florist could not have arranged the dune grass more perfectly for me. All I have to do is position the camera in just the right spot. F22 at 0.6, ISO 140, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

Silver Lake Outlet