Spring

Summer has not yet come to Silver Lake Sand Dunes but the world-class views have never left. This evening I am appreciating, by my lucky self, a dunetop view of untracked rows of wind-driven sand stretching toward Lake Michigan. I feel this is one of the best views in Michigan and the world.

Another concept that my dad, Rachel, and I try to use in our compositions is to make sure that the different layers of our images overlap. With this scene, I tried to make sure that the top of the dune overlapped visually into the water. I then made sure the dune grass was high enough into the background layer of the clouds, but not appearing to merge. The tips of the grass fit just right.

Workshop at LSP

I am always trying to find x’s in nature because they naturally create dynamic diagonals in my images as well as triangles. This wave breaking over the jetties at the first curve along Lake Michigan at the Ludington State Park made a perfect x

A young couple rounds the bend on their way back from an evening hike to the lighthouse at the end of Ludington South Breakwater. As they pass by me, I mention I took their picture. They tell me they just got engaged. The picture takes on new meaning. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 400, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

My wife and daughter love to draw and color together. The weather in Ludington this week has been unseasonably warm and wonderful so they decided to take their artwork outside. Betsy drew the butterfly and then Julia lay down to color it in with her sidewalk chalk. I was drawn to the beautiful light hitting Julia's face. F4.5 at 1/250, ISO 320, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Not far from Papa Bill’s house on the corner of Jebavy and Dewey Road, I found this flooded forest. I pulled off the road and got wet feet wading into this newly formed swamp. The image would not have worked if I shot it from five feet farther back. I had to get wet to create the immediacy I needed to put you into the scene.

A fisherman has a stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline near Hurricane River Outlet all to himself. What a peaceful way to enjoy a next to last day of winter that looks and feels more like summer. F18 at 1/200, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 23mm

Ludington State Park

The Hurricane River Outlet looks like a boiling caldron tonight as melted snow dramatically increases the flow of water downstream to Lake Superior. This spot between Munising and Grand Marais is one of my favorite places in Michigan's fabulous Upper Peninsula. F4 at 1/640, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 26mm

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.

I drove to the land our family owns in hopes of finding some flowers in bloom that were planted years ago by the Betka family. Sure enough, I found them along Conrad Road and moved in for a closer look with a macro lens. F13.0 at 1/25, ISO 400, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

Tonight was the most reflective I have ever witnessed Lake Michigan in my entire life. The big lake was a perfect mirror. The kids were busy running up and down the shoreline as I was making this image. Life in Ludington is such a blessing!

365 Week

The front yards of Jeannie Krieger's house and Terry Murphy and Deb Dila's house on Rath Avenue in Ludington are covered with these gorgeous glory of the snow flowers. Using my wide-angle macro lens and carefully getting as close to the flowers as I could; I made this photo in the bright sunlight. F5.0 at 1/640, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

An oak tree clinging to life by the tips of its roots rises toward the sky atop a sand dune along the Hamlin Lake shoreline. I have long marveled at this tree's will to live near the north end of the Ridge Trail at Ludington State Park. This view is my reward for hiking an hour in the dark to be at this spot by sunrise. F10 at 1/50, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Epworth Volcano

Man, I love nights like this on the Lake Michigan shoreline. A few minutes earlier this dune grass all looked dull, boring, and ordinary. Then with God’s magic light, it all suddenly came to life.

The fast start to spring has made the dune grass unseasonably beautiful. Now I have the light of yet another great spring sunset over Lake Michigan to make the picture golden. F13.0 at 1/400, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

My wife Betsy and my in-laws, Don and Shari Verduin, sang in the Good Friday community service today. This year the community service was held at Cornerstone Baptist Church. When I found this beautiful cross on the wall I thought it would make a fitting photo for Good Friday. F2.8 at 1/80, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 34 mm