Storms

White Lightning

The kids and I drove with my dad to the front field looking for a jack-in-the-pulpit that he had seen earlier in the week. Unfortunately, it was past its prime. On our way back, a shelf cloud rapidly came upon us. I asked my dad to get us back to the farm as fast as he could. I knew the spot I needed to be to capture the massive cloud over the farmhouse and maples. We don’t typically get shelf clouds that big this far inland. It was fun to witness!

It was a dark and stormy night! As I am awaiting photography workshop students for an evening shoot on the Ludington waterfront, I witness two storm fronts collide at the water's edge. The eastbound front appears to win out and the storm heads inland as I shoot. A short time later a tornado was sighted 10 miles eastward. F4.5 at 1/3200, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

I love watching thunderstorms sweep toward my home from across Lake Michigan. I have seen a lot bigger storms and bigger lightning bolts, but I still find the bolts of this storm exciting and alluring. Why is it that so many of us are drawn to storms? F5.6 at 30.0, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

I live for days like this when Lake Michigan displays its awesome power and beauty. The feeling of 40-knot wind gusts in my face, sound of waves rushing and sight of water flying over the Ludington lighthouse overwhelm my senses. Before making this shot, I warned several swimmers about a recent drowning in the same location.

Storm clouds can be mesmerizing as they rapidly fly across the sky. These particular clouds seemed to have a wave motion to them. I waited for them to position themselves above the trees in the way that I was envisioning.

I could see sweeping clouds to the west when I walked out for lunch. I knew I needed to get to the lakeshore. The clouds were massive overhead.

My dad called me this morning and said he was standing on his deck looking at huge waves going over the top of the Ludington North Breakwater Light. I had a few meetings in the morning and as soon as they were done, I headed to the Lake Michigan shoreline and started shooting. After a half hour of shooting several different waves hitting the lighthouse, I knew this one was a winner.

“Class Time” - All semester it has been on my syllabus to have my photography students from West Shore Community College meet me down at the North end of Stearns Beach today for a class shoot. Our timing was unbelievable. Just as we showed up the magic light appeared. We all hustled down to the shoreline and started shooting. Nikon D850. F6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400. 60-600mm lens at 600mm. On a tripod without a flash. November 11, 2024 at 1:15pm.

Wave Action

A wave generated by Superstorm Sandy explodes against the South Haven, Michigan lighthouse. The hurricane turned superstorm brought 50-knot-plus winds all the way from the East Coast to the Great Lakes and churned up 20-foot monster waves in southern Lake Michigan. F7.1 at 1/250, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

A wave generated by Superstorm Sandy explodes against the South Haven, Michigan lighthouse. The hurricane turned superstorm brought 50-knot-plus winds all the way from the East Coast to the Great Lakes and churned up 20-foot monster waves in southern Lake Michigan. F7.1 at 1/250, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

Our number one rule to shooting better photographs is to get "twice as close." Brad stands in Lake Michigan as close as he dares to get to the big waves he is photographing at South Haven, Michigan, during Superstorm Sandy. F5.6 at 1/2000, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

Since the beginning of the Tuesdays Project back in January, my dad and I have been dreaming of photographing a huge Lake Michigan storm. Finally, thanks to Superstorm Sandy, we witnessed one of the most powerful storms on the Great Lakes in years. The largest waves were in the southern tip of Lake Michigan. I made this photo in St. Joseph, Michigan. F4.5 at 1/250, ISO 3200, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

The big wave in this photograph reminds me of the wave in the movie The Perfect Storm that sank the Andrea Gail. Of course this wave is a lot smaller than the giant ocean rollers, but Lake Michigan waves can actually be a lot more dangerous because they are so steep, so close together, and come from multiple directions. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 3200, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

I would have paid good money to watch any surfer or kayaker try to survive this 25-foot wall of water on Lake Michigan this evening at St. Joseph, Michigan. My guess is they all would have lost. The power and beauty of Lake Michigan will forever have my full respect. F4.5 at 1/250, ISO 3200, 70-200mm lens at 200mm