Summer

Watching from atop the Ridge Trail as this lone vessel sailed north on a September Lake Michigan cruise, I couldn't help but think of the hundreds of times I had cruised the same waters aboard Coast Guard rescue boats. When not too busy focusing on a mission, I was always awe-struck by the natural beauty and remoteness of the dunes and forests these recreational voyagers were undoubtedly appreciating this day. It made me long for those Coast Guard boat rides, both the calm ones and the really rough ones. Big Point Sable is on average the windiest spot on Lake Michigan.

Coast Guard Station Manistee's 45-foot rescue boat heads past Manistee Lighthouse on a Lake Michigan patrol. A summer squall has passed and the Coast Guardsmen are making certain mariners in the vicinity are safe.

My dad is fond of saying, "Clouds are your friends!" This photograph is all about the quality of the light that is bouncing off the clouds and onto the water.

 My family and I had just finished a nice dinner with my mom and dad, and my brother Paul’s family at his house. On our drive home my eyes were on the sky. I knew that I wanted to get to the lakeshore and shoot the sunset. We hurried home to get my tripod, and had plans to head in, as a family, to enjoy what I hoped would be a nice evening with great light. My two and a half year old son David Benjamin had other ideas! He actually begged to stay home. Daddy and David Benjamin stayed and held down the fort at home while I headed towards the beach with my five and a half year old daughter Kasey Mae. She loves to help mommy shoot, and I thought for sure I’d have to fight her for my camera. However, within seconds of seeing the water she was asking if she could go in and play. Upon hearing my approval, she ran into the water, with her shoes and socks still on! It was a fun night of shooting for me, and playing in the water for her. I named this photo “Mae’s Rays”. It was shot the last day of May 2014; Mae is Kasey’s middle name as well as my mom’s middle name. My mom and Kasey Mae play a very important role in my life, and I’m happy to have made this image for them.

Highway to Heaven

The nearly century old Alpena Light stands out on the Lake Huron shoreline. The distinctive light structure is also known as Thunder Bay River Lighthouse and the Alpena Breakwater Light. I got a close-up view as we passed by on the Lady Michigan shipwreck tour boat en route to Lake Huron from the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. F10 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

An April night at Little Sable Light finds the 108-foot tower standing starkly against the twilight sky. I have made dozens of photo trips to the lighthouse near Silver Lake, often accompanied by my wife Debbie, sons Todd, Brad and Willie, and nephew Ryan. On this night we shot for a couple of hours as the light changed, and different pictures presented themselves. Whenever I go there, I think of the many good times we have shared looking, searching, waiting, talking, and shooting.

You don't have to be a sailor yourself to enjoy watching the sailboat races that have been taking place for more than a century in harbors along the Lake Michigan shoreline. I marvel at the expert close-quarters racing on Pentwater Lake on summer days.

Two Towers

Carferry

Ludington North Pier and Sailboat

It's comical to watch geese trying to walk on land, especially when they are only a few days old. This particular group of goslings seemed to be quite fond of the game leapfrog. As they passed by my camera, they clumsily hopped over each other while trying to keep up with the rest of the family.

 

The view of Lake Michigan from the Pere Marquette Township campground is among the most panoramic from point to point. Rough water and storm clouds can add drama, but exceptional quality of natural light I like to call "magic light" or storm light is essential to making the view the most spectacular.

 

I have always enjoyed this vantage of Pentwater harbor channel and tonight the view looks and feels like summer. A sailboat provides an important added ingredient. F9.0 at 1/320, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

As a Coast Guardsman who was privileged to serve as the coxswain (captain) of one of these 47-foot Coast Guard motor lifeboats, I may be prejudiced when I say that I think they are one of the most impressive vessels on the water. The self-righting rescue boat reminds me of the movie "Back to the Future." I think the design looks like it is simultaneously from both the past and the future. This 47 is on patrol on the Grand River in Grand Haven, Michigan during the annual Coast Guard Festival. F9 at 1/500, ISO 200, 14-24mm lens at 20mm

Standing on top of Desperation Point looking over Hamlin Lake, I was awestruck by the calm that surrounded me on this warm summer morning. The water was a mirror of tiny ripples, the wind was gently blowing, and the birds were just starting to sing. Just after making this photograph, I watched a bald eagle fly below me and dip into Hamlin Lake to catch a fish in its mighty talons. This is a morning I will never forget.