Summer

Still in use between Big and Little Sable Points, the Pentwater South Pierhead Light is the only remaining tower light boasting a traditional skeletal structure. Its erector-set-looking construction is interesting and has withstood Lake Michigan's fury for more than half a century. I usually take great pains to avoid photographic mergers, but I could not resist lining up the full moon with the light to create an illusion of the moon being the light of the lighthouse. The red light on top of the light is the real Coast Guard aid to navigation marking the entrance to Pentwater harbor.

One of the most spectacular lightning storms I have witnessed in my lifetime showed up on my wife Debbie’s birthday, September 4, 2014. We were guests at my Aunt Carol Garneau’s home on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Ludington Harbor. While photographing bolt after bolt as cells of the storm rolled past me for more than an hour, this granddaddy of them all exploded over the top of the Ludington lighthouse. I made this 30-second time-exposure image with my 500-millimeter Nikon telephoto lens from an open window of Auntie Carol’s second floor art room. I named it Positive Energy because she was always so positive and lit up the world with her presence.

I am following the Great Lakes freighter Saginaw into Ludington harbor, simultaneously concentrating on steering my 13-foot Boston Whaler and photographing the classic ship.

On the Western shores of Bass Lake, near Pentwater, three large tree-covered hills grace the horizon. I have heard many names for these hills, but the local favorite is The Three Sisters.

I had finished making an afterglow image at the Ludington beach that I was very happy with, but before heading home this November 2, 2020, evening I decided I should give the sky another look from a different perspective. Fifteen minutes later, when the afterglow seemed long gone, my nephew Ryan Reed and I could still see distinct pink color in the dark night sky from the foot of Ludington Avenue. I made a test shot to determine exposure and was impressed by the color. This next tripod mounted shot, 25 seconds long, proved how well modern digital cameras see in the dark and how much color was still present.

Radiant - Panoramic

Fall is a nice time of year to shoot sunrises because you don't have to get out of bed as early to catch the first light of day. The best light to photograph a sunrise often appears 20 minutes before the sun actually appears on the horizon. I made this photograph at Lost Lake during one of our "Picture Perfect Weekend" Workshops. Several of our students made equally compelling photographs.

While standing on the deck at my dad and Debbie’s Harbor Terrace Condo, I made this image of the Badger coming down the channel into Ludington. It was so foggy that we couldn’t see the 410-foot ship until she was about to start her famous docking spin maneuver.

The Hollyhock, a 225-foot Coast Guard buoy tender, made a surprise visit to Ludington Harbor this week. Tonight, we loaded our family into my dad's little Boston Whaler in order to get a closer look at the beautiful Coast Guard ship. Once we got close, we noticed that the Hollyhock was reflected on the surface of the water. F5.6 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Lud State Park

4th of July Parade

4th of July Parade 2023. Our Famous Scottteville Clown Band or Otherwise called "The Big Noise from Scotteville"Have been around since 1903. Every Year Ludington Looks forward to our 4th July Parade and when the Band finally shows up. Though it marks the end of the parade, people always wait for the best finale Show to mark the beginning of our celebration.

4th of July Parade 2023. Its because of Heroes like these we get to celebrate this day

4th of July Parade 2023. Our Famous Scottteville Clown Band or Otherwise called "The Big Noise from Scotteville"Have been around since 1903. Every Year Ludington Looks forward to our 4th July Parade and when the Band finally shows up. Though it marks the end of the parade, people always wait for the best finale Show to mark the beginning of our celebration.

4th of July Parade 2023. Our Famous Scottteville Clown Band or Otherwise called "The Big Noise from Scotteville"Have been around since 1903. Every Year Ludington Looks forward to our 4th July Parade and when the Band finally shows up. Though it marks the end of the parade, people always wait for the best finale Show to mark the beginning of our celebration.

The clean, sandy bottom of Lake Michigan near Ludington is what has helped make the Ludington City Beach world famous. Every year it is rated as one of the best beaches in the country and more than once it has been made the list of the top 10 beaches in the world. I used that clean, sandy bottom to my advantage today to make this photograph. F5 at 1/400, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

4th of July Parade 2023. Our Famous Scottteville Clown Band or Otherwise called "The Big Noise from Scotteville"Have been around since 1903. Every Year Ludington Looks forward to our 4th July Parade and when the Band finally shows up. Though it marks the end of the parade, people always wait for the best finale Show to mark the beginning of our celebration.

Mackinac Island

 Most days I drive along Fountain Road from my home on Ford Lake, to Jebavy drive and then into town. I love the peacefulness of this drive, the country view, and the special feeling I get to start my days with. Being a country girl, I am always in awe of the beauty of the countryside. There have been many mornings that I pass by scenes, seeing the potential someday, but maybe it wasn’t THAT day. Other mornings I see the potential in front of me, but I am in a hurry to get into town and start my work day, and the scene quickly passes me by, on these days I regret not stopping and making the image that I have now only in my memories. This particular morning the sunrise was so beautiful I had to stop, I just couldn’t drive by without capturing this image. Now, I’m happy that I not only have this scene in my memories, but also in a way that I can share with others.