Summer

While visiting the kids today at their mom’s, in Silver Lake, we took a drive to find something to photograph. Across the lake, we spotted a Mac Woods dune scooter as it headed down the steepest part of the ride. I parked my truck, got my camera and tripod out, and waited for the next Mac Woods dune scooter to go by.

These windmills are a topic of great controversy. Today, the white stood out against the blue sky and green field.

A brisk north wind on Hamlin Lake today is making it bouncy and wet on our 13-foot Boston Whaler, but the views are worth it. This is one of a pair of mature bald eagles circling high over the lake near Inspiration Point. People sing about being lifted up on eagle's wings; I can only imagine the feeling. F14 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

Focused Flyer

Spirit Quest

Proud Eagle

This has to be one the best summers ever for photography on the Lake Michigan waterfront. Besides being unusually warm, this summer has presented many amazing cloud formations and dramatic sunsets. Tonight I am shooting westward onto Lake Michigan by the Ludington South Pierhead Light near my home at Crosswinds. F8.0 at 0.5, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

I love making story-telling images with my camera. I felt like this scene in my front yard tonight told the story of growing older, bigger, and stronger. I purposely put that large tree in the very center of the image to help cut the image in half and help tell the story better.

Betsy and I are in the process of selling our home and buying a new one in Ludington. We had to drive home to Ludington today from our vacation in Manistee to meet with our realtor. On our morning drive back to Ludington, we passed a farm field with freshly rolled crops. The fog and rain made for a very atmospheric morning. F22.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I have a fear of snakes. Brad has a fear of spiders. He has made at least one image so far of a snake and made sure to send the picture to me to startle me. My kids found this spider on the back of our barn. Perfect payback!

This wild blue flag iris was spotted by my dad on Blueberry Island at the Ludington State Park today as we floated by on our little boat. We waited about 30 minutes for the sunlight to become less intense in the late afternoon before we beached our boat on the island so I could get out and make this photograph. With the aid of some cloud cover, we now had soft diffused light overhead, which helped make this iris glow. F8 at 1/500, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 170mm

There she goes again! Like thousands of other families, ours loves watching the carferry Badger steaming in an out of Ludington harbor. Tonight my wife Debbie and I and daughter-in-law Stephanie have our boat in position to provide grandkids with a good view of the big ship cruising past the Ludington North Pierhead Light. F4.5 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 22 mm

I could see these colorful rays shooting upwards from the setting sun, but I needed a good setting to make a strong image of them. I found this beautiful farm near Custer, Michigan and knew that would be the middle ground of my image. Now I needed a strong foreground. I found these bushes and trees alongside the road and walked out into them to set up my camera and tripod.

The Wojciechowski brothers have learned at a very early age the importance of working hard and earning one's keep on their family farm in Manistee, Michigan. Skylar, Hunter, and Connor are excited that some of their crops may be used by Brandon Seng's Manistee Community Kitchen to help feed hungry families in the area. For more information on the Manistee Community Kitchen visit: www.manisteekitchen.org. F9 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

The kids and I were camping at “The Point” on the farm. We had a group out for dinner and s’mores. It was a fun night of sharing stories and jokes. As the sun started to set, the ferns and trees lit up. I love this spot on our farm.

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

Rachel and I took our kids swimming in the Pere Marquette River today, at her family’s farm. While they were all enjoying playing together, I took our underwater camera housing and made this image of the bright summer sun lighting up a spawning bed on the river bottom.

As Ethan and I sat at the table eating breakfast, I noticed the fog and incredible sunrise to the east. Betsy came and relieved me for a short time so I could go make a photograph of the light show. I headed to the western shores of Manistee Lake so I could photograph the City of Milwaukee, which is now a museum in Manistee, Michigan. F22.0 at 1/4, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 116 mm

Storms seem to be popping up very quickly lately. We were still camping at “The Point” when the wind started to pick up. Everyone pitched in to pack up loose items. I then turned my attention to the clouds passing overhead above the Pere Marquette River.

One of our favorite ways to photograph Lake Michigan is by actually getting in the water a little way. This helps put the viewer of our work into the scene. People will be more likely to feel like they are really at the beach. Shoes and clothes will dry. Get in the water to shoot next time you are out photographing. You won’t regret it!