Winter

The vast majority of people who visit the Ludington State Park every year do not explore the southern area of the park, especially to the east of M116. With the rolling dunes, dense pine forests and sweeping valleys, it is one of my favorite parts of the entire park. It looked especially beautiful today after being coated in snow earlier in the morning. F4.5 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

The cold weather months tend to bring spectacular sunsets with them. This evening the clouds are catching the light as the sun sets over Lake Michigan, creating rich colors and God beams. The brightest spot in the clouds looks to me like an eye. I see an entire face now in the cloud patterns. Clouds are good for the imagination. F2.8 at 1/1250, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

Even using a tripod, I have to brace my lens against a tree to keep it from shaking in the wind tonight on the Lake Michigan waterfront. I love the patterns being made by the light, waves, and snow. I love the power and beauty of this view and want to make my image of it as sharp as possible. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

The Ludington North Breakwater Light had an eerie glow surrounding it tonight as the western skies erupted with brilliant orange and pink colors during sunset. My dad and I ventured out into the wind and bitter cold to make our sunset photos and we were rewarded with very unique photographs of the iconic Ludington lighthouse. F4 at 1/250, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

This large mute swan swam into the only area of the Goldsworth Valley Pond being hit by sunlight and proceeded to groom and bathe himself for several minutes. He banged his powerful wings onto the surface of the water creating a huge mist the air and then quickly swam into the cloud of water. F4 at 1/2500, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

Barrows Golden Eye Duck

This Christmas wreath provides the perfect holiday complement for the plaza archway it graces in downtown Kalamazoo. The two tasteful designs fit together perfectly. F11 at 1/60, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Looking like a supersized Walmart greeter, a statuesque Santa Claus waves to passersby in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo. The Super Santa definitely makes me chuckle as I work to make a portrait of him. F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 92mm

I have driven by this star of evergreen trees along the US31 freeway near Shelby, Michigan dozens of times during our "Tuesdays" project but there either was not enough snow to make the pattern stand out or the American Flag was not flying. I decided to give the patriotic star maker a new American Flag for Christmas. After placing the flag, I have taken up position high atop a hill on the opposite side of the freeway to wait for an opportune moment. F7.1 at 1/250, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 70mm

I enjoy looking at the Norwalk Lutheran Church every time I pass by it on US31 between Manistee and Bear Lake, Michigan. Today a fresh coat of snow on the steeple and roof has decorated the classic country church for Christmas. F9 at 1/400, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 165mm

I have long admired the simple, beautiful style and upkeep of this whitewashed barn near Bear Lake, Michigan. Today the roof of the barn and surrounding trees are whitewashed with snow. I envision the scene as a sketch of winter in the Michigan countryside. F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 135mm

The branches of two giant spruce trees are so laden with snow on Christmas Day that the trees appear symmetrically interwoven. Of the hundreds of snow-covered evergreens I have to pick from today, this pair near Benzonia, Michigan looks the most uniquely photogenic. F8 at 1/200, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

After spending Christmas morning at home with my mom, wife, and kids, I headed out around 1:00 p.m. to finish shooting the last Tuesday of our year-long project. My first stop was my in-laws' backyard on Lavinia Street in Ludington. Don and Shari feed the birds all year long and I knew several cardinals were frequenting their yard. F4 at 1/640, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

As is true for many other bird species, the female cardinal is much more muted in her coloring. They are harder to spot in the wild compared to the flaming red male cardinals, yet they are equally as beautiful. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm

The Sable River at Ludington State Park is one of my favorite places in the world to photograph. While driving through the park I found these two geese taking a leisurely Christmas stroll along its bank. F4 at 1/2000, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 600mm

This is the view from the very end of North Lakeshore Drive where it dead-ends at the North Bayou on Hamlin Lake. Today I parked my truck at the North Bayou Resort and Marina and grabbed my camera and tripod to document the beautiful swans swimming in the open water in front of the snow covered Hamlin Dunes. F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 185mm

Once in a while Mother Nature coats bare tree branches with snow as well as a snowmaking machine, but not often. I love this snow gun art created by a snow machine near the top of the Buck lift at Crystal Mountain. F20 at 10 seconds, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 32mm

Reality at Crystal Mountain Resort looks better to me on Christmas night than a Thomas Kinkade painting. The Cottages at Water's Edge look charming in the daytime but set aglow at night the early 1900s-style cabins look like Christmases past. F22 at 30 seconds, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 24mm