Wonderous West Shore

Watching the sun rise over the Sleeping Bear Dunes is like watching a moving picture because the light and shadow change so quickly. With the camera on the tripod, I can savor the show and make an exposure whenever I am loving the moment I am witnessing. Fuji S2. F11 at 1/30, ISO 100. 12-24mm lens at 17mm. On a tripod without a flash. October 21, 2005 at 8:20am.

Watching the sun rise over the Sleeping Bear Dunes is like watching a moving picture because the light and shadow change so quickly. With the camera on the tripod, I can savor the show and make an exposure whenever I am loving the moment I am witnessing.

M22 is always a beautiful drive no matter what time of year. On this gorgeous fall day, Rachel, Dustin, and I were on a shooting adventure. We couldn't resist stopping to photograph this iconic barn surrounded by brilliant fall color and stunning October clouds. Nikon D800. F22 at 1/40, ISO 100. 14-24mm lens at 14mm. On a tripod without a flash. October 27, 2016 at 1:20pm.

After getting several notices on our phones the last few days that the Northern Lights might be out on Sunday night and early Monday morning, my dad picked me up from my new house in Ludington around 9pm. We drove to Point Betsie Lighthouse just north of Frankfort, Michigan. Shortly after getting on location and figuring out where we wanted to shoot, my dad and I noticed a large white pillar of light appearing to the left of the lighthouse. A few moments later, the colors of the Northern Lights appeared. Luckily, my camera was taking an almost three-minute exposure during this time. By the end of the long exposure, the pillars were gone and the colors faded quickly. My dad and I stayed until 2am hoping they would come back. Once the clouds rolled in, we headed home with giant smiles on our faces because we were pretty sure we each got at least one nice photograph!

During a two-boat, Coast Guard Auxiliary Safety Patrol from the Holland area to Muskegon, I wanted to make an image from the 44-foot patrol boat I am on of the 41-foot patrol boat passing by Coast Guard City USA, Grand Haven, Michigan. I am grateful to the Auxiliarists who have made this voyage possible for Brad and me.

During a two-boat, Coast Guard Auxiliary Safety Patrol from the Holland area to Muskegon, I wanted to make an image from the 44-foot patrol boat I am on of the 41-foot patrol boat passing by Coast Guard City USA, Grand Haven, Michigan. I am grateful to the Auxiliarists who have made this voyage possible for Brad and me. Nikon D800. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 800. 70-200mm lens at 82mm. Handheld without a flash. October 22, 2017 at 12:15pm.

M22 is always a beautiful drive no matter what time of year. On this gorgeous fall day, Rachel, Dustin, and I were on a shooting adventure. We couldn't resist stopping to photograph this iconic barn surrounded by brilliant fall color and stunning October clouds.

I wonder how many winters this old commercial fishing tug has endured. Today it and its tender lie frozen in the ice on Pere Marquette Lake.

One of the best things about hilly, curvy M22 is rounding the next bend or cresting the next steep hill and taking in yet another spectacular view through the windshield of your vehicle. I always look forward to seeing how this spot between Manistee and Onekama is going to look.

I love the unique shape of the Muskegon South Breakwater Light. This evening I am also struck by the symmetry of trees framing the lighthouse. I choose to make a long exposure to show the movement of the tree tops swaying in the October breeze.

Dozens of powerboats and sailboats have passed by us on this gorgeous fall night. Lake Michigan will soon be too rough for pleasure boating. We all soaked in the sunshine tonight.

Roadside fruit and vegetable stands are among my favorite photographic muses. This stand along M22 in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of my favorites to see and - when everything appears extraordinary - to photograph.

Chet Miller knows how to stop traffic passing by Miller's Northwood Market along M22 between Onekama and Arcadia. On this day Chet has filled up the engine compartment of an old Chevrolet pickup with an assortment of gourds. I can't resist pulling my Chevy pickup off the road to photograph Chet's creation, visit with Chet about his fast-pitch softball days, and take home some vegetables and preserves.

My uncle, Rod Marble, has owned a beautiful log cabin on the Lincoln River at the end of Anderson Road in Mason County for over 25 years. All year I look forward to driving down his road in the fall. Today was particularly picturesque.

When the ice on the Great Lakes started impeding shipping, Coast Guard icebreakers bust open paths. On this ice-cold February morning the Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay broke up the ice in Ludington harbor.

One of my favorite places to take a "Sunday Drive" any day of the week in autumn is the wooded area of the 3,450-acre Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness between Ludington and Manistee. Today I find the seasonal transition spectacular.

I walked out the Ludington North Breakwater to photograph the northern lights in the middle of the night. The lights we barely visible, but the Milky Way was incredible. You could also see the lights of Wisconsin. It was a beautifully calm night on Lake Michigan.

When the quality of light is this extraordinary at Big Sable Point Lighthouse, I have come to realize how breathtaking and beautiful everything looks compared to more ordinary days. I still like the more ordinary days, but I crave mornings like this one!

The shoreline at Little Sable Point extends westward toward Wisconsin farther than any spot of land in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. I feel on top of the world looking southwest over Lake Michigan from the tower observation deck over 100 feet above the shore atop Little Sable Point Lighthouse.