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Hustling from Scottville, Michigan to the Ludington State Park to photograph the sunset, I made a last minute decision to not shoot right along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and instead, turn down Piney Ridge Road and shoot from a location that my dad discovered during Week 6 of our Tuesdays Project. Once I got on top of the massive dune, I knew I had made the right decision. F11 at 1/13, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

As I expected, as the sun sets on Lake Michigan, sunlight is finally able to break out below the clouds and "paint" the cloud layers with light. This is an example of why Brad and I like to teach our students: "Clouds are your friends." F6.3 at 1/60, ISO 800, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

While on a hike with my cousin Ryan, I made this image south of the first curve at the Ludington State Park. I stood at the bottom of this steep dune and shot upwards.

It always amazes me how mesmerizing it can be to sit and watch a campfire burn. Every flame and fire is different. The same goes for Lake Michigan sunsets. Both a fire and a good sunset warm my soul. F11 at 1/4, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Until tonight, I had never seen purple sand at the Ludington State Park. Not far south of the first curve at the park, I was walking the shoreline when I spotted purple, magenta, and black sand all mixed together. When I went in for a closer look, I found this heart shaped rock sitting in the uniquely colored sand.

No lifeguards are on duty; the ice-cold water is still keeping all but the hardiest swimmers away. On this evening the shapes of the lifeguard tower on the Ludington beach look interesting to me empty, framed against sand, lake and sky. F8.0 at 1/250, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

“Aurora Moon” by Brad Reed Last night at the Ludington State Park, along the shores of Lake Michigan, my daughter Julia and I stood in wonder while watching the Northern Lights dance in the distance. The moon and Venus were perfectly reflected in Lake Michigan as well. You could clearly see the lights with the naked eye, but of course, the camera could capture them much better. Nikon D850. F4, 32 seconds, ISO 800. 14-24mm lens at 24mm. On a tripod at 10:03pm on March 23, 2023.

The sweeping view of the C-shaped shoreline from the Ludington city beach northward toward Epworth Heights has always appealed to me. I especially like it when Epworth comes to life for a new season and the cottages begin lighting up at night. F4.5 at 30.0, ISO 100, 80-200 mm at 80 mm

The great state of Michigan has more freshwater shoreline than any state in America, yet for the most part, Michigan's beauty is still a secret to the majority of Americans. Tonight, the Lake Michigan shoreline is whispering quiet secrets to my heart as I photograph her simple, elegant beauty near the First Curve at Ludington State Park. F11 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

I was drawn to Lake Michigan this evening. I sat and enjoyed the sounds and the smells of the lake before making this image.

Lower Lake Michigan water levels have left high and dry what looks to me like the keel and attached segments of a shipwreck on the shoreline near the First Curve of Ludington State Park. The construction, including iron bolts, looks similar to remnants of a 1800s schooner I saw recently along Lake Superior near Munising. F11 at 1/8, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

From up by the North Concession Stand at Stearns Beach today I used my large telephoto lens and shot down towards the dune grass and Lake Michigan. Telephoto lenses have compression, and they help all the layers of a photograph look closer together than they really are.

A runner enjoys the warm sunset this evening along the Ludington North Breakwater. The waterfront in Ludington is a great place to exercise and enjoy nature at the same time. F2.8 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

My dad and I are always looking for repetitive patterns. This morning on Grand Traverse Bay, the clouds, shoreline rocks, and the calm water combined into a gorgeous arrangement of blue, black, and white patterns that had me grinning from ear to ear. F13 at 1/125, ISO100, 14mm lens at 14mm

It is one of those soft light evenings; there is a glow from the bright overcast sky instead of the golden light of a clearer night that might appear better for shooting. I like this kind of light and so does my Fuji S5 camera. I point it southward from the Ludington South Breakwater and wait for just the right breaking wave to complete the picture. F4.0 at 1/100, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 19 mm

The tropical blue waters of Glen Lake never cease to amaze me, especially when viewed from Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The white billowy clouds and gorgeous sunshine made this view even more spectacular than usual. F8 at 1/160, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

The God beams, bright blue sky, clouds below my feet, and the tropical-looking Lake Michigan water made me feel like I was actually floating on the clouds today when I made this photograph. I wish all of you could have been next to my dad and me experiencing this rare sight. F22 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm