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I don't know anyone who catches more fish on the Pere Marquette River than Ralph Anderson. After watching Ralph land a steelhead with help from son-in-law Craig Ritzema, the diehard fisherman holds up a string of the coveted trout. F4.0 at 1/640, ISO 1600, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

I wish I knew more about the history of this old farmhouse near the corner of Morton Road and Hawley Road. One of the coolest features is the rotting couch on the front porch. What a great setting for a horror movie! F22.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 14 mm lens at 14 mm

Four large sandhill cranes made their way across M32 in Northeast Michigan this morning. I was glad my dad could stop the Suburban fast enough for me to get out my giant telephoto lens and tripod in time to capture these magnificent creatures in flight. F5.6 at 1/2000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 840mm

Today all is beautifully still on the Lake Michigan waterfront at Crosswinds but the snow fence lining the beach foretells of the windy, wintry weather to come. I am looking forward to snow. F11.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

The 365 Project has made me a much faster and more confident photographer. I am getting much better at looking at a scene and knowing exactly what lens I want to use and roughly the exposure I am going to need. This scene needed a very large telephoto lens to make the background go soft. F4.5 at 1/800, ISO 400, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

Several months ago I spotted red light from the Shop-N-Save sign being cast subtly on a dry manhole cover in front of the Ludington supermarket. I pre-visualized then how the manhole cover would look when wet. I love a rainy night! Little did I know that Brad would shoot a photo later in the night near here. F11.0 at 15.0, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

The Lafarge cement factory in Alpena, Michigan is home to one of the world's largest limestone rock quarries. Today aboard the Lady Michigan, we pulled into the loading dock of the cement factory to get a closer look at how a 1,000 foot lower-laker is loaded with the cement products that are produced at this massive facility. F22 at 1/400, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

We spent the entire day in Grand Rapids and I forgot my camera. When Betsy and I rolled back into Ludington at 9:00 P.M. it was dark and rainy and I noticed the neon sign from Shop-N-Save creating awesome designs on the Orchard Market greenhouse across the road on Old US 31. I came back with my camera. F5.6 at 5.0, ISO 400, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I am struck by the "mountains" rising above Lake Michigan and the color reflecting off the massive clouds. It is too windy on my deck, so I move the camera and tripod indoors and open a window to sharply capture the moment. F4.0 at 0.5, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

The spiral staircase of New Presque Isle Light is as elegant as it is strong. The cast iron stairs once took the keeper, and now takes thousands of visitors, 138 steps to the top of one of the tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes. F6.3 at 1/15, ISO 1600, 24-70mm lens at 26mm

One of the windows was broken out of a building on South James Street in Ludington. By getting as close as I could with my 70-200 mm lens I was able to show the detail in the glass as well as make the inside of the building disappear. I love this photograph. F8.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Tonight, the New Presque Isle Lighthouse north of Alpena, Michigan was casting a beautiful shadow of itself on the Earth just east of the tower. I composed this photograph so that the sky was not in the picture because, like my dad always taught me, if it doesn't add to a photograph, it probably detracts. The sky was just a boring blue color with no clouds or detail. By cropping out the sky, I can keep the viewer's eyes on the shadow of the lighthouse. F16 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

This is the highlight of tonight's sunset. For less than a minute the color in the sky is being reflected brilliantly on the railings of the new walkway in Ludington harbor. I expose for the highlights to make them stand out. F4.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

My son Brad checks out the view of Presque Isle and Lake Huron from high atop New Presque Isle Light, the tallest accessible lighthouse among the 149 Great Lakes Lighthouses. F5.6 at 1/500, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 105mm

It is hard to beat the intensity of the sunlight right at sunset in late November. While making this photograph it reminded me that I am blessed to live in such a beautiful and diverse area of the natural world. F3.5 at 1/20, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 38 mm

On my way home tonight I am surprised to see that the carferry Badger has been trimmed in lights for the holidays. It is twilight, the best time to make the lights stand out while still showing detail of the great ship. F5.6 at 8.0, ISO 100, 24-70 mm lens at 52 mm

You never know when a photographic opportunity is going to present itself. Just as I was taking a drink of water at the Plaza Caf

This statue of Patrick Garrity, Sr., appointed as lighthouse keeper at the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse by Abraham Lincoln in 1861, stands watch today in front of the remains of the original lighthouse built in 1840. Many people believe that the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is haunted. I did not go inside the lighthouse to find out for myself. I did have goose bumps the entire time I was on the property and that was before I had heard the ghost stories! F14 at 1/25, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

The turkey is almost done cooking and family members will soon be arriving at our cabin for Thanksgiving dinner. I am taking time out to savor an additional blessing

Happy Thanksgiving! Today in Ludington the weather was gray and ugly almost the entire day. But just before sunset, the sun broke through the cloud layer and everything turned neon orange and pink. Luckily, I was ready and waiting at the end of the new pier near the Loomis Street Boat Ramp. F22.0 at 1.0, ISO 100, 14 mm lens at 14 mm