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Today was my first visit to the White River Light Station near Whitehall, Michigan. What a magnificent piece of Michigan maritime history. The building and lighthouse are gorgeous, but the coolest aspect of the light station is the museum inside. It is definitely worth a visit with your family! F11 at 1/80, ISO 100, 10-17mm lens at 13mm

How many trees look as spectacular without leaves as this giant maple along Conrad Road? I photographed it on Day 209 with green leaves and on Day 290 when the leaves turned golden. Today the size and symmetry of its branches stand out. F4.5 at 1/640, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

My son Brad is making a different image of the White River Light Station but is having the same thought I am. He remarks that this lighthouse, more than others we have photographed in Michigan, looks like a home with a lighthouse attached. I think this Whitehall, Michigan light station is definitely one of the most charming lighthouses on the Great Lakes. F8 at 1/500, ISO 100, 28mm lens at 28mm

The waves were rocking out on Lake Michigan today. I wanted to get in the water to shoot this wave, but it was too rough and too cold. I have been inspired lately by the photography of Clark Little. He shoots photos of waves from in the water; however, he has a waterproof system and lives in Hawaii. F5.6 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

This photograph represents the circle of life for trees. Healthy living trees that are starting to show their fall colors surround the dead tree in the middle. If you look closely you will also see a few tiny trees that are just starting their lives along the Lake Michigan shoreline at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, Michigan. F22 at 13 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

A strong current keeps this offshoot of the Pere Marquette River from freezing today but I know it will eventually ice over. Today I am enjoying the beauty of branches turned into ice sculptures. F16.0 at 1/8, ISO 1000, 80-200 mm lens at 155 mm

Soon these leaves that are covering the bark of a giant old tree at Stearns Park in Ludington will be flaming red, yellow, and orange as another fall season in Michigan sets in. Today, however, I am drawn to the beautiful mix of yellow and green leaves. F2.8 at 1/160, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

I enjoy trying to make order out of chaos with my camera. My dad spotted this fungus growing on the side of a tree at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park and I set upon making an artistic photograph of it. The hot muggy air was making the fungus steam, but unfortunately, my camera did not record that. F22 at 5 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 20mm

Among the most overlooked beautiful places at Ludington State Park are the dunes on the inland section of the park east of M-116 and south of the Sable River. This evening the view as I see it is spectacular. F4.5 at 1/125, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 13 mm

I am driving along Pere Marquette Highway en route to Muskegon when some fluorescent green algae catches my eye on a roadside pond. I know the bright green color could make a good backdrop if I can find a subject to place in front of it. Five minutes of exploring later, there it is! F4 at 1/800, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 112mm

While enjoying the sunshine today as I was taking a hike through our property near the Pere Marquette River, I stumbled upon this assortment of leaves in a creek. Some of the water had frozen overnight and was barely moving, which allowed me to make a sharp photograph. F8.0 at 1/200, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

Michigan wildflowers are always so much fun to photograph. By getting extremely close with my macro zoom lens, I omitted the cement and junk that were cluttering this scene at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. Because of the wind I had to raise my ISO up to 1600 in order to have a shutter speed fast enough to freeze the motion of the blowing flowers. F8 at 1/125, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

The sky is on fire this morning as I scramble to the shore of Pere Marquette Lake. I prefer to move more slowly first thing in the morning, but the dawn of this day has jolted me awake and into high gear. This click of the shutter feels really good; I can savor the digital image over coffee. F4.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 17 mm

A male American goldfinch perched on a flower at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon looks canary yellow to me. I later learn that wild canary is another name for the brilliant yellow bird. I see why. F4.5 at 1/640, ISO 3200, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

When Julia, Ethan and I walked outside this morning to head off to daycare and work, Julia pointed up at the pink clouds and told me that I should go shoot the sunrise. I quickly loaded the munchkins in my truck and we headed for the Pere Marquette River flats on Conrad Road. F8.0 at 1/10, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

All I can think of is Peter Cottontail on the bunny trail as I spot a rabbit on a wildflower-lined trail at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon. The song about Peter Cottontail runs through my head, causing me to smile as I push the shutter button before the bunny decides to hop down the trail. F4.5 at 1/500, ISO 3200, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

After stopping at Ludington State Park to congratulate retiring Park Manager Dan Flaherty on his fine career, I have headed further into the park to look for a picture on a dark, rainy day. I like the view looking straight down while standing on this leaning tree trunk. F4.0 at 1/40, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

I enjoy hunting for the prettiest flower in a field of Michigan wildflowers. It didn't take me long to spot this gem of a Jerusalem artichoke tonight at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, Michigan. F2.8 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 30mm

P.J. Hoffmaster State Park is located on Lake Michigan at the south end of Muskegon, Michigan. Like many of the state parks in Michigan, Hoffmaster is extremely varied in its terrain and vegetation. One of my favorite spots at Hoffmaster is the tall wooded dune area just above the Little Black Creek Outlet near Lake Michigan. F8 at 0.8, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm