Late Summer Lake of the Clouds

This image was an oldie but a timeless beauty. Lake of the Clouds is the signature scene of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula. It is also one of the most famous grand scenics in all of Michigan and the midwest. The road leading to the scenic area and a crossroads for many hiking trails in the park deadends at a parking lot. A short uphill walk brings you to the escarpment overlook and usually gusty winds. I have been to this location many times and it never fails to take my breath away. This shot was taken in September of 1996 just before the annual color show of which the predominately green hues of the hardwood forest transpose into a kalaidoscope of autumn color.

Cathead Point Afterglow

During a late summer visit to Leelanau State Park, we were blessed with a firey sunset that progressed to an amazing afterglow. Many watch or photograph sunsets and after the sun disappears, they leave. What they fail to realize sometimes is that the best is yet to come. Often times, light and color of the sky intensifies after the sun has set creating an ethereal landscape. In this image, Cathead Point which frames Cathead Bay at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, is sillouetted against a simple but striking red-orange sky.

Crashing Waves And Sky

Day 2 of a recent visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes was noted for dramatic clouds and wind from mid morning right up just before sundown when this image was taken on Platte Bay. Aral Dunes loom in the distance along the horizon.

Dune Grass And Sky

The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive takes visitors to the heart and soul of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The winding one-way drive is amoung the most scenic in the midwest reaching some of the highest elevations and diverse ecosystems in the park. This image was taken on a beautifully cloudy and windy afternoon at the foot of a boardwalk that leads to several viewing points including the dune that represents the park's namesake.

Splash of Light

Labor Day and the week following brought me on a trip to the Leelanau Peninsula including a couple of days at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, one of my favorite places on the planet. On Day 2, the effects of Hurricane Ike were approaching as the entire day was encapsulated with beautiful storm clouds. In this photograph, the clouds were left out of the picture but a ray of light breaking from behind a cloud splashed onto the dunes.

Rapids Presque Isle River #2

At the western edge of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park lies one of the park's most scenic areas. Here, the Presque Isle River cascades over three major waterfalls before quietly emptying into Lake Superior. This shot was taken from a suspension foot bridge about a couple hundred yards from the rivermouth. What I found interesting about this location on the river were the sinus like openings that the river flows over with awe-inspiring velocity...

Rapids Presque Isle River

Another picturesque portion of the Presque Isle upstream from the suspension bridge.