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.

Reeds and Cloud Reflections

My assignment at Clear Lake this fall was to better the effort than I had last year when visiting this same location. It helped this year (October, 2008) that the colors were further along and good lighting conditions prevailed. Additionally, the clouds, stillness of the water and a new crop of reeds made this a totally different experience. Returning to the same location definitely paid dividends.

Clear Lake Color

Detail of fall foliage surrounding Clear Lake, Hiawatha National Forest. The colors in this area were more vibrant than in 2007 when I traveled here last.

Clear Lake Shore #2

Deep in the heart of Hiawatha National Forest lies Clear Lake, a national forest gem especially in fall and this morning with a tranquil mist hanging over the water...

Clear Lake Shore

October, 2008 took me on a trek to the western upper peninsula of Michigan. Along the way, I stopped overnight at Colwell Lake National Forest Campground SE of Munising. A beautiful campground! Three miles up the road is another pristine lake known as Clear Lake, a bit smaller but equally a showy in the fall. I had made two previous trips here before but on this trip, the colors were fabulous. This image is one of the three of my favorites taken during this tranquil moring...

Two-track, multiple exposure (8)

On the way back from a 2006 photo tour in the UP of Michigan, I stopped by the Cut River Bridge where US-2 crosses the Cut River and Cut River Valley. This sleeper of a rest stop is also a splendid area to spend a couple hours to photograph or simply walk across or hike below the bridge and take in the view that motorists whizzing by will often miss. I embellished this image by making it a multiple of 8 images in one frame moving the camera slightly from left to right. This was the first such image that would inspire a number of similar images (see older posts this blog) and my favorite, so far, using this technique...

Maple Burst

A new image from the magical birch forest at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I first set foot in these woods in 2001 and was overwhelmed by the kalaidescope of colors interdispersed amoung the birch trees. I have never been able to catch the forest since in all its spendor and glory and perfect light until last October, 2007 when this image (and others) were taken...

Storm Clouds Over Lake Michigan

One Saturday during October, 2006, I made a last minute decision to head to the lakeshore for an evening of photography. Anticipating dramatic clouds from a passing cold front, I arrived at Kirk Park due west of Grand Rapids and knew that I made the right call. I shot about four rolls of Velvia all the time marvelling at how even during angry moments, nature can be so beautiful...

Backlit Birches

Once again, another upland area of Seney National Wildlife Refuge. This was taken during a "Rod Planck" tour at a remote location of the refuge. I was captivated by the the sun shining through the back side of the birch trees creating somewhat of a neon feel to the scene...

Sunrise, Trout Bay

Last summer (2007), a group of friends and I spent a few days backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking at Grand Island National Recreation Area off the shores of Munising, Michigan. On the second morning, I got up early and biked a mile to this location on Trout Bay to capture the dazzling sun rising over the still waters of the bay...

Stream Close-up No. 2 and No. 3

During mid-October of 2007, I ventured locally to capture fall color images as color was at its peak in Kent County. At Townsend Park near Cannonsburg, I noticed fall color reflecting brilliantly in Bear Creek running through the park. The color intensified as the sun rose higher and higher. I spent two hours photographing a small section of this stream notably this rock. The first image was a straight-up image while the one below was a multiple exposure of 16...

Forest Road, Multiple Exposure (16)

During early October of 2007, I was touring in the Munising area of the upper peninsula of Michigan and explored many back country roads and two-tracks. On some occasions, I was compelled to express artistic license. Fall color is a unique way of expressing multiple exposure images as the end result often times conveys Monet-like colors. This image was actually 16 images in one frame moving the camera on the tripod ever so slightly with each take...

Autumn Winds

Kirk Park beach is located approximately 33 miles due west of Grand Rapids, Michigan making it the closest public beach to this large metro area. Kirk Park has a personal appeal to me as it is the beach that my co-workers, friends, and I have adopted as a part of the Alliance for the Great Lakes "Adopt a Beach" program. During the past four years, I have seen and photographed the many different moods of Lake Michigan at Kirk Park. This was one of the more dramatic scenes...

Maple sapplings and beech trunks

One day during a fall color tour, we ventured over to the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A steady was drizzle was falling but it did not deter a few of us who ventured out into the elements. The misty rain and low contrast light enhanced the color saturation of the maple sapplings at the base of this beech tree creating somewhat of a watercolor effect...

Milkweed Pod and Fall Color

When people think of Seney National Wildlife Refuge, they typically think of wetlands, marshlands, and wildlife galore. However, many acres of upland habitat exist here as well. During a fall tour, I captured this milkweed pod exploding (as they usually do during the autumn) with a wash of brilliant fall color in the background...

Seney Sunrise

During a photo tour led by my mentor, the incomparable Rod Planck, we were taken into the deep recesses of Seney National Wildlife Refuge, areas not accessible to the general public. This particular morning featured fog and world class light. I snapped many frames at this location this being my favorite.

Another image taken at Aman Park, west of Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is quite a spectacle early May of each year when trillium blooms carpet the forest floor throughout the park...

Trillium Close-up

Trilliums are amoung the most showiest of wildflowers during the spring. This image was taken on our 53 acres of woodlands in Huron National Forest. Unlike other wildflower portraits, I zoomed in as close as I could get to capture the finer elements of this extraordinary specimum. A technique known as "select focus", brings a poetic feel to the image...

Hepatica

Hepaticas are amoung the very first if not thee first wildflower to bloom in the spring. Its blooms are the most showy during warm spring days with temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s. This makes them difficult to photograph as it is usually quite breezy during these conditions. This image was taken during late March a few years back at Aman Park, west of Grand Rapids, Michigan -- a hotbed for spring wildflowers...

Tank Lake and Fog

Water Tank Lakes are located near Tahquamenon Falls State Park just east of the entry to the lower falls. During late summer, the juxstiposition is perfect to photograph sunrises. Following clear, cool nights, conditions are often prime for early morning fog as was the case when this image was taken. This was the third morning in a row with "world class" light that, with the fog, evoked an ethereal mood to the scene. The tall red pine on the right anchors this composition...

Trillium-Red Bud (double exposure)

Aman Park west of Grand Rapids off Lake Michigan Drive is a hotbed for wildflowers each spring. Beginning with the round-lobed hepaticas and spring beauties which emerge in late March, a procession occurs with other species that follow -- violets, dutchman's breeches, bloodroot, and countless others. By early May, the forest floor is carpeted with large-flowered trillium and Virginia Bluebell. It is a spectacle that rivals the peak of fall color in many places. Also blooming along the creek beds by mid May are redbud trees. This image captures both a trillium and redbud in full bloom with a double exposure.

Silver Lake Afterglow

There is something about sunsets during the winter that are more appealing. Perhaps because sunny days are rare this time of year, they are all that more meaningful. This image is another study of simplicity. Bands of orange radiate into shades of deep blue accentuated by an overhanging bare tree. This affect is created by a 24 mm wide angle lens which decompresses the landscape -- taking in the still water and high reaches of the blue sky above. The silhouetted sand dunes on the horizon appear indiscernible though they are actually over a hundred feet in height...

Evening at Tobin Harbor

This image was taken from the Seaplane dock at Tobin Harbor, a long narrow inlet that parallels Rock Harbor. Can you imagine taking a canoe or kayak and paddling up this glorious body of water, exploring the many islets and shorescapes along the way? A 24mm wide angle lens was used to emphasize the dramatic clouds that passed over during this tranquil evening.

Miner's Castle

Miner's Castle is the first formation along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and best that which can be seen from the mainland. In 2006, the look of this fomation changed forever when the turpid on the right broke away and crashed into the lake below. Still, it remains a popular viewing point and is the gateway to mile-long Miner's Beach and other colorful formations to the northeast.

After the Storm

Following an all day bike ride at Mackinac Island, I took a nap in my tent at Straits State Park. I opened my eyes while the steady rain pattered on my tent and noticed the sun was shining. Knowing that a rainbow was near, I scambled out of my tent and stepped onto the beach with my gear and snapped as many images as I could. This image is looking down Lake Huron with Mackinaw City to the right and the island to the left. Since this shot was taken in May of 1995, I have blown more than a couple opportunities to capture a rainbow. One chance occurred in southern Utah when I locked my camera gear in the car in the excitement of seeing a double rainbow appear! I guess this image will have to do until the next opportunity...

Delicate Arch

Delicate Arch is the signature formation of Arches National Park. Getting there requires a 1-1/2 mile hike rising 500 feet in elevation along the way. We hustled to get there and arrived just as the warm, long rays of the setting sun basked the arch in all its glory.

Day Hiker on Mesa

During a day trip into the "Island in the Sky" unit of Canyonlands National Park, a funny thing happened. I forgot to gas up one of the rental vehicles (the needle was on empty). The National Park Service politely sold us two gallons of gas at the then steep rate of $2.50 a gallon but would not allow us to drive into the park scenic drive. Hence, me and a buddy (shown here) stayed behind while the other group drove into the park. Fortunately, there was some nice scenery near the visitor's center where we hiked, complimented by a multitude of passing storm clouds...

Fish Hook Cactus

During May of 2005, a number of us ventured off to southern Utah for a week of hiking and backpacking. Our very first day hike was through a canyon outside of Moab, Utah known as "Negro Bill Canyon". It was a delightful two mile hike, one way, that brought us to the world's longest natural land bridge. Being that it was spring, numerous wildflowers were in bloom including the showy Fish Hook Cactus that is shown here.

A Superior Shoreline

This photo was taken near the Hurricane River Campground at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
This park is known for its mineral-stained cliffs where legend has it that it was here where mother nature washed her paintbrushes. This section of the park features a beach with gargantuan sized boulders strewing the shoreline which makes for an intreiging hike. If you study the water/beach interface you may find remnants of old steam ships which sank in Lake Superior over a hundred years ago.

Cloudbank

On the voyage home from my first visit to Isle Royale in September of 2003, we sailed through a blustery all-day rain. When we reached the mainland, Grand Portage, Minnesota, the sun broke through a low hanging misty fog. This image showcases what we sailed through that afternoon. The deep blue sky contrasts nicely with the gray cloud and water.

Dew-covered Dragonfly

An exciting an relatively easy time to capture dragonfly images is during early summer mornings following clear nights when they are bejewelled in morning dew. Great care, however, is needed in setting up the tripod so that the dragonfly does not get inadvertently knocked off its perch. As the sun rises and warms their wings, the insects slowly fly away and get on with their day.

Reeds

Simplicity best describes this image. A small crop of reeds reflecting in a small, isolated lake immersed with fog. The still ness of the water with the fog masks the waterline making it difficult to detect what is real and what is reflection.

Cedar Trunk

While roaming the Presque Isle River at the west end of Porcupine Mountains, I discovered an old white cedar tree whose roots were exposed above the stream bank. The texture and curvy vertical movement inspired me to capture this section of the tree. One of the joys of nature photography is the element of discovery. This old tree with its sprawling roots told a unique story of life beside clear, cold stream.

Wild Lupine

The Maas Family Preserve is one of many managed by the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. Located in northern Kent County near Rockford, Michigan, it is a unique 15 acre "savannah" habitat characteristic of open spaces and well drained soil. During late May the preserve is carpeted with wild lupines that harbor the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly. For information on this and other preserves in west Michigan, click onto www.naturenearby.org.

Beach Cobbles

Hiking back to Rock Harbor from the Daisy Farm Campground, I stopped to admire the Rock Harbor Lighthouse across the inlet. But what struck me the most about this area was the cobblestone beach just off the trail. I unpacked my gear and engaged in a quick shoot of the stones, my favorite of which is posted here...

Shades of Autumn

Sleeping Bear Dunes, known for its awe-inspiring shifting sand dunes and spectacular scenery, is also a location known for world-class fall color. 2001 was an incredible year for fall color, a season that still stands alone and has not been matched since in my opinion. This image was taken at the southern end of the park near the Loon Lake public access point. The bright overcast, misty light enhanced the contrast of the orange and red hues of the maple trees.

Dawn, Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park is a starkly beautiful landscape. The winds of the great plains are constantly eroding the formations changing them little by little with each passing day. Perhaps one-hundred years from now, they will appear totally different. The park is also home for bison, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and numerous prarie dogs. This photo was taken at 6:00 AM just as the first rays of sun were striking the tips of the formations and lighting up the clouds.

Lower Tahquamenon Falls