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...