On a recent visit to an area near South Haven, Michigan I was treated to the beauty that abounds along the shores of Lake Michigan. Enjoy!
“Heading Down to the Beach” What a perfect view of Lake Michigan’s splendor as you begin descending the stairs to the beach! “Sublime” The coolness of the water offshore created a fog which combined with the beautiful clouds and sun gave a wonderful ethereal feel to this beach view!“Sand and Stones Random” I always enjoy looking down at the myriad of stones along any beach. These are some colorful ones seen along my beach walk. “Sun Going Down on Me” A spectacular and glowing end to the day! Perfect! “Beach Grass Sunset” Taking in just one last look at the amazing colorful clouds during the final minutes after the sun had set. The beach grass in silhouette really gave this scene an even better feel for me.
These are just a few of my more recent images. I know many of us during this last year have had limited travel and I have been one of them. I’m hoping that this summer will be the start of getting back to a more normal schedule, and also for posting more on this blog.
I wish all of you the very best and I wish you happy travels, enjoyable times with family and friends, and please stay safe.
This year has gone by really quickly. So much so that I didn’t think I would actually have time to get together my usual end of the year post. These ten images are my personal favorites for the year, or my “Best of 2017”.
This is the 6th year that I have done a “Best of” at the end of the year, and I would like to thank Jim Goldstein for graciously hosting the Best Photos Project each year. You can check out mine and many many other photographers end of the year posts on his blog!
If you would like to see my “Best of” for 2016, you can find that here.
Also if you’d like to go back to 2015, you can check that out here.
“Silo Sunset’ One of my favorite sunsets of this year!
After a very stormy spring day in SE. Michigan I was happily surprised by an amazing array of clouds as they moved quickly by during a sunset on a local farm!
“Peace of Autumn’s Song” Beautiful reflections on an early autumn day!
You’ll see this lake featured twice here in this post. This image was on a cloudy and extremely still, fall day. The trees, especially the birches gave beautiful reflections in the water!
“Leaves in Gold and Bronze” Fallen leaves in shades of gold.
After all of the leaves had fallen and nothing was left except the crunch of brown and gold underfoot I decided to make just a few images of these beauties!
“Effervescent Glow” Lovely sparkling dewdrops on the grass in the early morning!
I had a lot of fun during a couple of fresh and dewy mornings this year photographing the sunlight as it danced off of the dewdrops in the grass. As a lot of you know, I love nature abstracts!
“In Love with Life” Lovely tulips at the 2017 Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan.
I was extremely happy to have had the opportunity to go to The Tulip Festival in Holland, MI. this past spring!
“The Stones” Beautiful and very colorful stones from Lake Superior!
Every time I’m in Marquette, Michigan I always enjoy the beautiful assortment of rocks and stones in the area. These colorful stones on Presque Isle are some of my favorites!
“Presque Isle Sunset Glow 2” A wonderful sunset from Presque Isle Park in Marquette, Michigan.
While at Presque Isle Park I almost always make time to stay for the sunset. It almost never dissapoints!
“Munising Falls Gold” A golden start to autumn at Munising Falls in Munising, Michigan!
Munising Falls is beautiful no matter what time of year, but fall is always my favorite!
“When in Love” This was an especially beautiful day along Lake Plumbago in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!
Lake Plumbago is one of those places I pass by quite often while in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I would have to say that for me it has almost always been foggy and or raining when I pass by. That of course has its own beauty, and I have plenty of photos from that type of weather, but this time there was a striking difference, and actually quite welcomed!
“Windermere Hotel Mackinac Island” One of my favorite places to stay on Mackinac Island!
I have always loved the look of yellow houses with white picket fences, so naturally the first time I set eyes upon the Windermere Hotel on Mackinac Island, it became a must for me to stay there! It is filled with Victorian charm and has such a lovely presence on the Island.
It just happened that this year while on the Island I was graced with bright blue skies which made a wonderful contrast to the beautiful yellow color of the Windermere!
I hope you’ve enjoyed a tiny glimpse into the year of 2017 with me. I wish all of you a very Happy and prosperous New Year, both in your lives and in your photographic adventures! 🙂
I’d like to end this post with one of my favorite quotes.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. ~ Edward Abbey ~ 🙂
As I have done for the past two years, this being the third year. I am posting my favorite, best, or most popular images of the year. Jim Goldstein has been gracious enough to host this for several years now.
This past year has been one of great change for me personally. My father passed away in the spring, which was a great loss for me.
At the same time in many ways it’s been a great year. I had more opportunity for travel, and was able to spend quite a bit of photography time during my favorite season…..autumn!!!
These images are from all through the year. Some are my personal favorites, others have been best sellers, while others represent special memories for me.
So in no particular order, I present this years. Best of 2013!
“Maple Leaf Zen”
“Ghostly Gales”
“Skies of Grand Marais”
“Munising Falls”
“Rolling with the Mack”
“Spray at Whitefish Point”
“Fluttering Maple” 3
“Blue Ridge Bounty”
“Autumn Spectacle”
These are 10 images. I could go on and on, especially in the autumn department LOL, but I will leave you with these to look at and enjoy.
As always if anyone is interested in purchasing a print, just click on the link in the menu bar, or the one on the right side of this post.
Wishing everyone the best in this coming new year!! 🙂
What do you do when you’re at Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore and it rains the whole time your there?
I had originally planned on taking in the beautiful deep turquoise and aqua hued waters of Lake Superior. Enjoying the intense colors and vast vistas against the wonderful rock formations of Pictured Rocks.
But that wasn’t the way it went. So when things don’t go as planned, do you just through in the towel? Do you lounge around your hotel room watching longingly out the window for the weather to change, or sit in your tent, wishing you were back home?
Well, if you do, you shouldn’t! You just need to be prepared for all types of weather, not only with your gear, but in your mind!
Just go out and photograph what you can when the weather is dark, skies are overcast, and rain is coming down whether it is a drizzle or heavy rainfall!
In this case here, I ended up spending several days taking in many of the beautiful waterfalls in the Munising area. Cloudy days are perfect for waterfalls. You don’t have to try and deal with the deep contrast of light and shadow that you would have to on bright sunny days.
Just make sure to bring a sturdy tripod, some type of waterproof camera cover, many micro-fiber lens cleaning cloths, and maybe a good pair of boots!
In wet weather a good rain sleeve for your camera is the best idea, but in a pinch you can always use shower caps from the hotel, or a couple of plastic bags secured with duct tape.
Don’t let the weather keep you from getting out and doing what you love! Don’t let it keep you from taking advantage of your photography trip, or your long awaited vacation.
Get out there and have fun no matter what the skies may bring!! 🙂
This is the front entry way to the historic Point Iroquois Light Station on Lake Superior.
This lovely stone wall surrounds most of the property.
All of these precious stones are from the shores of the lake.
So many beautiful colors and shapes, each one unique and wonderful!
In addition to the stone wall here, I was also treated to some gorgeous fall foliage! A win win situation! 🙂
