From freezer to Texas wildflowers

March in Michigan can be very beautiful or it can be downright cold and ugly!  This March was the later.  Cold followed by more cold,  did I mention record cold?  The REAL reason for the getaway was not the cold, but rather to spend time with my grandson Beckham in Dallas, Tx

Southern Lake Michigan at 18,000 feet.  Yes that is ice on the big lake!

 
Springtime in Texas is beautiful!  While Michigan is buried in snow and ice, the Texas is blooming.  My favorite is the Texas state flower, The Bluebonnet.  Bluebonnets are both beautiful and plentiful,
found along almost every roadside in great numbers.

I love Close up/Macro photography.  Flowers and insects are two of my favorites.  These photographs were made at Cedar Hill State Park in Cedar Hill, TX.  Not far from Dallas, TX

Normally I use a tripod for this type of photography,  however this trip was essential camera equipment only. I shot this photogenic ladybug with my Nikon D300 using a  60mm macro lens.
The afternoon sunlight was somewhat subdued by thin high clouds and with temps near 80 degrees I was sweating!  Along this stretch of  road I laid on my stomach, inching along on my elbows capturing these Texas treasures!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to capture these images, what a great afternoon!

The best part of the trip was spending a week with these three!  Beckham, Beto, and Lindsey I love you! 

Wind + Water = Waves...

In Michigan, as fall begins to fade and winter approaches, our weather becomes more dramatic.
Rain, sleet, snow, and high winds are all too common. During the evening hours and into the morning,  forty mile per hour winds were predicted.  When you live near a large body of water that can only mean one thing, BIG WAVES!

Before The sun was up I was in my car and on my way to Grand Haven, Mi.  Grand Haven has one of the best pier and lighthouses on the Great Lakes (my opinion).

I arrived at the State Park at sun rise, even though it was partly cloudy.  The sustained winds were blowing 25-40 miles per hour, and COLD!  The waves were running about 8 to 12 feet.

I quickly set up my tripod and camera and began capturing the awesome power of Lake Michigan.

The sun broke through the clouds briefly on two occasions to make the scene even more dramatic.

Here are just a few of the 250 plus exposures I made.

On a recent trip to Chicago to visit our daughter and son-in-law, I brought my camera in hopes of getting some photographs of the city.  I am FOREVER on the lookout for a photo opportunity  While on the rooftop I noticed the "L" (elevated train) ran right past the apartment.  During the day it didn't look like much, but I imagined how cool it would look like at night.  Just after dark, I made my way to the rooftop and mounted my camera on my tripod.  My goal was to capture the city at night and include the "L" as it passed by.  I wanted to use a  long exposure to use the train's running lights to make the photograph more dramatic.

I used my 28mm f2.8 lens set at f11 with the shutter open for 20 seconds.  I photographed for more than an hour, composing, re-composing, using different lenses, and various exposures. It was such a beautiful late summer evening and I didn't want to stop making images.  Don't put your camera away when the sun goes down.  Use your imagination and get creative.  Try a long exposure, maybe a flash, or even a colored filter.  Experiment and grow your skills.  Trust me, you won't be sorry!

Northern Michigan Weekend

 

 I love to see the Mackinaw Bridge at night.  The lights reflected across the water are so beautiful. The best way to capture this scene is to use a long exposure (10-30 seconds).  This can only be achieved by using a very sturdy tripod.  The truth is, I use my tripod for 99 percent of the photographs I make.  It amazes me that many photographers spend big dollars on a camera and even more on glass, only to go cheap on a good tripod.

Since 1889 Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse helped passing ships navigate through the treacherous waters of the Straits of Mackinac.  Although their time has come and gone,they still fascinate me and make great photographic subjects.  Not far away is McGulpin Point Lighthouse.  After a cloudy, foggy morning, we were treated to a sunny afternoon.  Here are a few photographs of the McGulpin Lighthouse.

                             

If you don't mind heights, or tight winding staircases,  you can tour the  Lighthouse tower.

              The view from the top is amazing!  That is the Mighty Mack Bridge in the background.

                                                  This was the widest lens I had...

       Late morning hazy sunshine, crystal clear water, and a view of the bridge from McGulpin Rock