Sandhill Cranes in Flight

Three cranes decided to rise from the distant mists and fly towards me on a beautiful dawn morning during one of our retreats with all the brothers in the region. I wasn't prepared for this boon and found myself randomly shooting and hoping the macro lens would track the developing scene well... it did, see October for a closer look!

Eastern Fox Squirrel

This adult eastern fox squirrel was hanging upside down a couple black from my house watching me walk by. Unbelievable how these little guys can just hang from their back legs and munch on a black walnut at 50 feet in altitude!! Taken in the early spring, along State St in Ann Arbor MI.

European Blackbird

This bright eyed fellow wasn't sure if I was a threat to his lunch or just envious of his tasty meal... turns out I wasn't either! Meeting this blackbird was a very auspicious start to a delightful stroll in the Geneva Botanical Gardens.

Great Blue Heron

I wasn't very far from this majestic heron on a spring morning, wondering how his day was coming along when all of a sudden there was a commotion and next thing I knew he had speared this fish. He became unhappy with my presence and flew to the other side of the river to enjoy his meal in peace. Taken with my zoom lens, on a birding walk in the Arboretum in Ann Arbor, MI.

Mallard Duck

The lighting here was absolutely fantastic: a dappled spring sunny morning with a good reflection off the vernal pool he was swimming in. I continue to marvel at the sights I find so close to my home! Taken in a secret location near Island Drive Park, in Ann Arbor MI.

Blue Jays on a Branch

These blue jays were having something of an extended conversation (it may have even been a marital argument!) that seems to pertain to their food. Such volume! Taken during a birding walk in the Arb in Ann Arbor, in April 2022.

Eurasian Blue Tit

On the shore of Lake Annecy in eastern France, this chirping wonder was spying on my lunch hoping to glean some crumbs once I walked away...

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

This photo is a little smaller because I was quite far away and had to crop it a lot to get a good composition. I find trying to capture these beauties in flight a thrilling challenge. I'm very grateful to my photographer friend Marc-Grégor for all the help and insight he's given me over the years. This picture is a tribute to his expertise! Taken at Island Lake Rd, near Chelsea MI, on a warm Sunday in July 2022.

Green Tree Frog

Taken late morning on a Sunday in September, I was focusing all my attention on a dragonfly when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and this little guy came into view. He was 3-4cms long and wasn't at all happy with my invading his personal space. He jumped off pretty quickly after I was able to capture his ambivalent gaze at me. Taken on a Sunday stroll near Holly, MI.

Northern Cardinal

I find these bright red spots in the leafy spring canopy always mesmerizing. I'm getting well-enough acquainted with their calls and chirps that I can find pretty easily now... This one was taken at Island Drive Park, near the Huron River, in Ann Arbor, MI.

Sandhill Cranes in Flight

an absolutely amazing moment of photographic grace... when somehow in a mysterious way, God allows me to witness something ephemeral yet stunning that leaves a positive mark on my soul. Perhaps this is slightly hyperbolic, but this truly was one of those moments when I experienced a serendipitous proximity of the Creator's pleasure and joy in the work of His hands. The silent triune flight done at the break of day reminds me of the presence of the one who ceaselessly wanders the earth in quiet yet dynamic love looking to bless, heal, and stir to awe. He breaks into the ordinary rhythm of life and surprises us with reminders of transcendence and beauty. Taken in September, on the shores of Eliott Lake, at the Maryville Retreat Center in Michigan.

Indian Peacock

Color and sound meet in a rather stunning display of brightness in this domesticated fowl. Long has this bird symbolized the resurrection in the Christian imagination and growing up I always heard that the peacock was a symbol of royalty. But then it also has a negative connotation in the expression to be proud as a peacock. It's a fun bird that makes for good conversation if you ask me... Taken in May, during a visit to the Geneva Botanical Gardens.

Eastern Bluebird

These colorful birds are hard to capture as they don't seem to stay still for very long. I'm delighted to notice that they seem to be more common in Michigan these days than previously. Taken on a Sunday birding stroll in late September near Holly, Michigan.

Robber Fly

This shot was taken at the top of the ridge on the northern edge of the Mosquito Ridge fire of Sept 2022. Clearly there is food to be found after a forest fire in Northern California, in mid-October...

Cross Orbweaver Spider

I saw a good number of these large spiders strewn across the UW Botanical Garden during a walk I did in mid October 2022. The patterns on their oversized abdomens are little testimonials to God's creativity in the minutiae of some of the more ephemeral of his creatures.