Lake Michigan’s shore in Benzie County is all sand, both on the beach and under the water.
Beached sailboat
A violent storm ripped through northwest Lower Michigan a few years back. The winds and waves pulled up anchors of several boats in West Grand Traverse Bay. This is one of two sailboats that washed up on Clinch Park Beach during the night. 
After dark in Traverse City
Some nights are busy in downtown Traverse City. Others are quiet.
Swimming in the Au Sable River
Summer afternoons are well spent swimming in a northern Michigan river. The flowing water sparkles in the sunlight and refreshes the mind.
River swimming brings its own kind of joy. Floating gently in the cool water as the current presses past your skin on its journey to the big lake. The alternating bright sun and gentle shade of the pines. Perhaps a glimpse of a shiny trout shooting across a riffle of fast water.
All images on this website are copyright Daniel C. Nielsen, tclocal@gmail.com.
Fragile beauty on winter sand
An oak leaf decorates a cold beach in Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore a few miles west of Traverse City.
All images on this website are copyright Daniel C. Nielsen, tclocal@gmail.com.
Workboat in Charlevoix
Digital Painting:
A workboat passes the lighthouse in Charlevoix, Michigan.
Land, sea and stormclouds
The borderline between land and water is always fascinating. The day I took this photograph was stormy. Massive banks of clouds rushed straight toward the shore from across Lake Michigan. A few minutes after this image was created, the clouds let loose a torrent of rain that made it impossible to see more than a few yards.
True Traverse City 