“I happened across this fellow (the traditional bird of Spring) during my walk with my dog in Kentwood, Michigan.” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

A wonderful scene of bright sunlit color from the Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan. Photography by Christopher Kierkus.

“The haunting scene on the Grand River in Allendale this morning.The guys who were fishing there told me that 10 minutes earlier you couldn’t see those bushes in the water… much less anything across the river.” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“If you look very carefully at the forest floor, you will see signs of new life springing up everywhere!” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“I went out to Holland State Park tto capture my first springtime sunset of the season. I thought this shot, depicting the rapidly dying lake ice was particularly apropos. Here’s to sunsets, beaches and warm weather!” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

Here’s a portrait of a handsome husband… a male mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) by photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“This is really what the inner range light in Grand Haven looked like at a few minutes after 6:00pm. The photo is essentially straight out of camera, and required very little digital manipulation.” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“This evening featured what was probably the most magical light I’ve ever experienced in my life. Believe it or not these shots have very little post processing, this is what it really looked like when I was standing there.” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“Another photographer friend and I went out looking for a winter sunset. We didn’t really find one, but the angry sky and snowy terrain did make for some dramatic shots.” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“This reminded me of the Sarlacc Pit from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Especially since it was making roaring and groaning noises (from the water splashing) underneath…” Photographed in South Haven, Michigan by Christopher Kierkus.

This winter landscape image was captured in St. Joseph Michigan, and is a personal favorite of the photographer, Christopher Kierkus.

“Chomp! Anyone who lives in the Midwest knows winter REALLY has teeth… here’s the proof! This photo was taken in St. Joseph, Michigan. The icicles were backlit by the setting sun.” – photographer Christopher Kierkus

“This evening featured what was probably the most magical light I’ve ever experienced in my life. Believe it or not these shots have very little post processing, this is what it really looked like when I was standing there on the St. Joseph Pier!” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“Another shot of my favorite lonely tree at Holland State Park, taken about 20 minutes after sunset.” – photographer Christopher Kierkus.

This stunning image of the pier of Grand Haven during a winter sunset won First Place in the Spring 2010 “Pure Michigan” photo contest. Photography by Christopher Kierkus.

Old Man Winter has firmly established his dominion over the beach in Grand Haven, Michigan. Photography by Christopher Kierkus.

The very best of the fall season, captured at Ken-O-Sha Park in Grand Rapids. The cloudy, wet day brought out the color saturation and beauty of the season in this photo by Christopher Kierkus.

The elegance of a lovely golden-hued tree at Dutton Shadyside Park, photographed by Christopher Kierkus.

Just a simple shot of a Japanese Maple tree – growing in the yard of a neighbor of photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“After taking another hike around Pickerel Lake, it reinforced my opinion that this is probably the most beautiful park in all of West Michigan.” ~ Christopher Kierkus

Autumn is by far my favorite season. This image was taken in October of 2009 at Linus Palmer Park in Wyoming, Michigan. ~ Christopher Kierkus

A magnificent sugar maple shows off its brilliant colors in the late evening light (about 20 minutes before sunset), at Dutton Shadyside Park in Dutton, Michigan. Photo by Christopher Kierkus.

Photographer Christopher Kierkus captured this huge wave hitting the lighthouse at the end of the pier in South Haven, Michigan.

A large display of fireworks over the Detroit River, as captured by photographer Christopher Kierkus.

A sunset at Stony Creek Metropark, photographed using a 30-second timed exposure at the end of the night by photographer Christopher Kierkus.

A young mom and her baby were playing on the beach at St. Joseph, Michigan at sunset, photographed by Christopher Kierkus.

A long exposure of the Grand Haven lighthouse taken about 30 minutes after sunset by photographer Christopher Kierkus.

“Grand Haven boaters flee for cover as the gust front from a massive thunderstorm approaches. This same storm dropped a 3″ and a 5″ thick branch on top of our house this afternoon. Thankfully, no one got hurt, and damage was only minor.” ~ Christopher Kierkus

Photographer Christopher Kierkus and his wife had just left Fayette, Michigan to drive out to Peninsula Point Light Station. There were thunderstorms in the area and one of them collaborated with the sun to produce this beautiful display which he captured from the side of the road.

The annual fireworks over the Detroit River during the Freedom Festival, photographed by Christopher Kierkus. To give you a sense of scale… the building closest to the explosions – the Renaissance Center – is about 800 feet tall!

A gorgeous colorful sunset highlights the north channel pier area at Holland State Park in a photo by Christopher Kierkus

Just another simple shot from the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline at Grand Haven, by Christopher Kierkus.

The beautiful, magical colors of the Miners Castle area in a photograph by Christopher Kierkus.

“This is Holland’s Big Red lighthouse from a perspective that most people don’t get to see. You have to walk through a gated, private community to get here. They will give you a pass if you ask.” ~ Christopher Kierkus