A couple watches the sun touch lake Michigan from the Grand Haven Pier and Lighthouse. Photography by Bill Vriesema.

The silhouette of a Great Blue Heron searching for its evening snack at sunset on White Lake near Montague, Michigan. Photo by Stacy Niedzwiecki.

“Hustling from Scottville, Michigan to the Ludington State Park to photograph the sunset, I made a last minute decision to not shoot right along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and instead, turned down Piney Ridge …

A Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) silhouetted against glow of sunset, by photographer John Dykstra.

Sunset colors the eastern horizon across Keweenaw Bay on Lake Superior from a black sand beach near Houghton, Michigan. Photography by Steven Huyser-Honig.

“This sunset image is actually a several second exposure, taken as the last rays of light glisten off of a rock on the Lake Michigan shore.” – photographer Tom Haxby.

“Earlier today in our gallery we were discussing with a Bass Lake couple how fleeting the peak moments of magic light or atmosphere are when they do appear in front of us. Now I stand …

“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.

The iconic Mackinac Bridge combined with the colors of the setting sun. Photography by John Dykstra.

“This scene greeted me on South Lakeshore Drive near my home upon my return from Georgia. It reminds me of the Bible story in Exodus of the burning bush Moses encountered.” – photographer Todd Reed.

“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.

“Of course there is no midnight sun in Michigan, but I could not resist naming this winter Lake Michigan shoreline image after the midsummer Arctic phenomenon.” – photographer Brad Reed.

“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.

A view along the Grand River channel at Grand Haven State Park on a very cold evening after sunset. Photography by John Dykstra.

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

The bare trees reach up to touch the clouds of November… perhaps dreaming of next spring! Taken near the bluffs of Elberta, Michigan by photographer Stacy Niedzwiecki.

“I admire the craftsmanship and the beauty of this wooden vessel as it sailed past me onto Lake Michigan into another spectacular Ludington sunset. I have seen the sailboat before, and longed to be able to photograph it closer to my vantage point. On this evening I was on the end of the South Breakwater and the view was picture perfect.” ~ Todd Reed

A summer sunset is reflected in the waters of Lake Superior as the Pictured Rocks excursion boat approaches the docks in Munising, photographed by Steven Huyser-Honig.

This tree graces the Ludington beach near the entrance to Stearns Park. It often frames picturesque views of Lake Michigan. Photograph by Todd Reed.

The iconic St. Joseph Lighthouse and pier silhouetted against the colorful skies above Lake Michigan, as captured by photographer John Dykstra.

“Lake Michigan has cooked up another molten lava sunset along the shore of Ludington tonight during a private photo lesson. Both my dad and I and our student came away with our appetites for beautiful visual moments satisfied.” ~ Brad Reed

A calm summer evening during sunset on Muskegon Lake, photographed by Stacy Niedzwiecki.

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

A sunset on the Bay in Petoskey, Michigan – as captured by photographer Wayne Pope.

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.

“A warm summer evening at the Little Sable Lighthouse. At the time I photographed this, it was my first visit to the area, and I was impressed how tall the remaining portion of the lighthouse is. Built about 1874, it must be one heck of a strong structure to withstand 125+ years of Lake Michigan storms!” ~ Stacy Niedzwiecki

“Just after my dad and I finished giving a photo talk to over 30 people at Little Sable Point Lighthouse tonight, the sun broke out below the thick cloud layer and lit up the sky and waters of Lake Michigan like the 4th of July fireworks. It was an impressive light show that lasted for several minutes.” ~ Brad Reed

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

Somewhere west of Bailey, Michigan on the E. County Road B35 by photographer Stacy Niedzwiecki.

“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