From the top of a small sand dune near the entrance to Ludington State Park, I gazed out at Lake Michigan, and absorbed the splendor of this natural wonder.

Near my feet, the soft sand and beach grass was bathed in the warm, golden light of the sun. The lake itself was a canvas of light and shadows from the passing clouds which danced across the sky.

The cloud patterns in this scene are what captivated me most. They were a mixture of bright, wispy high clouds mingling with lower, darker clouds. The sun, though hidden behind the clouds, cast colorful rays that broke through the gloom and added a touch of magic to the scene.

But what made this image special is the central focus – a trio of seagulls gracefully soaring in different directions. These three birds formed a triangular pattern, mirroring the triangular shape of the dark cloud mass. It's as if nature itself orchestrated this composition, a secret language of geometry and flight.

"September Sky" is a reminder of the way nature, with its ever-shifting moods, can create brief moments of symmetry and beauty.