365 A Year in the Photographic Lives of Todd and Brad Reed

This is one of the lifeboats from the City of Flint 32. The City of Flint 32 was one of the many past carferries that put Ludington on the map when this port had the largest carferry fleet in the world. F5.0 at 1/125, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I am a total creature of habit. When I am out driving around looking for photographs, I have realized that I always drive to the same places and take the same roads. Today I forced myself to find a road I had never been down. This scene was a great surprise when I turned east on Jagger Road off of Jebavy Drive. F22.0 at 0.4, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 35 mm

This 365 project presents many challenges. Among them is being limited to selecting just one image per day. I photographed this same snow-laden dock along the Pere Marquette River a couple days ago but opted for a different image as my final selection for that day. I am so pleased it looks just as intriguing to me this morning. F22.0 at 0.6, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

Except for four years of college in Grand Rapids, I have lived in Ludington all my life. In that time, I have always been intrigued with the old Thompson Cabinet Company building near Pere Marquette Lake. I was pleasantly surprised to find this American flag hanging in the window today. F10.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 95 mm

"Get it while it's hot" applies in reverse to icicles. The snow and ice decorating the exterior of Scotty's Restaurant keeps drawing me back. Today it looks so chillingly beautiful it demands to be my picture of the day. Could there be better days to make this photograph? Possibly, but I know the January thaw is on its way. F11.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

The first week of the 365 Project seems to be an overwhelming success. The response to the photos by email and on Facebook has been fantastic. To start the second week of my shooting, I headed south of Ludington to the fruit fields in Summit Township on Morton Road. This is one of my favorite areas of Mason County. F22.0 at 0.5, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

Watching U.S. Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat 47284 performing a search and rescue mission off Ludington takes me back. I was a coxswain (boat captain) of this 47-foot self-righting vessel at Coast Guard Station Manistee for several of my 33 years in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. F4.5 at 1/500, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

A beautiful red barn sits among a field of blossoming fruit trees early this morning along Morton Road south of Ludington. The fruit fields and rolling hills of Mason and Oceana counties are breathtaking right now. Tourists flock to this area for the fall color tour, but I don't think it holds a candle to the spring blossoms. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I can remember climbing on this old carferry propeller down at the Loomis Street Boat Ramp with my brothers when we were young kids. This is the first good picture I have made of the giant bronze propeller. F10.0 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I am sizing up a sunrise shot of the carferry Badger when my cell phone rings. My wife Debbie has scouted out a picture for me of horses at West Shore Equestrian Center on Sugar Grove Road on her way to Nursing School at West Shore Community College. She sounds very excited so I am off to see the horses. I am so glad I listened to my wife. F4.0 at 1/800, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

Thank God for the sunshine. I am blessed this day to have the opportunity to ski to the Reed family cabin on the Pere Marquette River. I am alone. The forest is unbelievably gorgeous. It is so still. I ski slowly to savor everything my eyes can see. Beautiful scenes greet me at every turn in the trail. This is Michigan winter at its best. F16.0 at 1/60, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

The light is blazing along the Lake Michigan shoreline tonight. I quickly line up some dune grass and the sun in a way that gives me the feeling that the sun is a big ball rolling down hill. F4.0 at 1/6400, ISO 800, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

An artist friend, Lewis King, loves to meander across the countryside to see what he can find to paint. I share his love for the country. This morning I am excited to discover this scene on Kinney Road south of Scottville to paint with light. F18.0 at 1/250, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

This is one of the more well known and photographed trees in Ludington. It is just north of the north concession stand at Stearns Park beach. I find this tree beautiful all year long. F22.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 30 mm

United States Coast Guard Helicopter HH-65c 6517 out of Traverse City was flying a search pattern tonight over Lake Michigan. The men and women of the Coast Guard are well trained and hard working and in times of great need, our community of Ludington truly embraces their presence along our shores. F4.5 at 1/1600, ISO 320, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

This is one of the last old-time fishing boats still used in the Ludington area. My dad's love of old boats has been passed down to me. I love how this photograph looks like a fish's eye. F8.0 at 1/15, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

The Ludington House looks especially pretty today. Owners Kris and Bill Stumpf recently repainted the 1878 lumber era mansion, which they operate as a bed and breakfast. The new color scheme makes the Victorian home look grand. The icicles add a beautiful touch to the painted lady this morning. F11.0 at 1/160, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 86 mm

Today is my daughter Julia's fourth birthday. With her new princess crown, fairy wings, and magic wand, Julia is ready to turn her dad into a toad. She not only thinks she is a princess, she knows she is a princess. F2.8 at 1/15, ISO 72, iPhone camera

I wanted to photograph Little Sable Point Lighthouse for my photo of the day on Christmas Eve to commemorate the first published photograph my son Brad ever took with a professional grade camera. He made his "Little Sable Christmas Eve" picture on Christmas Eve 1998. F16.0 at 1/10, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 15 mm

Pentwater has to be one of the most charming places to visit in all of the United States, especially in the warm-weather months. Tonight Pentwater bustles with people enjoying the great weather at the start of Memorial Day weekend. F9.0 at 1/15, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm