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

I have had my eye on this tree in the Pere Marquette River flats south of Ludington for years. This morning, in the fog, the curved design of the trunk and branches stands out against the soft, muted background. F5.6 at 1/500, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

When I finished playing soccer tonight at the fields along Bryant Road, I noticed two deer in the field of flowers across the street. Not wasting time to take my cleats or shin guards off, I snuck across the street and made this photograph. It was totally worth being sighted by innocent passers-by who must have thought I looked very strange. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 1000, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

Sweet peas still wearing the morning dew create a colorful pattern along Iris Road. I make the picture and then discover my Suburban has a dead battery. Oh well, more time to smell the flowers while waiting for a Good Samaritan. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Downtown Ludington is coming alive with summertime foot traffic. Earlier tonight Bruce Kelley entertained passers-by with his original music and haunting voice in front of Redolencia, the local coffee shop. F5.6 at 1/160, ISO 400, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I have just finished attending the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame banquet, during which one of my heroes, tennis coach Howard Jensen, was inducted. I have not driven a half-mile when I see Mount Epworth silhouetted against the afterglow sky. Sweet. F14.0 at 1/6, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

When Betsy and I set out with the kids for a morning stroll through Cartier Park, I told them that my goal today was to photograph a snake sunning itself in the hot and humid air. A few minutes later, I spotted a small snake doing just that. To everyone's amusement, I ran in circles around the snake with my wide-angle lens to get the photo I wanted. F7.1 at 1/6400, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

One of the most radiant sunsets of the year greeted me as I took a hike while my wife and her study buddies continued to study for yet another in a long line of nursing tests. This view of Ludington harbor was from atop a sand dune near my former home at Crosswinds

One of the most radiant sunsets of the year greeted me as I took a hike while my wife and her study buddies continued to study for yet another in a long line of nursing tests. This view of Ludington harbor was from atop a sand dune near my former home at Crosswinds

These four turtles were not the only ones enjoying a quiet Father's Day along the Sable River inside Ludington State Park. It was great to see the park filled up with people enjoying its endless beauty. F6.3 at 1/1250, ISO 160, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I am watching an eerie light show tonight. As a thunderstorm sweeps across Lake Michigan toward my home I am shooting time exposures of lighting bolts electrifying the sky just above the horizon. The rest of the sky remains ominously dark. Strange. F4.0 at 30.0, ISO 1600, 12-24 mm lens at 18 mm

For years I have tried to photograph the carferry Badger from underneath this tree at the end of Ferry Street, but have always come away disappointed because the Badger looked too small or I put too much of the tree in the photograph. Tonight however, I decided to wait longer and let the Badger get a lot closer to the camera. The photo finally worked! F8.0 at 1/30, ISO 640, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

What a great evening to be a seagull. As I make this picture, I think of all the times I have watched seagulls enduring the worst fall windstorms and winter blizzards. I am certain they are finding this second day of summer more enjoyable. F4.5 at 1/200, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 175 mm

As I was opening the door to a Port-a-Jon in Cartier Park, I saw three baby raccoons near me. I decided I could hold it a while longer and ran back to my truck to get my biggest lens and tripod. I found the babies snuggled together on a tree branch, but my lens was so large, I could not fit all three raccoons in the frame, so I picked the cutest two. F4.0 at 1/80, ISO 1250, 600 mm lens at 600 mm

This wild tiger lily is one of dozens of these colorful roadside attractions lining Meyers Road between Ludington and Scottville. It is a bit breezy so I will have to shoot at a fast shutter speed and bump up the ISO to make a sharp image, but I like the way the picture looks in the viewfinder. F3.2 at 1/250, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I round the bend of the Ludington North Breakwater with a photography workshop student and am surprised to see a bride and groom strolling toward me. With no time to get the camera on the tripod, I draw on skills honed in my newspaper days and quickly compose a hand-held shot of the newlyweds, Ashli and Jon Solitro. F5.0 at 1/200, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

Just after photographing the Badger leaving the pier heads, I noticed a beautiful bride and groom walking around the top of the Ludington North Breakwater Light. Luckily for me, Ashli and Jon Solitro were eager to be models for my photo of the day. Oftentimes, found moments like this make the best photographs. F8.0 at 1/400, ISO 400, 70-200 mm lens at 190 mm

After taking some shots of Brad and a student of ours photographing a mature bald eagle at Ludington State Park, I switch to my big lens just in time to watch the eagle take off after an immature eagle swooped down at it. The mature bird flies over my head so close that I have to shoot without looking through the viewfinder to track with it. Awesome! F4.0 at 1/4000, ISO 800, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Today we had a customer who wanted to take a private lesson with us and wanted to go shooting out in the field. The weather was great so we decided to take Billy York to Ludington State Park to try photographing the bald eagles. We succeeded on our first attempt. We had a blast and it was a great way to spend an afternoon. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

The Lister family is always so gracious to Brad and me when we ask to photograph their farmland. Based upon their recommendation, I headed to Blundell Road this evening to photograph tart cherries. Wow do these cherries look great to me in the viewfinder. I could almost eat the picture! F3.2 at 1/25, ISO 200, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

I have always been drawn to abstract art and have been inspired to try becoming more abstract with my own photography. This photograph is of Lake Michigan at sunset. I zoomed my lens while exposing. F22.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 80 mm