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

Who's watching over Bass Lake this morning? A manmade owl looms large as it faithfully performs its duty of trying to keep birds off a dock. I can't resist featuring the owl in one of my shots of the dock, lake and Three Sisters hills. F11.0 at 1/50, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

This is the second photo in the 365 Project that I have made of the pumpkin patch and farm along Chauvez Road south of Ludington. I have been by at least five other times, but the light was never good enough. Early this morning however, the light was fantastic. F10.0 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

I have been trying to make an image of this tunnel of trees near the Conrad family farm at the east end of Conrad Road for several years. This evening, on my way home from a United Way fundraising event, I round the corner from Gordon Road and there it is, the picture I had envisioned for so long. F11.0 at 1/50, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

My brother-in-law, Ben Verduin, and his wife Emily were married last summer at St. Cecilia Music Center in downtown Grand Rapids. Tonight as we all walked past the iconic building together on our way to dinner we noticed this tree that looked like it had been dipped in florescent paint. F6.3 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 32 mm

Kevin and Nancy Hansen's farm on Victory Drive was one of several farms on this year's Mason County Barn Tour. I am attracted to one of many farm implements on display that were used for several decades by Kevin's grandfather. F10.0 at 1/160, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 22 m

My wife's aunt, Robin Mulder, took Betsy and me to Ludema's Floral and Garden store in Grand Rapids to pick out flowers for my mother-in-law Sharon Verduin who had surgery today. The moisture in the greenhouse made my lens fog up, but I feel that added to this photograph of chrysanthemums. F16.0 at 1/200, ISO 250, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I love the sense of adventure and scale of this image as I compose it in my viewfinder. Brad and I call this kind of shot "the little person in the big world." Lake Michigan is definitely a big world. F7.1 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 155 mm

One of our workshop students found this fungus growing at the bottom of a tree near the Beechwood Campground inside Ludington State Park. Lucky for me, she shared her special find with the rest of the group. F20.0 at 15.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

A Sunday ride on an autumn afternoon is one of the best things about Michigan. I stop to take a picture of my favorite tunnel of trees at the Polcin farm on Conrad Road. Cheryl Swinehart and Boyd Stark crest a hill on a bicycle ride as I am shooting. F10.0 at 1/40, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 135 mm

My dad is the master of making great art from old abandoned houses. I have photographed a few, but never had the same kind of success. When Betsy spotted this scene on south Stiles Road near Marrison Avenue, I instantly knew that the game was on between my dad and me. F8.0 at 1/125, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 30 mm

I love the rolling hills between Hart and New Era along the US 31 Freeway. Today as my nephew Ryan and I head to Grand Rapids for ArtPrize, I have to stop to photograph this farm surrounded by fall color. F8.0 at 1/320, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Milkweeds tend to bring back childhood memories for me. I remember breaking them apart and chasing the girls around the yard at daycare. As I was photographing these milkweeds along Brye Road this morning, I was quietly smiling to myself. F8.0 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Aspen leaves shimmering in the sunlight and wind are one of my favorite autumn sights. These aspens signaled me to stop along Mavis Road in Hamlin Township. F4.0 at 1/250, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

Yesterday a customer came in the gallery and asked to see some photos of a tree in the fall with only red leaves on it. We didn't have exactly what she was looking for. Today on my way to work, Julia and I noticed a tree on Bryant road that was very large and had only red leaves. Time to email that customer. F8.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Fall color catches my eye first along the Lincoln River. Then I notice the amazing patterns and textures of some leafless branches, making it clear that the fall color works better as a backdrop for the bare branches. F5.0 at 1/640, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

For two weeks I have been keeping my eye on this tree because it appeared that every leaf was going to turn bright orange. My assumption was correct. With the gold light of October backlighting this tree, the leaves looked even more orange and vibrant. I used my flash to light up the trunk. F7.1 at 1/250, ISO 100, 14 mm lens at 14 mm

I don't know what looks more impressive, the long-horned, longhaired cow or the brilliantly colored sumac along 72nd Avenue near Hart, so I decide to feature both. The Highland cow's long coat, besides being gorgeous, will keep it warm during the winter. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I headed to Copeyon Park on Pere Marquette Lake this morning to photograph the fog and mist. As I was composing a photograph that showed the west side of Pere Marquette Lake with fall color, a swan swam out of the fog and into the sunlight. The photograph of the fall color will have to wait. F5.6 at 1/250, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

My dad and I had spotted this old house and the rolling fruit fields in fall color the day before when we were taking a drive and looking for photographs. The light was too harsh so we didn't even stop. This morning, however, the light was perfect. F11.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 14 mm lens at 14 mm

October 16, 2010” We teach our photography workshop students to look for saturated fall colors in the reflections of leaves on the water. I took my own advice on a pond along Pere Marquette Highway.