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

The grasses along Dennis Road south of Ludington looked beautiful this morning as the sun rose in the east. The golden sunrise helped ease my nerves after a long night of howling winds. F22.0 at 1/160, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

Curving branches of an old oak tree along the Pere Marquette River stand out today after high winds blew away many of the grand oak's leaves. Most neighboring maple trees have been stripped bare by 30 to 60 knot winds the previous two days. F11.0 at 1/5, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

Betsy, the kids, and I have been in our new house for a couple of months now and this is the first wildlife photograph I have made from inside the house. We have lots of deer and squirrels in our backyard every day and I can photograph them out the sliding glass doors. Julia helped me spot this squirrel. F4.5 at 1/100, ISO 1600, 600 mm lens at 600 mm

Hunting with a camera can be exciting. I have been stalking this big buck for weeks and here he finally is in front of my camera within 30 yards. I like this moment when he is on the trail of a doe that came through a few minutes earlier. F4.0 at 1/250, ISO 800, 500 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 750 mm

The sweeping clouds of October darken the foreground of this scene, while the golden light of sunrise peeks through a break in the clouds. I love the dramatic light of October, especially in Michigan. F8.0 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I am getting wet making this picture but moving close to these jetties is, I know, vital to making an image that will put the viewer there. The water rushing over the tops of my waterproof shoes is cold and distracting but the image in my viewfinder is also a rush. F4.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

Setting your camera to the "bulb" setting allows you to take very long time exposures. I used my glow-in-the-dark watch to count 90 seconds for this exposure because the sun had set 45 minutes earlier. I also used a rear-sync flash to help brighten the foreground. The end result was a surreal looking shoreline. F22.0 at 90 seconds, ISO 100, 14 mm lens at 14 mm

The old cemetery at the west end of Hawley Road takes on an eerie appearance on Halloween night. During a 30-second time exposure, I am using my vehicle headlights to sidelight the gate and an off-camera flash to light gravestones in order to make them emerge from the darkness. F11.0 at 30.0, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

I have had my eye on this old caboose since we started the 365 Project back in January, but the lighting and clouds were never ideal. Tonight on the way to my Grandpa and Grandma Reed's house on M-116 near Ludington State Park for trick-or-treating, we stopped to make this photo. F18.0 at 1/50, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Morning glory! Frost-coated swamp grasses turn to gold as the sun rises over the Pere Marquette River. What a way to wake up to the first day of November. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

Morning glory! Frost-coated swamp grasses turn to gold as the sun rises over the Pere Marquette River. What a way to wake up to the first day of November. F6.3 at 1/125, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm

My dad and I drove to Manistee today to visit a friend in the hospital. The visit was sad and I needed to grab my camera quickly to help ease the pain. Not far from the hospital, we found this row of trees lining Eastlake Road. Photography for my dad and me is very therapeutic. F16.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

With their leaves stripped away, the beautiful shape of these trees along the Lake Michigan shoreline stands out to me. I spotted them last night but the light was not good, so I am back today along South Lakeshore Drive to shoot them in sweet light. F3.2 at 15.0, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 175 mm

Every year I look forward to seeing this view of Lincoln Lake. I love when you can see the limbs and trunks of the trees on the northern edge of the lake while still seeing some of the color in the remaining leaves. F10.0 at 1/80, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 34 mm

These cows along Countyline Road are a bright spot in a sad day for me. I am on my way home from Manistee, where one of my best Coast Guard friends, Tom Rau, died today. I taught Tom how to take better pictures for his boating safety articles. Hopefully, he would approve of this shot. F4.0 at 1/500, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 135 mm

My step-grandpa was the late Dwight "Scotty" Scott. He was married to my mom's mom, Linda Scott. Together they ran Wren's Roost on the Middle Bayou of Hamlin Lake. After Wren's burned down, they opened Scotty's Restaurant in Ludington. I shot this photo near where Wren's Roost stood. F5.6 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

A Pere Marquette Rail engine switches tracks in the Ludington rail yard on a cold November evening. I always enjoy seeing the trains as you look west while driving over the viaduct on Pere Marquette Highway. F2.8 at 1/160, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

While sitting in my truck waiting for the rain and snow to subside, I noticed a puddle on M-116 near the First Curve at Ludington State Park that was reflecting the beautiful blue sky and dark storm clouds. I turned the truck off, rolled down the window, and shot this photograph. It made my day brighter. F8.0 at 1/200, ISO 400, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas this morning. Snow coats the Christmas trees being grown along Hansen Road by Needlefast Evergreens. Like most people, I am feeling it is too early for winter or for the Christmas spirit. F8.0 at 1/5, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

I was shocked to awaken to a snow covered woods this morning. I knew it would be great for photos though. Dick and Kathy Bourgault's beautiful red house looked inviting nestled in the white snow and colorful fall leaves as I drove past on my way to the gallery. F9.0 at 1/5, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm