366 Days of Beauty in the Year 2020 by Brad Reed and Rachel Gaudette

I have watched these goslings for weeks. I knew that I wanted to make a photo of them and tonight seemed like a good night for it, as they were perched on a mound surrounding their mom. As I was getting in position, the mom and goslings swam off their mound. Two other geese started to come near, and the daddy scared them away. It wasn’t the photo I was going for, but it turned out better than I envisioned.

My high school friends Bryan and Veronica Copenhaver have recently moved back to the area after living in Alaska for several years. Brian called me to say they had a white egret in their pond. Sean and the kids and I drove out there in the rain and found the bird. Just as I was rushing into position to make my first image, a truck drove by and scared the bird away. I ended up photographing this pair of geese on their pond instead.

I was drawn to Lake Michigan this evening. I sat and enjoyed the sounds and the smells of the lake before making this image.

I was shocked to be standing in my kitchen and to look out the window at our bird feeders to see two indigo buntings and two scarlet tanagers all at the same time. I haven’t seen either of those species in my yard before, let alone four of them at the same time. I snuck back outside to my truck and got my camera and big lens just in time to get a photo of the one remaining scarlet tanager.

I love the ditch by my mailbox in the springtime. It is covered in yellow mustard weed and is a striking sight. I carefully made this image, showcasing one perfect stalk.

Rachel and I went for a ride today looking for photos. We headed towards Stony Lake to check that area out. Not finding anything to photograph at the lake, we headed south towards one of our favorite places to see trillium. Sure enough, the forest was full of them. After asking permission of the landowners, Rachel and I walked the property looking for standout flowers

It is always fun shooting with others. Even though we might be a short distance from each other, we compose very unique images. Brad and I drove to Stony Lake today. We spent a good portion of the afternoon exploring woods of trilliums. The landowners are very generous to allow us to photograph these delicate flowers.

From up by the North Concession Stand at Stearns Beach today I used my large telephoto lens and shot down towards the dune grass and Lake Michigan. Telephoto lenses have compression, and they help all the layers of a photograph look closer together than they really are.

Mark Scott, who lives at Cherry Hill Farm on Conrad Road next to our hunting property, texted me today saying their cherry tree out front was in full blossom. I waited until the light got lower and headed that way. I am so glad he texted me. It was fun watching the sun light up the barn in the distance and the cherry tree in the foreground.

I was mowing my lawn today when a slight movement to my left caught my eye. This peering snake had eyes for me. As disgusted as I was, I knew it could make a cool photo for today. I hopped off and grabbed my gear. I gingerly walked towards the area to capture the snake. After I made a couple shots, it slithered away. It was only then that I realized how long it was! I ran quickly away in the opposite direction.

I recently bought a new firepit for my backyard and tonight was our first time using it. With my camera on a tripod, I made this 30-second exposure. One of the tips we teach our workshop students is that they need to learn to see like their camera sees. My eye could see a lot more details in the shadows than you see in this photograph. But if I exposed to make the fire inside the pit look good, I knew the shadows would look black.

Growing up, some of my best memories are in the orchard at our family farm. Whether it was picking apples, playing baseball, or swinging on the tire swing, there was always activity amongst the apple trees. Joshua loves to climb this tree in my backyard, and while watching him one day, I noticed this specific clump of apple blossoms. I knew I had found my photo of the day.

I made my almost-daily stop at Northside Market near my home today to grab some stuff for dinner. When I came out and looked across Bryant Road, I spotted my first fawn of the season standing with her mom. My guess is this fawn had been born earlier today.

Dogwood Trees hold a special place in my family’s heart. For years they had stopped blooming on our farm while I was growing up and we were worried they would never bloom again. Then, one year, they started up again! We have several of these favorite trees around the farm. This one looked radiant tonight.

Ed Sanders called me today from Lincoln Hills and told me they found a fawn near the clubhouse next to the driving range. I drove there a short time later and made this image. Using my biggest lens, so I could keep my distance from the fawn, I lay down on my stomach to get eye to eye with the tiny whitetail deer.

My mom loves lily of the valley. We have many that grow around our garage at the farm. It seemed the perfect photo of the day to celebrate her 78th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Mama!

My dad gave me a tip today to go check out the American Flag made from petunias down at the newly redone Veteran’s Mall in Stearns Park. I was shocked how well done this was. I felt this was the perfect photo to help commemorate Memorial Day, 2020.

The kids, and several cousins were enjoying time together around Bespop’s pond today. Their laughter filled the air as they caught frogs, fished, and took the boat out. Suddenly, there was a difference in their voices. There was a huge blue racer climbing from tree to tree. This one terrified me way more than the, now small, snake I shot earlier in the week! The kids got a kick out of my squeals of terror each time it moved.

My dad, Sean, and I went golfing today at Hemlock Golf Course in Ludington. While we were golfing, a storm rolled in and it looked like we were going to get a lot of rain. Luckily for us, the rain held off. And luckily for me, I had my big camera with me in the golf cart.

My mom loves her hummingbirds. They are often the topic of conversation with anyone who enjoys summer days on the farm’s porch. I sat most of the afternoon, working on my patience, and watching these fast birds. Finally, I was able to capture one in my lens that was sharp but showed movement in the wings.