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

I have shot this same photograph in the same spot at my Uncle Budde and Aunt Sheryl’s yard on Lake Michigan, but I was never happy with the sharpness of the photograph. So today, I recreated the photograph, but shot it better both technically and artistically. I like to challenge myself to always get better at my craft.

It always amazes me how many big bucks I see around town in Ludington. They know they are safe, I guess! I saw this big guy on my way to Brad’s this evening in his neighborhood.

Rachel had never had a chance to salmon fish on Lake Michigan before, so my dad, Debbie, Rachel, and I decided to hire Hiatus Charters to take us fishing. Our friends, captains Micah Schmidt and Adam Knudsen, took us fishing off Big Sable Point Lighthouse. They handed the first pole to hit to Rachel and showed her how to fight the fish. After almost a half an hour, Rachel landed a 28-pound monster King Salmon.

I enjoyed my first-time charter fishing with Hiatus Charters tonight. Todd, Debbie, Brad, and I all had the chance to head out on Lake Michigan hoping for a chance to reel in the big one. Well, I reeled in a whopper! A 28-lb salmon! This sunset followed us as we headed back to the dock. What a memorable day!

A friend called me tonight to say they were watching a bald eagle in a tree in the middle of Stearns Park down at the Ludington City Beach. I headed that way and found the majestic bird as it sat on a large cottonwood branch.

My kids have been at their dad’s since Comet NEOWISE has been visible. When I picked them up this evening, I asked if they had been out to see it. Since they hadn’t, we stayed up extra late in the backyard to witness this spectacular event!

While visiting the kids today at their mom’s, in Silver Lake, we took a drive to find something to photograph. Across the lake, we spotted a Mac Woods dune scooter as it headed down the steepest part of the ride. I parked my truck, got my camera and tripod out, and waited for the next Mac Woods dune scooter to go by.

These windmills are a topic of great controversy. Today, the white stood out against the blue sky and green field.

I love making story-telling images with my camera. I felt like this scene in my front yard tonight told the story of growing older, bigger, and stronger. I purposely put that large tree in the very center of the image to help cut the image in half and help tell the story better.

I have a fear of snakes. Brad has a fear of spiders. He has made at least one image so far of a snake and made sure to send the picture to me to startle me. My kids found this spider on the back of our barn. Perfect payback!

I could see these colorful rays shooting upwards from the setting sun, but I needed a good setting to make a strong image of them. I found this beautiful farm near Custer, Michigan and knew that would be the middle ground of my image. Now I needed a strong foreground. I found these bushes and trees alongside the road and walked out into them to set up my camera and tripod.

The kids and I were camping at “The Point” on the farm. We had a group out for dinner and s’mores. It was a fun night of sharing stories and jokes. As the sun started to set, the ferns and trees lit up. I love this spot on our farm.

Rachel and I took our kids swimming in the Pere Marquette River today, at her family’s farm. While they were all enjoying playing together, I took our underwater camera housing and made this image of the bright summer sun lighting up a spawning bed on the river bottom.

Storms seem to be popping up very quickly lately. We were still camping at “The Point” when the wind started to pick up. Everyone pitched in to pack up loose items. I then turned my attention to the clouds passing overhead above the Pere Marquette River.

One of our favorite ways to photograph Lake Michigan is by actually getting in the water a little way. This helps put the viewer of our work into the scene. People will be more likely to feel like they are really at the beach. Shoes and clothes will dry. Get in the water to shoot next time you are out photographing. You won’t regret it!

When I think of Bespop, I often picture him in this area of his yard, near his grape arbor. Of course, he would be leaning on his cane, wearing his straw fedora hat, and smoking his pipe of cherry tobacco. I miss his smile. I miss his laugh.

I don’t know what kind of strange fungi this is in my front yard, but it is very large and super cool looking. My new yard never ceases to amaze me with all of its fun surprises.

It feels like fireworks! When I saw this Scentsy fireworks wax warmer, I knew it was a must have.

I could spend hours exploring the pedestrian area of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, especially when I have a camera in my hand. The light and shadow this morning played nicely on the sand ripples and created a dramatic scene with this old stump.

My goddaughter, Kayla, celebrated her confirmation tonight in Holland, Michigan. I was glad that I was able to be part of it as her confirmation sponsor. On my drive back home, I stopped in Grand Haven. I don’t visit this lighthouse often, so it was fun to watch the sunset here.