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

After a birthday dinner for me at my house with the kids, we headed down to the beach to photograph the sunset. I love these hazy, but colorful nights along the Lake Michigan shoreline

Kasey had a cross country meet in Bear Lake this evening. I decided to take back roads home, from Manistee, on the search of a photo. To my luck, I saw this sandhill crane in a field. I safely pulled the van over and got in position. What a majestic bird!

Legends Ranch is my happy place. While walking to one of the blinds tonight to photograph some of the giant whitetail bucks, I came face to face with this gorgeous typical. Without using an actual deer call, I grunted at him and got him to come even closer to me.

Summit Park is one place I don’t visit as much as I should. It is such a great park and beach! I left work early to drive that way to explore for photographs. It was such a calm, peaceful afternoon!

My brother Tad called me today to see if I could photograph the Bud Light Seltzer Jeep and models that were touring the country doing promotions. Tad is a fourth-generation co-owner of Ludington Beverage, which distributes Anheuser-Busch products, along with a lot of craft beers. I met the crew down at the Loomis Street Boat Ramp and went to work..

Indian Bridge over the Pere Marquette River is a popular spot for fishing. When the fishing is hot, it is lined with men, women, and families fishing. Tonight, the banks are empty, the river is calm enough that the vegetation and trees along it are reflected nicely. I was even blessed with magic light!

Ethan had an away soccer game today that was in a beautiful farm setting between Holland and Grand Rapids. I love watching my kids playing sports and being active. I am so glad they were able to have a soccer season this fall.

I was on my way to Brad’s when I passed by The Market on US-31. It was closed, but the cattails surrounding it were just waiting to be photographed. I used their exterior lights to add depth to the photo. Cattails always bring back memories of picking them at fair, and then forgetting them in the camper until we would find them exploded the next spring. My mom does not miss those days.

Rachel has the coolest old barn on her property behind her house. This scene reminds me of Ireland or Italy.

This year, as I drop off or pick up the kids from their visitation with their dad, I try to take different routes looking for photo opportunities. I didn’t have to drive far when I saw this field and shade tree on South Custer Road.

We had a dramatic sunset tonight in Ludington. I knew I might get drenched making this image at the end of the North Inner Pier by the green light, but it was worth the risk. Luckily, the storm light appeared and the rain was only a light sprinkle.

We were eating dinner at the farm when I could tell through the window that it was rainbow weather. I rushed outside to see a huge double rainbow to the east. I composed my photo to include each of the bright red colored trees on either side of the photo.

My dad, Tad, Sean, and I went to Crystal Mountain today to play 18 holes of golf. I found these birch trees reflected in one of the beautiful ponds that are spread out around the course. Luckily, the water ripples, caused by my horrible shot, had gone away and the reflections were back in time for me to make this image.

All summer the kids talked about Old Blue – a 6’ blue racer that lived up by the shop on the farm. As much as I despise snakes, I have tried to look for him several times with camera in hand. As we were up by the shop tonight, the kids called out to me. There he was. In all his glory. I used the full length of my lens shooting him so I could stay as far away as possible!

My dad had told me about this barn and American flag he had spotted on East Conrad Road the other day so tonight I drove that way to find it. My timing worked out great because the golden light before sunset was hitting the barn and flag perfectly.

The clouds all day today were magnificent! I had allergy testing in Muskegon in the morning; when that ended, I had to pick up the boys from school and head to Mesick for one of Kasey’s meets. I was focused on cheering on the teams and not shooting. When we arrived home, the clouds to the east were still there and they had turned bright pink.

While dropping Julia and Ethan off at school this morning, the sunrise and clouds made it appear as if the trees east of the high school were on fire. I couldn’t get out of my truck fast enough with my camera in hand!

It is hard to beat the magic light and clouds of fall. Soon, our cattle will be moving from the front field. It seemed time to make a final image of our front yard view.

Sean and I, and about 26 of Sean’s friends from all over the country, met in Lansing today for the start of the annual golf outing that Sean organizes. Today, while playing Timber Ridge, the light got really good for a few minutes so I put my golf clubs down and grabbed my camera. This decorative grass was near one of the tee boxes. I lay on my back on the golf cart path and made this image.

Todd and Brad have each made images of this tree line on Fountain Road. I’ve never seen a shot to be made before this day. It is that time of year when the fields start to be harvested and the looks start to change. Fortunately for me, this corn was still standing.