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

After I dropped the kids off to their dad for his weekend, I drove home from Hart the backway, through Pentwater. On my way there, on Lake Road, I came across this field of overgrown asparagus. I’ve always liked the way that it looks! The grain in the wood of this barn was the perfect subject to place with it. The hardest part was steadying the tripod against the wind!

Dave Johnson took Rachel and me flying today so that we could make images for our 366 Project. We flew over Rachel’s family farm and then followed the Pere Marquette River back towards Ludington. Partway between Scottville and Ludington, I opened the window of the plane and leaned out into the rushing air to make this image.

As Brad and I were driving back to Hart to pick up the kids, we drove past St. Mary’s Lake. I decided to swing through by the boat launch. What a welcome treat!

My Uncle Budde and Aunt Sheryl have an extraordinarily beautiful home just north of the Ludington City Beach on Lake Michigan. This is the view out of their dining room. They both have excellent decorating style.

As Brad and I were driving back to Hart to pick up the kids, we drove past St. Mary’s Lake. I decided to swing through by the boat launch. What a welcome treat!

Rachel and I and several other hunters were enjoying a five-course meal today at Legends Ranch when this guy came walking by the lodge. I photographed him with my iPhone through the window as the buck walked by in the rain.

I had my first experience hunting at Legends Ranch in Bitely, Michigan tonight. Although I didn’t see a shooter for me, it was a wonderful experience. I left the ranch and drove the 40 minutes back to Custer to pick up the kids from the farm. By the time I got them home it was almost 9:30 PM. I had to decide quickly on what my photo was going to be so I could get them in bed.

While walking with my friend and guide, Corey Ford, to the Stump Blind at Legends Ranch, we stopped in one of my favorite woods in the entire world, so I could make this image of the sunlight dancing through the trees. The fall in Michigan is by far my favorite time of year.

One of my favorite views is from this spot on First Street. You can see the huge base of the basswood tree at the end of my parents’ drive in the distance. You know you are “home” when you spot the tree. Tonight was particularly memorable.

Rachel had the opportunity to harvest her first ever whitetail buck tonight, and she made the most of it. She and I, along with her guide, Corey Ford, sat in Island Blind, and anxiously awaited the right moment. This gorgeous typical buck presented a shot, and Rachel followed her training, and made a great shot.

Todd and Brad have explored Legends Ranch with their cameras more times than they can count. This year was the first time that I joined along. Brad and I were working at capturing different lake views on their grounds when I noticed a huge buck resting near the water’s edge. Quietly, I worked on my composition before he moved.

Aspen trees in the fall have always been one of my favorite subjects to photograph. This morning, while camera hunting at Legends Ranch, I knew where I wanted to head to make my image of the day. Just east of Island Blind, there is a picturesque stand of mature aspen trees. I had seen them the night before and noticed they were close to peak color. Today, they were finally at peak.

We were exploring a different part of Legends Ranch today when a falcon flew above us. Luckily, I was ready with my camera.

Ethan and I went picture hunting tonight along Conrad Road. We photographed one of my favorite trees in Mason County tonight. The brilliant orange leaves on the tree along with the corn and asparagus below, made a picture-perfect scene.

Robert Sergi, the manager of Legends Ranch, had a rose in my room when I arrived there. I have always loved the layers to a rose. I played with the depth of field to showcase parts of it.

I surprised my kids last night and pulled up at home in a new Chevy Trail Boss pickup truck. Today we had to drive to Grand Rapids for Ethan’s soccer game. On the way home, we took the scenic tour at the rest area between Pentwater and Ludington. We had zero traffic and wonderful fall color, so it was the perfect place to get a fall photo to send to Pure Michigan.

I was hoping for clear skies to photograph the Halloween “Blue Moon,” a rare treat for a spooky day. It is supposed to be the first full moon on Halloween in 76 years. The weather had other plans, and the cloud cover didn’t allow for a view. Once we got back home, David’s costume was a fun photo to make.

My dad called me this morning and said he was standing on his deck looking at huge waves going over the top of the Ludington North Breakwater Light. I had a few meetings in the morning and as soon as they were done, I headed to the Lake Michigan shoreline and started shooting. After a half hour of shooting several different waves hitting the lighthouse, I knew this one was a winner.

We try to carve pumpkins every year. By having a longer exposure and zooming in and out during it, it gives the jack-o-lantern an extra eerie glow.

In September of 2019, our assistant manager, Hannah Olson, married her best friend, Dan Ruhlig. They got married at the Little Point Sable Church in Mears, Michigan. I drove there today in order to capture this image in honor of Hannah and Dan.