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

We took our Heaven on Hamlin photography workshop students to Point Betsie Lighthouse north of Frankfort early this morning. This colorful heart-shaped rock was moved into place by a crashing Lake Michigan wave. I ran over and made this image before another wave came and swept the rocks away.

The Ludington State Park, in my hometown of Ludington, Michigan, is an excellent place to photograph the power and beauty of Lake Michigan. The clean, cold fresh water was kicking today.

Manistee’s 5th Street Beach looked like a scene from a science fiction movie today. The sand was frozen into random-shaped sheets that were layered on top of each other. The high winds today also created big waves on Lake Michigan. The best part of all was the magic light that appeared as we pulled into the beach to shoot.

A captive mature bull elk basks in the morning sunlight in northern Mason County. The light and shadow in this image create nice repetitive patterns.

As I often am, I was in the water during this sunset at Stearns Beach. I had my camera as low as I could without it being covered in water. I adjusted my shutter speed to allow for a capture of a crashing wave just ahead of my lens. This is one of my favorite images I have made so far during our 366 Project.

With all the clouds, the sunset reflected beautiful orange light onto Lake Michigan on a peaceful January evening

The setting sun laid layers of color on the gentle, rolling waves of Lake Michigan at the first curve in the Ludington State Park.

Waking up to a frosty wonderland, I was on the lookout for a subject to showcase its beauty. These frozen pine needles on Budzynski Road were just the thing.

A well-known fishing hole in front of our family cabin on a large bend in the Pere Marquette River looks tranquil in the sunshine this morning. We often try to put leading lines in the exact lower corners of our compositions. It is not an accident that the water and ice meet in the bottom left corner of this image.

The Coast Guard was founded by Alexander Hamilton on August 4, 1790. In honor of the Coast Guard’s birthday today, I made this image down at Stearns Beach in Ludington at the newly redone Veteran’s Mall. My dad served in the Coast Guard for over 33 years. I used my external flash to light up the gold Coast Guard shield in the sidewalk and tried to time it when all the flags in the background were blowing sideways and looked nice.

I love black-and-white photographs. Driving around near Free Soil, this part of the North Branch of the Lincoln River was the black-and-white dream I was looking for.

This is my favorite tree to photograph in Mason County. This scene is on Kinney Road just east of Old US-31. To date, this is the best piece of art I have made of this scene.

Brad called me on my drive into work this snowy morning; he had spotted a bald eagle by the Pere Marquette River Flats. I headed straight there, switched to my big lens, and adjusted my settings before walking across the highway. I was able to get one shot off. That fast, I made the best wildlife shot I have ever captured and a memory to last a lifetime.

My dad taught me as a young boy that if you see an excellent sunrise to the east in Michigan to make sure to turn around and look at the sky in the west. I was blessed with a great teacher! The Ludington North Breakwater Light was glowing this morning with a pink and blue backdrop.

The tops of these trees inside of Stearns Park have been intriguing me for weeks. I finally made an image of them today that I am happy with. The lines and patterns make me happy.

A water drop is about to fall from a small branch and my macro lens made an ordinary scene look extraordinary.

A large farm near the border of Mason and Oceana Counties looks like the skyline view of Chicago over Lake Michigan. I can’t stop my truck quick enough to make this image.

My friend, Aubry, texted me that she had just seen two bald eagles perched on a branch near Crossroads Church on US-10 between Custer and Scottville, Michigan. I loaded up my kids and headed that way. We ventured out in the snowy field to each make our own images of these two beauties.

We took another family hike today along the Sauble River at the Ludington State Park. Not far from the dam, I made this image of some people enjoying their quiet kayaking adventure together. I really loved the reflection of the trees in the water and the fun clouds in the background.

I have always wanted to photograph this black horse on US31 near Norwalk, Michigan and today the scene was finally perfect. I have always wanted to photograph this black horse on US31 near Norwalk, Michigan and today the scene was finally perfect.