Black and White

Rachels Happy Place

This home has been the subject of many photographers over the years. As I visit it today, I worked to let the light through the doorway while keeping the tree limbs on the right, reaching into the shot.

The Hurricane River Outlet looks like a boiling caldron tonight as melted snow dramatically increases the flow of water downstream to Lake Superior. This spot between Munising and Grand Marais is one of my favorite places in Michigan's fabulous Upper Peninsula. F4 at 1/640, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 26mm

When the house across US-10 from our family’s front field came available, we knew it would be a great spot to raise the kids. A very short walk and we are on farmland and can walk all the way to my mom and dad’s farmhouse. In the summer months, we enjoy watching our cattle and their calves in this front field. Tonight, it is quiet but stunning.

Rays of light break through bands of altocumulus clouds. Brad and I teach our photography workshop students: "Clouds are your friends." I am thinking of these clouds as best friends as I stand on the Ludington beach on a late March evening. F7.1 at 1/640, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

Wearing a backpack full of camera equipment, my son Brad reminds me of a Storm Trooper from a Star Wars movie as he photographs a storm front approaching the Ludington shoreline. F8 at 1/400, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Lake Superior Storm Black and White

Bands of altocumulus clouds remind me of a giant striped beach umbrella as they form a canopy over the Ludington beach on a spring evening. F5.6 at 1/640, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

I am struck by the shapes and forms carved by the waters of Porter Creek as it winds its way from the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness into Lake Michigan. I know converting this image to black-and-white will help me emphasize the constantly evolving shapes, forms, and patterns of this wild place.

While sitting in my truck in the rain, I envisioned this photograph. I quickly drove a few miles to the parking lot next to the carferry Spartan and drove back and forth with my head out my truck window looking at the puddles. I was certain if I found the correct spot, I could get both the Spartan and its reflection in the same photograph. F16.0 at 1/5, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

“Top Shelf” – Storm cloud races ashore near Big Sable Point

On my daily drive through Stearns Park, I noticed the mix of sunlight and a snow fence creating a graphic shadow on the pavement. I pulled over, grabbed my camera and made this photo. The entire process took less than one minute. I love when everything comes together that quickly. F10.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Earlier today I got to meet one of my greatest idols in the photography world, Mr. Steve McCurry. Steve came to speak at Calvin College for the Festival of Faith & Writing and we went down to meet him. After one of his talks, Steve noticed a tattoo of one of his famous photographs on the leg of our friend, Shelby Dusseau, and he photographed it. F2.8 at 1/100, ISO 1000, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

The stanchions supporting the catwalk to the Grand Haven lighthouses look to me like a line of Star Wars mechanical soldiers. After making this composition and locking the camera in place on the tripod, I wait to push the shutter button at peak moments when seagulls are prominent and well placed in the scene. F14 at 1/400, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 145mm

The Budweiser Clydesdales have been a favorite icon for the Reed family for decades because of the Ludington Beverage Company. A few years ago my uncle, Budde Reed, purchased a life-size statue of a Budweiser Clydesdale for the front lawn of Ludington Beverage. Today, I took Julia to see the statue and to make my photo of the day. F6.3 at 1/400, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

Traveling Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City when thousands of cherry trees are in bloom is one of those Michigan experiences that are unforgettable. This spot on M37 is one of many Old Mission locations where motorists can see orchards, rolling hills, and Grand Traverse Bay all at once. For landscape photography lovers like me these scenes provide the opportunity to make "grand scenic" pictures that feature a strong foreground, middleground, and background. F11 at 1/250, ISO 200, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

This is another photo of TJ Christiansen's 16-foot giraffe that he cut and welded from the ground up. I got underneath Geoffrey and shot straight up in the air to make some abstract black and white art. F2.8 at 1/125, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

While on a hike with my cousin Ryan, I made this image south of the first curve at the Ludington State Park. I stood at the bottom of this steep dune and shot upwards.

The Badger looked like a ghost ship this afternoon in the fog. Our biggest tip with shooting photographs in the fog is to make sure to shoot at least a stop and a half, if not two stops, to the plus side of your meter. If you shoot fog photos on any auto mode, your photo will be underexposed.