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Baby skunks come nose to nose while playing in a farmyard on a June morning. The skunks are among nine babies born this month at Larry and Jo Sholtey's farm along South Lakeshore Drive south of Ludington. The playful youngsters have been providing excellent entertainment for the Sholteys and their guests. F4 at 1/500, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 700mm

The calendar still says it is spring but this mid-June view through my large telephoto lens at South Haven beach sure looks and feels like summer to me. It is a splendid day to be on the Lake Michigan shoreline photographing Week 24 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute." F6.3 at 1/1000, ISO 200, 300mm lens at 300mm

A seagull feather catches my eye after the wind brought it to rest amidst dune grass in the natural area north of Oval Beach at Saugatuck. The Saugatuck Natural Area beach scene looks even better to me as I move in close with my macro lens, causing the foreground and background to become soft and dreamlike. F3.3 at 1/500, ISO 800, 105mm lens at 105mm

I stand atop a dune at Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan, looking northward into the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. More than 170 acres of rolling, open dunes, wetland, and woods are now accessible to the public for non-motorized recreation as a result of a $19 million land acquisition made through grants and donations to the West Michigan Land Conservancy. F6.3 at 1/6, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Hoary puccoon flowers stand out amidst the rolling dunes of the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. These flowers are among the many natural gems waiting to be discovered here by hikers and photographers. The Natural Resources Trust Fund provided more than half the $19 million needed to purchase and preserve the 173 acres of prime real estate for the public. More than 900 families and individuals have pitched in to help make the land acquisition possible. F5.6 at 1/60, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

A wave bursts over one of the pilings left from a dock that once jutted out into Lake Michigan at Oval Beach in Saugatuck. I like the repetitive patterns of the worn pilings and the way the waves and light play on them at sunset on a June evening. F8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 32mm

For over 10 years I have dreamed of making this photograph. It has been no secret that I love to make photographs while standing in the water, but I always had to be very careful to not get my camera too wet. Today, I no longer had to worry about my camera staying dry. A waterproof camera housing allowed me to get the immediacy that I have always dreamed about within the rolling breakers of Lake Michigan. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11.5mm

A friend of mine is letting me borrow a professional underwater housing for my Nikon D7000 camera body. He also loaned me his 10-17mm lens that works well with the housing. Today was my first crack at using the new equipment and I loved every second of it. Lake Michigan was very refreshing today. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11mm

For this photograph, my camera was completely underwater in Lake Michigan, safe inside a professional underwater housing. With today's bright sunshine and clear blue sky, I was able to capture good detail below the water line today. I am looking forward to shooting many more photos with this amazing piece of technology! F6.3 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 12mm

Of the five good shots I made today in Lake Michigan while using a waterproof housing for my camera, this is by far my favorite. I love making abstract art and I have always enjoyed getting my camera very close to the surface of the water, so it was a real treat to dunk my camera underwater in order to create a fresh abstract view. F6.3 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 13mm

I love studying the work of other photographers around the world. One of my new favorite shooters is Clark Little. Clark lives in Hawaii and is famous for shooting breaking waves while floating in the water with a waterproof housing for his camera gear. With the help of a friend who loaned me his underwater housing for my Nikon D7000 camera body, I was able to shoot a photo today in Lake Michigan that is inspired by Clark Little's photographs. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11.5mm

I have always wanted to try skim boarding on the shores of Lake Michigan, but have never had the opportunity. Logan Hansen, a 17 year old from Battle Creek, Michigan, made skim boarding look easy today on the beach at South Haven. Logan practices as often as he can and has been skim boarding for four years. I think it would take most people a lifetime to reach his level of skill. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 600mm lens at 600mm

Seagulls are beautiful birds. A lot of people don't like them and I have even heard people call them "flying rats." Personally, I love seagulls and I never get tired of watching them adapt to the weather throughout the year on the shores of Lake Michigan. F5.6 at 1/2500, ISO 400, 600mm lens at 600mm

What I like most about this photograph is its timeless nature. It is hard to tell if this photograph was taken in the 1950s with black and white film, or if it was taken today. One thing is for sure; it is definitely a Pure Michigan moment on the pier in South Haven, Michigan. F14 at 1/640, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 130mm

Living in Ludington my whole life, I have seen some pretty cool sand sculptures over the years, but this simple acoustic guitar is one of the best I have seen. Corinne Gahan and Beth Carpenter, both from Three Rivers, Michigan, built this wonderful piece of art on the shores of South Haven, Michigan earlier today. My favorite detail of their sand guitar is the seaweed they used for the strings. F13 at 1/400, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Tonight was my first ever visit to Saugatuck. My dad and I paid the six dollar parking fee at Oval Beach and spent an hour exploring the area before sunset. I put my tripod in the water tonight and made this image just before the sun disappeared below the horizon line. The warm sunshine was helping to fight the cool breeze coming off of Lake Michigan. F22 at 1/5, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

By previsualizing what I wanted in this scene, I did not have to shoot many photographs in order to capture this image. I knew I wanted an oval-shaped wave to come in below my feet. Because of the shape of the shoreline at this spot along Lake Michigan at Oval Beach, I knew if I waited long enough, an oval shaped wave would come along. Five minutes after setting up, I had my previsualized image in the bank. F8 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

How often do I drive by the crops in Michigan farm fields without giving much thought to what a contribution American farmers make to our great nation? I tend instead to be focused on the beauty of these crops and farmlands as I travel the highways and byways of Michigan. This farm crop was visual food for my artistic soul when I discovered it while driving along Victory Drive in rural Mason County. F22 at 1/15, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

When I see "amber waves of grain" in the American landscape, I feel blessed to live in America where we have so much farmland and an abundance of food. I appreciate Michigan farms like the Andersen farm on Andersen Road in northern Mason County. F22 at 1/30, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 175mm

Driving along a dirt road at Gun Lake in eastern Mason County I encounter a slower form of transportation. I stop the car and lie down on the ground to get face-to-face to better see and show the beauty of this creature before he finishes crossing the road. Since I have interrupted his journey across the road, I make certain he makes it all the way across before I drive away. F4.5 at 1/250, ISO 320, 80-200mm lens at 200mm