Search

Big Sable Point Lighthouse has a lot of history. As for our family, both my brother Budde and son Tad got engaged at the top of the 1865 structure. On this April day, I made this image then spotted a couple at the water's edge obviously getting engaged. I recorded their historic moment with my camera from a distance and later gave them a photograph.

Workshop at Ludington State Park

Mirror of Heaven

 

Workshop at Ludington State Park

Wednesday May

The sunrise this morning over Harbor View Marina is gorgeous. I have heard the saying "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning!" but I don't think this sailor has anything to worry about. F22.0 at 5.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I often stand for long periods of time and watch the vibrant colors dance on top of the water. I find it visually stimulating and very relaxing. This morning, the surface of Hamlin Lake was dancing in blue.

Super Moon

I admire the craftsmanship and the beauty of Jeff LaPrad's wooden vessel as it sails past me onto Lake Michigan into another spectacular Ludington sunset. I have seen the handmade sailboat before and longed to be able to photograph it closer to my vantage point. Tonight I am on the end of the South Breakwater and the view is picture perfect. F3.2 at 1/800, ISO 400, 80-200 mm at 200 mm

I love it when a picture comes together. I have passed this beautifully cared for old barn many times while traveling M22 on Old Mission Peninsula. Today, at the peak of blossom time, it stands out like never before.

The late afternoon sun made the Lake Michigan shoreline dance today in South Haven. I enjoyed watching this sailboat catch the wind and dart across the horizon. F22 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

I love the iconic nature of this photograph. A gorgeous sailboat, a person fishing off the pier, and a beautiful Lake Michigan Lighthouse all bathed in blue and silver light. I captured this photo today 7:15 p.m. on the shoreline at South Haven, Michigan. F20 at 1/640, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 160mm

Big Sable in April Light - Black and white

The bold paint job on Big Point Sable Light distinguishes it from other lighthouses along the Lake Michigan coast by day. By night its "fixed white light" shines continuously to enable mariners to distinguish it from other lighthouses in the region whose lights flash at various intervals.

The Start of a Legend

I barely got in position in time to make my all-time favorite image of the Mackinac Bridge on March 20, 2012. It was the 12th Tuesday of 2012, and Brad and I were out early to photograph the foggy sunrise for our year-long project to showcase the beauty of Michigan all day every Tuesday of the year for our book, Tuesdays with Todd & Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute. Brad and the two other members of our Team Reed full-time staff at the time, Sarah Genson and Rachel Gaudette, shot out of my Suburban when we reached our preselected shooting spot in the Straits of Mackinac. They ran like jackrabbits to the shore’s edge and began shooting the fast-changing, gloriously atmospheric scene in front of them. As I was bringing up the rear, I spotted a cloud formation that looked a lot like a bear. The trouble was, my view of the cloud bear was partially obstructed by the south tower of the five-mile-long suspension bridge connecting Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. I know how fast cloud shapes change. I knew if I could get far enough, quickly enough, to the east I might have a shot at lining up the cloud bear right between the towers. I ran like I was being chased by a bear. I must have run 250 lung-busting yards before the bridge in the middle ground and cloud bear in the background lined up from my perspective. I slammed down the tripod and fired off a quick shot to capture what I saw while it looked almost perfect. Then I took a momentary physical and mental deep breath and began analyzing at warp speed how to improve the image. I quickly shifted my tripod less than two feet to the left to make the rocks in the foreground layer better balance with the middle and background layers. The cloud bear continued to cooperate. I have taught photographers for years “Clouds are your friends.” They become your very best friends when they are exactly the right shape in exactly the right place. I love clouds, and I love bears. Seeing this view, experiencing the chase and coming away with an even better image than I had envisioned is like winning my personal and private world series of Michigan outdoor photography. This image remains a winner for me. A lot of visitors to our gallery have appreciated it, even before spotting the cloud bear. Children, with their keen, fresh eyes excited about the world they see, tend to be quickest to spot the bear and other imaginary creatures. But once spotted by viewers or pointed out to them, smiles invariably follow. That makes me happy, particularly because I know how much of myself went into making the image.

Ludington State Park May Workshop