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Waves blast skyward upon striking the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse during a fall gale. I have waited patiently for the magic storm light to show up and intensify the view.

Fisherman's Sunrise

Fall in Mason County

Grandiose

Bass Lake Splendor

October 25 2013

Todd Reed

I watched in awe for two hours as wave after enormous wave slammed into the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse on February 24, 2019. I have rarely witnessed or photographed bigger or more frequent waves exploding against the seemingly invincible structure. Many of my several hundred exposures show water flying up to 100 feet in the air and the lighthouse nowhere to be seen. Persistence paid off when I finally caught one huge descending wave still higher than the lighthouse as the next one shot skyward above the lighthouse during its ascension. I had never seen two waves tower above the Ludington lighthouse at once. I was fortunate to artistically document the rare moment.

I spent years on Coast Guard boats watching Lake Michigan waves curl and break. Their power and beauty demanded my attention then and commanded me to photograph them.

I spent years on Coast Guard boats watching Lake Michigan waves curl and break. Their power and beauty demanded my attention then and commanded me to photograph them.

17-Nov

365 Week 41

October Light

October 10 2012

I was mesmerized by the clouds tonight and loved how they all seemed to be radiating out from the sun. I noticed how it looked like the sun had a giant set of wings. After realizing that, I tried for over 20 minutes to capture a wave that would look like a reflection of the clouds. The last wave I shot before the rain started pouring had the shape of wings I was looking for.

Emerald Sea

Tuesdays With Todd and Brad Reed

The long and winding, bumpy, two-track drive to Crisp Point Lighthouse was a big part of the adventure of going there on September 30, 2014. The moody El Greco sky over the lighthouse and Lake Superior as darkness fell added to the drama as I found a vantage where the sensor of my Nikon D800 digital camera, with a 30-second exposure, could accumulate what little light was there. I love how well digital cameras see in the dark!

I made this image of the northern lights last night while standing next to my dad on a tall dune near the Beach House inside the Ludington State Park. The lights were barely visible for several hours, but they erupted for less than one minute near midnight. I have never seen as many stars in the sky as I did that night.

Out of Nowhere