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I hope everyone gets an opportunity someday to see Michigan farms and homesteads from above. The view today of this majestic farm in Eastern Mason County near the Pere Marquette River made me proud to be a Michigander. F9 at 1/400, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

After I dropped the kids off to their dad for his weekend, I drove home from Hart the backway, through Pentwater. On my way there, on Lake Road, I came across this field of overgrown asparagus. I’ve always liked the way that it looks! The grain in the wood of this barn was the perfect subject to place with it. The hardest part was steadying the tripod against the wind!

Bicycle tours are a great way to see Michigan and get a lot of exercise in the process. Participants in the Standale Baptist Church summer bike tour pedal through the West Michigan countryside en route to Ludington on a sunny summer morning. F4.5 at 1/4000, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Michigan is a horse-lovers state. With more than 150,000 horses owned by Michiganders, it is no wonder that an appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdales in West Michigan is a major attraction. Today the Clydesdale East Coast Team has arrived at the Mason County Fairgrounds. Before the week is out, tens of thousands of people will have the opportunity to view Mick and the rest of the eight-horse hitch. I am excited to get this sneak peek before their public appearances in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ludington Beverage. The company has been owned and operated by my grandparents, parents and currently by my brother, Budde. F3.2 at 1/100, ISO 1600, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

The sweeping clouds of October darken the foreground of this scene, while the golden light of sunrise peeks through a break in the clouds. I love the dramatic light of October, especially in Michigan. F8.0 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

Nothing brightens my photographic day more than finding sunflowers in the Michigan countryside. We got tipped off about a stand of sunflowers growing at the Stakenas farm on US31 north of Scottville. The afternoon backlighting gives the sunflowers translucent brilliance and definition. F8 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

Warren Weaver finishes cutting another row of hay with his giant John Deere chopper on an August afternoon. The Stakenas farm is one of the biggest farming operations in West Michigan. The Stakenas family has been farming their land north of Scottville, Michigan for several generations. F8 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

While taking back roads up to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore tonight, we drove by this old McCormick-Deering tractor. I had my dad turn the Suburban around so I could hop out and make this photograph. Both the tractor and the massive old maple tree are timeless beauties. I wonder which one is older? F10 at 1/125, ISO 400, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Local knowledge and connections are invaluable when it comes to outdoor photography. One of the Stakenas boys from Scottville passed word onto us that they had some beautiful sunflowers growing on their land across the road from their farm on US31. Luckily for us, the first attempt turned out great because of the gorgeous light hitting the sunflowers. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 600mm lens at 840mm

I wish I knew the story behind this abandoned home on First Street in Scottville, Michigan. Tonight, the light was hitting the tops of the surrounding trees and the upper story of the old homestead. Normally, when I see this house, it looks haunted and a bit scary. On this night it looked beautiful and gave me a sense of hope..

These cows along Countyline Road are a bright spot in a sad day for me. I am on my way home from Manistee, where one of my best Coast Guard friends, Tom Rau, died today. I taught Tom how to take better pictures for his boating safety articles. Hopefully, he would approve of this shot. F4.0 at 1/500, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 135 mm

Timing in photography is everything. Three weeks earlier on a Wednesday this farm field near Yuba, Michigan, northeast of Traverse City was filled with sunflowers in full bloom. I made a good image that day but really wanted to return during one of our Tuesdays Project shoots. Today, my son Brad and I return to find only a handful of sunflowers still in bloom. We make the most of the late bloomers. F18 at 1/500, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

With the bright sun overhead, I positioned myself so that I could photograph the sunlight coming through this beautiful little sunflower, while still having the farm and clouds in the background. This photograph makes me feel warm and happy. F22 at 1/250, ISO 400, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

I have driven by this barn a hundred times on US31 north of Traverse City, but never stopped to make photographs of it. With today's beautiful clouds and fall-like quality of the light, I knew it would be worth my time to stop and get my camera out. I am so glad that I took the time to make this photograph. F8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 20mm

I had never really noticed this old barn and silo just off the road of US-31 between Scottville and Manistee. The bright red bush in front of the barn is what I first noticed while driving down the highway. I turned around and got out and then I waited about fifteen minutes for the clouds to move into the correct spots to make a stronger image. I wanted the clouds to mimic the shape of the barn.

Keeping on keeping on, a man and his horse and buggy made their way through a snowstorm during a long, hard 1980s Michigan winter. Fruit trees on a farm in Riverton Township of Mason County were barely visible as they traveled Schwass Road. I admired the perseverance of both the man and the horse

Did you know that Michigan has more horses than almost any state in the Union? These particular riders and horses were photographed on US31 on the way into Traverse City, Michigan. They are actually part of a giant iron gate at the entrance of the Walton horse ranch. Cameras do lie! F8 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 46mm

One of the most unusual looking Michigan farm animals I have ever seen poses statuesquely atop a hill as Brad and I are driving down a country road northeast of Elk Rapids, Michigan. The stout Boer goat's body looks big enough to be a calf or small pony but the long ears let us know it is indeed a goat. I can't resist making this image to share with our "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute" followers. F7.1 at 1/500, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 200mm