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If this is not God’s world I don’t know what is. I waited in the dark along with my son Brad for more than an hour for the sun to peek over the mountains at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I felt like a very small person as the sun began to light the big, beautiful world around me at Lake of the Clouds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Near the main entrance of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park we came across beautiful Ash Creek, which empties into Lake Superior. This morning I lay down on my stomach in the wet sand to capture the reflections of the fall color in the slow moving water. If you look closely, you will also see the moon and its reflection. F10 at 1/100, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

Hikers pause to savor the view from the summit escarpment at Lake of the Clouds inside the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. It seems to me there must be a million colorful trees to appreciate from this incredible vantage point. I know I am going to continue to appreciate this autumn view until darkness takes it away. F13 at 1/60, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Color as far as the eye can see lies beneath and far beyond my vantage point at the summit overlooking the Lake of the Clouds. Taking in this Michigan view at this moment in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I think coming to see this Upper Peninsula treasure should be on everyone's bucket list. F22 at 20 seconds, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

It wasn't until I was in college that I learned Michigan actually has real mountains. One of my college roommates had family in the Upper Peninsula and he told stories about how beautiful the western half of the UP is. This was my first trip to the Porcupine Mountains, but it certainly won't be my last. I hope to bring Betsy and the kids here during the fall very soon. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

Can you believe this is Michigan? Who knew that Michigan has one of the world's very best spots to view fall color. You can experience this view for yourself around the beginning of October every year at the Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The park is located on the northwest tip of the Michigan's Upper Peninsula. F22 at 2.5 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 23mm

I doubt few people have gotten a view like this of the source of Hamlin Lake. Today, I went flying with Dave Johnson from Mason County Aviation to photograph fall color in Mason County. Dave got me into perfect position to shoot the area where the Sable River turns into Upper Hamlin Lake. I would love to live on the farm in the foreground of this photograph. F6.3 at 1/500, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

On July 10th of this year for Week 28 of the Tuesdays Project I shot a photo of Mike and Nancy Banninga's "boathouse" home on Upper Hamlin Lake and wrote about the great memories I have of spending time there as a kid. It was fun today seeing it from an airplane as it was surrounded by beautiful fall color. That house has a beautiful view every day of the year. F6.3 at 1/640, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

For whatever reason the human brain reacts more strongly to the color red than most other colors. The little red home on the right edge of this photo sticks out like a sore thumb in this very colorful aerial photograph that features the "narrows" of Hamlin Lake. F6.3 at 1/640, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 20mm

October sunrises in Michigan are hard to beat. You often get a mix of fog and intense color on October mornings. This shot was made from the bridge on Jebavy Drive over the Lincoln River. F10 at 0.3, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

This morning our assistant manager Rachel Gaudette and I are back at my favorite spot on her family's farm along the banks of the Pere Marquette River near Walhalla, Michigan. To make this image I had to slide on my butt down a steep clay bank. I aimed for a large tree to stop me part way down so as not to slide into the river. Luckily for my camera gear, and me, the tree did the trick. F22 at 1/10, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

Fall color can be so fun to photograph in the fog. The vibrant colors of the leaves are muted by the fog, but still help define the lines in a photograph. I made this photograph of Epworth while standing on the Lincoln River bridge. F22 at 1/6, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

This is the view of the Pere Marquette River from the upstairs bunkroom at our cabin. I never tire of gazing at this s-shaped bend of the PM River, especially on foggy mornings. F22 at 0.4, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 26mm

The fog was two-brick thick at sunrise but now it has lifted enough to give this bend of the Pere Marquette River a dreamy look. I have enjoyed watching the river flow past this spot in front of our cabin for many years. It slows me down watching the water meander downstream. F29 at 20 seconds, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 34mm

For the evening shoot of Week 47 of "Tuesdays with Todd & Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute" I decided to take another stroll along the Pere Marquette River. With very little wind the river was extremely reflective. Like usual, the reflections were more colorful and vibrant than the actual sky. F9 at 1/250, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

I have never canoed down the Pine River, but I have heard from many experienced canoers that it is one of the best rivers in Michigan for canoeing. I made this atmospheric photograph off the bridge on M37 not far from the M55 intersection. F22 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

The bird's-eye view of the Pine River while passing over the bridge on US37 near M55 is always spectacular. Today, we park our vehicles and hike onto the bridge to be able to take in the view in slow time instead of at 55 miles per hour, making the view even more impressive. F13 at 1/800, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 180mm

The South Branch of the Lincoln River looks like a dream this morning. I have passed this spot many times, knowing that on the right day there would be a picture to be made here. Today is the day. F6.3 at 30 seconds, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 48mm

Pentwater has to be one of the most picturesque villages in Michigan. With a long exposure this morning, I photographed Pentwater coming to life on a cold December morning. F5.6 at 30 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

I used my external Nikon flash to light up the foreground in this image that I made along the Island Trail at Ludington State Park. Without the flash, the foreground would have been completely black. I always have my external flash mounted on top of my camera so it is nearby when I need it. F22 at 1/4, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm