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I have been known to do crazy things to get a photograph. On this occasion, I was frustrated because I could not position myself to capture this sailboat and its reflection, yet omit the other boats from the scene. I had two options; climb a tree along side of the road, or stand on the roof of my car. My car still has a large dent in the roof.

Calm water, geese, fog, and a colorful sunrise are common ingredients in outdoor photography. When you combine all four of them in one photograph, you have a recipe for success.

I am a total creature of habit. When I am out driving around looking for photographs, I have realized that I always drive to the same places and take the same roads. Today I forced myself to find a road I had never been down. This scene was a great surprise when I turned east on Jagger Road off of Jebavy Drive. F22.0 at 0.4, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 35 mm

Morning Light on Lost Lake

Calm water, geese, fog, and a colorful sunrise are common ingredients in outdoor photography. When you combine all four of them in one photograph, you have a recipe for success.

I have never been good at painting, but if I were, this is the kind of art I would try to create with a paintbrush. I thank God my dad helped me discover my inner artist with a camera. I also thank God for creating the Pere Marquette River. My family has spent our lives on or near the internationally-known water system.

When I finished photographing some pine trees covered in snow near Bear Lake, Michigan, I turned around slowly in waist deep snow to walk back to my truck. As I turned, I was pleasantly surprised with this scene. The pine tree shot was cool, but this scene was world class. I love these kinds of photographic surprises!

South Bayou of Hamlin Lake

Not Lost Anymore

Explore Glacier

A good portion of the homes and cottages on Bass Lake between Ludington and Pentwater are seasonal. As I was capturing the beautiful sunrise this morning on the southwest corner of the lake, I imagined the people who own and rent these homes in the summer months can't stop thinking about Bass Lake all year long.

South Bayou Magic

This scene reminds me of the one-on-one battle between man and fish Ernest Hemingway wrote about in The Old Man and the Sea. Serious fishermen are like serious photographers; they dream day and night of being there to experience those exhilarating, unforgettable moments they can't imagine living without. For some it goes beyond being a pastime; it is an important part of their being.

I wonder how many times since I was a young boy that I have climbed to the top of the dunes on Hamlin Lake to take in this incredible natural view. My son Brad looks like an ant in the distance as he makes his way to a spot from which he plans to make a more intimate image of the landscape. I can't get back here soon enough!

Tuesdays With Todd and Brad Reed

Still so dark the stars were brilliant in dawn’s earliest light, I made this image of a portion of the Island Trail at Ludington State Park while my son Brad was demonstrating to our photography workshop students how much detail and color cameras could record. We both made 30-second exposures. I was very pleased with how my tripod-mounted Nikon D850 rendered the scene.

Lake McDonald Magic

Luci

I could see the makings of a colorful sunrise as my kids got on the bus. I drove quickly to “The Point”, one of my favorite spots on our family farm. Hesitating slightly at the thought of getting my minivan stuck in the snow, I decided it was worth the risk. The Pere Marquette River glowed pink, just as I had envisioned.