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The Ludington House looks especially pretty today. Owners Kris and Bill Stumpf recently repainted the 1878 lumber era mansion, which they operate as a bed and breakfast. The new color scheme makes the Victorian home look grand. The icicles add a beautiful touch to the painted lady this morning. F11.0 at 1/160, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 86 mm

As a team-building exercise to kick off the busy summer selling season, my dad and I took many of our staff members out shooting with us today. We started the morning shooting the sunrise at Bass Lake, then we shot sailboats on Pentwater Lake. Now we have moved to Christofferson Farms on Morton Road south of Ludington. As I am composing this photograph, I am certain I will be back in the fall to pick the fruit off these same trees with my wife and kids; we enjoy going there every fall.

My photographer son Brad and I study light as intensely as some people study engineering. We cannot build strong photographs without excellent light quality. Today, May 7, my birthday treat is amazing light and amazing color along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Point Betsie. What a gift Mother Nature has presented!

One of the most spectacular lightning storms I have witnessed in my lifetime showed up on my wife Debbie’s birthday, September 4, 2014. We were guests at my Aunt Carol Garneau’s home on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Ludington Harbor. While photographing bolt after bolt as cells of the storm rolled past me for more than an hour, this granddaddy of them all exploded over the top of the Ludington lighthouse. I made this 30-second time-exposure image with my 500-millimeter Nikon telephoto lens from an open window of Auntie Carol’s second floor art room. I named it Positive Energy because she was always so positive and lit up the world with her presence.

I have photographed many a fox, but never have I seen one more beautifully groomed than this fox kit that was just curious enough to sit down and check me out for a few seconds at the edge of some woods near the Lake Michigan shoreline. I was hidden behind some trees in a nearby woods. The young fox was trotting when I fired off a shot. Even though I was 30 yards away, the sound of the shutter did not go undetected. The curious fox froze, sat down and listened. It couldn’t have posed more perfectly. I fired this shot, and the kit decided this second unfamiliar sound was reason enough to head for hiding at a slow trot.

This forest along US31 near the Manistee County and Benzie County line stopped me in my tracks tonight on my way north to photograph the Mackinac Bridge in the dark. The absence of color in this scene is what really excited me. My kids love this image because it reminds them of the movie Frozen. D800, F22 at 0.3, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Using a shutter speed of only 1/200 of a second with a 600mm telephoto lens allowed me to partially freeze the body of the snowy owl, yet still show the movement of his wings. However, if this scene unfolded in front of me again, I would shoot it at 1/320 of a second in order to have the owl's face a bit sharper. Experience is the best teacher.

If you look closely at this photo, you can see a tiny portion of the light blue sky showing through the other end of this giant rolling Lake Michigan wave. The wave made a complete barrel and took me with it. It was a ride that I can't wait to take again with my camera. Next time, I hope to have the Ludington Lighthouse show up in the opening of the barrel wave. F7.1 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

Tuesdays With Todd and Brad Reed

Legends Ranch

Onekema

Red White and Blue Sailboat

Eben Ice Caves

Hamlin Lake is one of Michigan’s largest man-made lakes and is certainly one of the most popular. The lake is named after Hannibal Hamlin, who was Vice President of United States under Abraham Lincoln. He lived before the advent of human flight, so sadly, he never got to see this view of his namesake.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer is hoisted to a Coast Guard MH65 Dolphin helicopter during training offshore from Ludington in the late 1990s. Station Ludington’s 44-foot motor lifeboat stands by, its crew ready to assist and conduct joint training with the helicopter crew. The Coast Guard established its rescue swimmer program in 1984 to increase its ability to save mariners, downed aviators, stranded hurricane victims, injured hikers and others in distress.

Old Barn Near Brethren

Pentwater North Pierhead Light attracts many people on summer nights, but its main purpose is to help guide boats into Pentwater harbor. Its conical tower stands 43-feet high to help mariners, find the harbor by day. By night, a green light on top of the tower flashes to aid boaters in finding the harbor entrance.

Watching from atop the Ridge Trail as this lone vessel sailed north on a September Lake Michigan cruise, I couldn't help but think of the hundreds of times I had cruised the same waters aboard Coast Guard rescue boats. When not too busy focusing on a mission, I was always awe-struck by the natural beauty and remoteness of the dunes and forests these recreational voyagers were undoubtedly appreciating this day. It made me long for those Coast Guard boat rides, both the calm ones and the really rough ones. Big Point Sable is on average the windiest spot on Lake Michigan.

My dad is fond of saying, "Clouds are your friends!" This photograph is all about the quality of the light that is bouncing off the clouds and onto the water.