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Looking like giant Oreo cookies, these striking cattle graced Larry and Jo Sholtey’s Beef and Bees Farm along South Lakeshore Drive between Ludington and Pentwater. Commonly referred to as Oreo Cookie cows, they are more accurately named belted Galloways, a rare breed of Scottish beef cattle. Larry Sholtey had grown up on a farm. He and Jo raised and showed the distinctive, thick-coated cattle for many years after their retirement from Ludington High School, where Jo taught and Larry was principal. I always enjoyed seeing the “Cookie Cows,” occasionally stopping when I thought I saw the makings of a good photograph. I made several images over the years that pleased me but none that wowed me. Then one summer afternoon I spotted them grazing on some Queen Anne’s Lace in a corner of their pasture. I couldn’t stop fast enough. I had not visualized this picture, but I instantly recognized how extraordinary it was. Untold numbers of passersby enjoyed seeing Larry and Jo’s cattle until Larry became too ill to care for them. I will always be grateful to Jo and Larry, for happily and graciously sharing these beautiful creatures with me and countless other passersby

This fat barn cat owned by my Papa Bill and Nana Bev was fixated on the small song birds that were fluttered around the bird feeder. I was on the hunt for a photograph of the albino squirrel that my grandparents kept seeing. This cat was on the hunt for his next tasty treat. Neither of us were successful in our hunts today.

Underwater Lincoln River

Blasted

Last night after I got done watching a movie at the theater, I drove out to the First Curve on M116 at the Ludington State Park to see if the Northern Lights were out. I knew they had been out the night before, but the clouds were so thick in our area, you couldn't get a good photo of them. The application, Aurora Forecast, that I use on my iPhone, was measuring a level 5 on the KP scale. Usually at a level 5, you can see a tiny bit of color with a trained eye and some of the white pillars if they are out, but your camera will pick up the color much better. Standing in the parking lot of the First Curve, I could see the white pillars, but no color. It took me a few minutes to get my boots, warm clothes, headlamp, and hat on and to get my camera pre-set at the truck. I hustled up the small dune to the north of where I parked with my camera and tripod and this was the first exposure I made. It turned out to be the best shot of the night because the light show was short lived. The red light in the foreground is from a car's headlights as it was approaching from behind me at the very end of the exposure. I was fired up to say the least.

Legends Deer Ranch

Team Reed photographers Brad Reed, Rachel Gaudette, Dustin Kunkel and I were teaching a five-day workshop at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park at the west end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in October 2018 when I made this image at often-overlooked, Overlooked Falls. The fifth day in a row of rain didn’t stop us or our workshop students from finding and making good photographs. This “bad weather” workshop reconfirmed for me what I already knew; rain can be an outdoor photographer’s friend. My Nikon D850 and I survived and thrived in the rain.

If you own a copy of our 365 book, look at my Day 309 of Week 45. You will see a photo of this house. I have always loved Dick and Kathy Bourgault’s house. When it came up for sale a few months ago and I got a personal tour from Dick, it was a God moment for me. I bought the house two days later. The kids and I love our new house, especially on beautiful winter days.

Legends Deer Ranch

After leaving a Valentine

Proud as a peacock, a rooster parades about its pen an hour after crowing in another summer day on a small family farm north of Custer.

The skill and determination of the anglers who surf fish along the Lake Michigan shoreline is inspiring. Wind, waves, rain, and even lightning do not appear to deter the fishing desire of the most aggressive anglers.

Winter sunrises can occasionally be amazing. Early indications are that this morning's sunrise could be one of those. I quickly set up the camera on the tripod on the deck of our home at Crosswinds. After a few minutes waiting for peak color, presto! F8.0 at 1/6, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a photographer's paradise. I could spend a lifetime exploring and photographing the park without getting bored. Every few steps I can find something that catches my eye. Miners Beach Falls is a popular destination for the thousands of visitors to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Looking like giant Oreo cookies, these striking cattle graced Larry and Jo Sholtey’s Beef and Bees Farm along South Lakeshore Drive between Ludington and Pentwater. Commonly referred to as Oreo Cookie cows, they are more accurately named belted Galloways, a rare breed of Scottish beef cattle. Larry Sholtey had grown up on a farm. He and Jo raised and showed the distinctive, thick-coated cattle for many years after their retirement from Ludington High School, where Jo taught and Larry was principal. I always enjoyed seeing the “Cookie Cows,” occasionally stopping when I thought I saw the makings of a good photograph. I made several images over the years that pleased me but none that wowed me. Then one summer afternoon I spotted them grazing on some Queen Anne’s Lace in a corner of their pasture. I couldn’t stop fast enough. I had not visualized this picture, but I instantly recognized how extraordinary it was. Untold numbers of passersby enjoyed seeing Larry and Jo’s cattle until Larry became too ill to care for them. I will always be grateful to Jo and Larry, for happily and graciously sharing these beautiful creatures with me and countless other passersby

A momentary lull in the wind stops the nearby snow from blowing long enough for me to make an image of the intriguing patterns of the sand, snow, fences, and waves along the Lake Michigan shoreline today.

I remember a teacher asking me in middle school what animal I would be if I had a choice. The entire class roared with laughter when I said a squirrel. The teacher wanted to know why. I proudly stated that squirrels make people laugh and lots of girls think they are cute.

Summer Rush

Ludington Light Redone

Blazing Light