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One of the iron stanchions supporting the elevated catwalk leading to and from Manistee Lighthouse provides the perspective as I photograph the Great Lakes freighter Calumet. Coast Guard Station Manistee lies beyond the pier, its crew "Always Ready" to aid mariners in distress.

I photographed the USCGC Hollyhock in 2010 for the 365 Project while she was in Ludington for a few days. Today, my dad and I trailered our 13-foot Boston Whaler Super Sport down to Grand Haven, Michigan to photograph the Coast Guard festival for "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute." Upon arrival in Grand Haven, we were excited to see the 225-foot Hollyhock was in port and open for tours. F8 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

Today we had the first big snow of the season. I left my dad and Debbie’s condo nearby and headed down towards the Badger to look for photographs. The reflections of the 410-foot carferry and her dock into Pere Marquette Lake was picture perfect tonight after dark.

It was the first day of the 1999 sailing season for the carferry Badger. Providing a colorful sunset, it was as if nature was saluting the grand ship on her return to Ludington harbor.

The Ludington State Park Canoe Trail is one of the park's least traveled and most beautiful areas for a fall color tour. On days like this many of us ask ourselves why we don't launch a canoe more often. Time passes and too many voyages go untaken.

A canoe along the Bass Lake shoreline emerges from the snow as another winter winds down. I can imagine the many seasons of good times the canoe has helped provide its owner. For now, I like the way the vintage watercraft looks resting in the snow. F8.0 at 1/200, ISO 400, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

White Lake bustles with recreational boating traffic in the summer. On this July evening, an impressive catamaran is one of many vessels passing by White River Light Station en route for an evening cruise on Lake Michigan.

A Great Lakes freighter appears to be transporting the setting sun as it heads northward on Lake Michigan on this beautiful spring evening. After their winter tie-up, it is good to see these proud ships back plying the Great Lakes. Making this shot caps off an exciting and diverse Week 17 shooting day that began more than 18 hours earlier when Brad woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me the Northern Lights were beckoning. F4 at 1/100, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

Badger Going Out in Storm

Dream Voyage - Panoramic

What could be finer than sitting on the deck of the Weathervane Restaurant on the Charlevoix channel eating a fine meal with my wife Debbie and watching the boat traffic? I stop eating long enough to make this ringside-seat image of the outbound Beaver Island ferry Emerald Isle. The beautiful ship, the US31 drawbridge, and the Weathervane are Charlevoix icons.

The Inland Seas sailed the inland sea on Grand Traverse Bay between Traverse City and Suttons Bay on a spring morning. The 77-foot Great Lakes schooner provides inland sea science and sailing adventures regularly from Suttons Bay.

The 1004-foot-long Edwin H. Gott steams past Round Island Light in the Straits of Mackinac. The 105-foot wide Great Lakes freighter is capable of carrying a 74,100-ton cargo of taconite or other materials. F4 at 1/3200, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Salmon Fishing in July Ludington

Holy Smoke

Like ghost ships, the twin carferries Badger and Spartan emerge from the fog while docked in Ludington harbor. For as long as I can remember, I have loved viewing the ships at their docks or underway. Perhaps, the most fascinating aspect is seeing how dramatically changing light and atmosphere can change the view.

My dad and stepmom Debbie were at the Brooks and Dunn concert tonight at the DTE Energy Music Theatre so I was flying solo while teaching our 20/20 Vision Summer Workshop that we hold every Thursday in Ludington. Just as I was pointing out the two red streaks in the water from the reflection of the clouds, a sailboat passed near by. F2.8 at 1/250, ISO 640, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

My favorite tugboat, the John Henry, is back working in Ludington harbor. I get myself to the west shore of Pere Marquette Lake by 7:00 A.M., in time to compose the picture and wait five minutes for the sweetest light. F5.6 at 1/125, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 22 mm