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The scenic Lakeshore Drive bridge, over the water intake area of the huge Ludington Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant, can provide surreal and vast night views. It can be as spectacular as a space scene from a "Star Trek" movie. On this August night, the visual impact of earthly lights and celestial lights over Lake Michigan stunned me as I rushed to find the best vantage point to capture this visual encounter.

Large telephoto lenses are great for photographing wildlife because they allow you to keep your distance from the subject. Many times the subject doesn't even know it is being photographed and its behavior will continue in its natural state. This great blue heron was focused on finding fish in Hamlin Lake and was not bothered by me while I photographed it with a 1050-millimeter telephoto lens.

Tonight there were more boats salmon fishing near the Ludington harbor than I have ever seen, and several of them were busy catching fish. I wanted to be out there fishing with my older brother, but he wasn't able to make it home this year. Maybe next year! F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 1000, 70-200 mm lens at 160 mm

I have photographed this tree on Kinney Road just east of Old US31 several times. Today, the clouds, fog, and radiant sunlight are all working together to make this scene look extraordinary. Photography is wonderful therapy and is good for my soul.

Kayakers enjoy the Michigan outdoors on West Bay in Traverse City while sailboats stay at their moorings until their crews have the time to get them back underway. Even an occasional voyage on Michigan waters tends to restore my soul. I am sure others feel reborn too when they set sail.

Carferry with Storm Clouds

The Ludington Dow Chemical plant stands out as it towers over the Pere Marquette River flats south of Ludington. Motorists entering or leaving Ludington by way of Pere Marquette Highway (old U.S. 31) often see the plant framed against dramatic evening skies.

A rough-legged hawk stands out against a backdrop of pine trees outside the Great Lakes Visitors Center at Ludington State Park. The rehabilitating bird was being held by Joe Rogers of Wildlife Recovery Association for park visitors to see and learn about. Wildlife Recovery cares for injured and orphaned wildlife and sets free those that are ready to re-enter the wild.

A Great Night At Big Sable

We took another family hike today along the Sauble River at the Ludington State Park. Not far from the dam, I made this image of some people enjoying their quiet kayaking adventure together. I really loved the reflection of the trees in the water and the fun clouds in the background.

The Lake Michigan Carferry Badger passes beneath a rainbow on the same October morning I witnessed the other end of the same rainbow appear to land upon a golden dune near my home south of Ludington.

I never tire of watching the carferry Badger sail into Ludington harbor. Of the thousands of times I have seen this grand ship steam into port, this October evening was one of the most spectacular. My wife and I were enjoying dinner at a relative's Crosswinds Estates home, near the harbor mouth, when the Badger and sunset-lit storm clouds approached Ludington simultaneously. Fortunately, I excused myself from the dinner table long enough to shoot as the ship entered the harbor.

Seeing one bald eagle on a perch from 30 yards away is a rush; seeing a pair of eagles from that distance is breathtaking. It is no wonder why the founding fathers of this great nation chose the bald eagle to represent the pride of America. Eagles are majestic and powerful looking creatures, and when you see how large their talons are, you quickly respect them as well.

Don't be afraid to rotate your camera to the vertical position. We often find many new workshop students are hesitant to see the world around them vertically. Practice making photographs both horizontally and vertically.

Rising dramatically from the Silver Lake shoreline, sections of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes look as grand as the Egyptian Pyramids to me on a September day. The light and shadow playing on the dunes often is the best after the masses have left. We love exploring the dunes during the quieter times of year, especially during September and October when the light is often magical.

There is something about the crispness of all the blue and white colors one sees looking eastward at Round Lake from downtown Charlevoix at the height of the summer boating season. Charlevoix is one of Michigan's most picturesque and popular boating harbors. F13 at 1/80, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 15mm

Tuesdays With Todd and Brad Reed Cropped