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Today, Brad and I explored Old Mission Peninsula. There is so much to see! The Old Mission Lighthouse looked especially stunning today.

Magic light strikes the path to the Green family farm on Beaver Island. Ludington friends Tony and Betty Green invited Debbie and me to visit the 120-acre farm established by Tony's family nearly 150 years ago when they emigrated from Arranmore Island, Ireland to this Lake Michigan island. F4.0 at 1/40, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

After Rachel and I finished eating a wonderful dinner outside at the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery on Old Mission Peninsula, we grabbed our camera gear and walked to photograph the setting sun over Grand Traverse Bay. We stopped so I could make this image of the sun dancing between the trees and their shadows on the lawn of the restaurant. I love finding unexpected photographs like this one.

Our friends Paul and Lisa Cooper have turned their new homestead on South Stiles Road into a little farm they call Carn Brea. Currently they have four mini horses and four of the cutest little sheep I have ever seen. This sheep looks huggable! F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

It was another fun day in the Traverse City area photographing and exploring. We ended up at the Jolly Pumpkin for dinner and hoped to be finished eating before sunset. After dinner, we walked to a nearby beach to catch the last of the sun’s rays.

While en route home to Ludington an hour after photographing a gorgeous sunset on Lake Michigan at Leland, I am stunned and stopped by the afterglow at nearby Glen Lake. The quantity of light is mighty low but the quality of light is stunning. My trusty tripod permits my camera to accumulate enough light over time to make a good exposure. F5.6 at 30 seconds, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 20mm

For an early birthday present, Rachel bought us tickets to go parasailing over Grand Traverse Bay together. It was something I had always wanted to do. At first, she was more nervous than me, but once we got up into the air, she was all smiles and calm as could be. I was the one who was having to work really hard to relax and not freak out. I love this photo of her I made with my cell phone.

Today was the big move. Betsy and I moved into our new house near the Lincoln River in Ludington earlier today with the help of some of our strong friends. I went into our backyard and made this photo near the creek that runs through our property. F22.0 at 10.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Seemingly out of nowhere, a storm front shows up on a sunny morning on the Crosswinds beach at Ludington. I love watching with an unobstructed view of the Lake Michigan shoreline as dramatic cloud formations like this one rush toward me. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 80, iPhone camera

Brad can be a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I am not. Parasailing seemed to be just the right combination for a surprise birthday gift to him. To my surprise, I loved it! We had a blast, and definitely want to do it again with the kids!

A piece of Americana, Sleder's historic restaurant/saloon in Traverse City, has long been a stopping point for us. And so it is today. Amidst old stuffed animals on the walls, including a moose you can kiss, we have enjoyed great food and family times so good that the Reeds often seem to be on laughing gas. F10.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

Standing in front of this massive B-17 bomber at the Ludington airport tonight made me once again realize the freedoms we enjoy in America came at a very heavy cost. I was gripped with emotion as I saw the American flag flying behind this plane as the God beams rose up from the sunset. I wish I could hear every detail of every mission this Yankee Lady flew during World War II. She would tell us that "Freedom Is Not Free!" F10 at 1/80, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 32mm

The Princess of Ludington is a new ferry that gives people a shoreline cruise out of Ludington. I think this is such a great idea and an awesome thing for Ludington. I waited until the sun showed through one of the windows of the ship to click the shutter. As Sam Abell, from National Geographic would say, see more and shoot less.

It is hard to believe that fall is fast approaching. The proof is in this colorful leaf that I found in our backyard tonight. I love the fall and am looking forward to the change in season. F20.0 at 2.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

The sight of American Flags lining the front porch of the historic Epworth Hotel on the Lake Michigan shoreline north of Ludington always makes me pause and appreciate being an American. I have come here on the eve of the Fourth of July to photograph our nation's colors flying on the classic 1894 wooden structure because the scene always somehow reminds me of our American heritage. F7.1 at 1/200, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

At last, Bespop’s grapes have ripened! I have great memories of picking these with him or drinking the homemade grape juice we made from them on a cold winter day.

I am partial to the B-24 "Liberator" bombers from World War II because my grandpa, Bud Reed, was a pilot on many B-24 bombing missions. However, after seeing this B-17 "Flying Fortress" in person tonight, I have to admit that the B-17 is a much prettier aircraft than the B-24. The B-24 was larger and could carry a heavier payload of bombs, but its lines are not nearly as graceful as the B-17. F8 at 1/200, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 14mm

This is by far the roughest water and biggest waves I have attempted to photograph in using our underwater housing. Using over six hundred feet of strong line, a full body survival suit, and being tied off to one of the picnic tables at the water’s edge on Stearns Beach in Ludington, I ventured out into an angry, but beautiful Lake Michigan. I got pounded and tossed around, but it paid off.

Appropriately, one of the most famous American military aircraft of all time, the B-17 Flying Fortress, passes overhead while I am photographing American Flags at a historic hotel on the Lake Michigan shoreline. I have less than 15 seconds to change shooting gears and make this shot of the World War II bomber. F8 at 1/500, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

Lake Michigan was full of dramatic light and shadows this afternoon.