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As I lay on my stomach at the end of the inner North breakwall, an icy cold wave crashed over my head. I braced myself for the cold shock and pressed the shutter button at the same time. It all happened so fast, that I was not sure if I captured the moment. I continued to lie in the snow and shoot, but another wave never came. Fortunately, my first shot turned out.

At one summer art fair when I was a young boy, I remember hearing a gentleman say to my dad, "That isn't art, it's just a photograph!" Well, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, and I enjoy the fact that art is subjective. I enjoy making images like this one, where an object that might go unnoticed takes on a new appearance.

I photographed two deer in a stand of sumac and was pleased with the shot until I saw this view of the Ludington South Breakwater Light right after sunset. The tube-shaped light tower is usually unattractive but tonight it looks like a lit candle dripping wax. I concentrate on keeping my biggest lens still on the tripod. F4.0 at 1/50, ISO 800, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

If I had a million dollars, I would buy the three-foot-square piece of land my tripod is sitting on along M-22. I would leave the tripod there for countless others to physically stand in this spot and take in the awe-inspiring view I am enjoying of the Arcadia Lutheran church immersed in a sea of fall color.

I have long been fascinated by the big wooden reels used for storage and repair of large commercial fishing nets. This reel is mounted along the channel of Fishtown in Leland, Michigan, near Carlson's Fisheries. I wonder if it is still used today.

Lake McDonald

I used to cross Indian Bridge every day on the bus going to and from school. Now, I rarely visit it. I decided to take a drive and recall some favorite memories singing with friends over that bridge on our hour-long ride home. The Pere Marquette River was especially peaceful this evening.

Trying to show the softness of these white pine needles, I decided to zoom my telephoto lens during a long exposure. I made several shots at different shutter speeds and varied the speed of zooming. This shot captured the essence of what I felt.

Songbirds have a way of making everyone smile. This little guy is so round and cute, and he gives me hope of a nearing spring. F3.5 at 1/250, ISO 640, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

A few minutes before making this image, my dad and I were forced back into the truck by pouring rain while photographing the Croton Dam. We decided to head toward Grand Rapids, but out of nowhere, the rain changed to a slight drizzle and the sun started shining. The earth around us lit up with electric light. We quickly spotted this tree and pulled off the road to make this image. Many of the leaves had large dark spots on them, but they still looked perfect to me.

It is a glorious morning and I am blessed to be traveling M22 today looking for fall color pictures and anything else that catches my photographic eye. Just north of Onekama I turn off the highway and find myself with a spectacular birds eye view of beautiful Portage Lake.

Time appears to have passed by this old fishing net marker buoy. It rests against one of the old buildings still standing at Fishtown in Leland, Michigan.

Tuesdays With Todd and Brad Reed

On our way to an indoor water park in Frankenmuth, Michigan, this red barn and its silver metal roof glistened in the sunlight. I pulled off into the ditch and quickly made this image, so we weren’t late to the water park. Frankenmuth is definitely one of Michigan’s coolest towns!

Jagged icicles in the foreground create a unique look at the Lake Michigan shoreline. The ice formation changed before my eyes with each powerful wave that pummeled the shore.

With thousands of travelers a year on the trails at the Ludington State Park, it is easy to find your way through the woods and deep into the forest.

I am unhappy I have not found a Valentine's Day picture yet when it dawns on me that this Kubota tractor looks happy as can be. Sometimes pictures appear when and where you least expect them; the smiling plow tractor works throughout the winter at Crosswinds, where our home is. F8.0 at 1/160, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 185 mm

This stylish yet functional weathervane definitely grabs your attention as it "swims" into the wind in Fishtown at Leland harbor.

365 Week

This small section of woods by my late Aunt Mary and Bespop’s (grandpa) drive is always so captivating this time of year. The sun crosses its path in the best way.