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I have successfully captured “The Triple Trees” in three seasons so far, and I am running out of days in our project. Brad and I were up north shooting today when we could see that tonight was the night for the winter shot. We raced back to the farm to set up. My camera was acting up, and I had to grab Brad’s camera to make the image before the light faded. I was thankful he happened to be there!

After making this picture and several other strong images this morning, I walked back into my dad's house with a big grin on my face. My sister-in-law, Stephanie Reed, wanted to know what the smirk was for. I showed her the back of my camera and told her that I love winter along Lake Michigan. F8.0 at 1/100, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 24 mm

The Sauble River Outlet at the Ludington State Park was half frozen this morning. We are always looking for s-curves in nature to include in our photographs. The outlet can change shape drastically by the day. Today the ice helped define the s-curve I was looking for.

I have chased these birds and a hundred others for several blocks, taking pictures periodically, but knowing I was not making a strong picture. Now I finally have a handful of them right where I want them. F5.0 at 1/500, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

My dad helped the kids make these yule logs for their parents. It was very sweet to see their excitement as they handed me this gift.

I have really enjoyed buying Christmas ornaments for Julia and Ethan every year to add to our tree. Someday when my kids are grown, I hope they enjoy seeing these ornaments on their parents' tree as much as I enjoy seeing my old ornaments on my parents' Christmas trees every year. F2.8 at 0.3, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 22 mm

We are so blessed to have the Ludington State Park in our backyard. People often ask us where our favorite to place to shoot photographs is. Without hesitation, I always say the Ludington State Park. These 5,300 acres are diverse, natural, and beautiful.

I have shot “The Triple Trees” from the opposite direction four times for this project. It seemed fitting to capture the lane and favorite spot from this view. The kids and I have walked this lane many times in our lifetime. We are so blessed to have the farm to explore and create memories.

Sitting in my living room during a family Christmas gathering, I noticed how these icicles looked like a hand and fingers. I set the camera to a slower shutter speed to capture the dripping water coming off the pinky finger. F16.0 at 0.3, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 200 mm

366 Days. Impossible. That is what I thought when Brad asked me to join him on this project. There were days I didn’t think I would make it. Couldn’t make it. I took solitude at the beach tonight, on New Year’s Eve. Reflecting on the past year. On our 366 Project, on COVID-19, on the goods and bads. At 5:05pm, I made my last and final image. I did it! 

I took a Christmas Day drive to the southern region of Ludington State Park today to find my photo of the day. I feel this is a photo I would not have been able to make a year earlier because I didn't really see the world in photographs as well as I do now. The 365 Project has made me a much better photographer. F10.0 at 1/100, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

The rich blue winter sky and brilliant sunshine are making my day as I venture with ice cleats out the ice-coated Ludington South Breakwater. The South Breakwater Light looks like a white candle this morning. F7.1 at 1/800, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

My uncle, Rod Marble, has a beautiful log home along the Lincoln River northeast of Ludington. This view is on his property and is one of my favorite spots near his home, especially in the winter months. F22.0 at 0.6, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I have thought for months that the steeple of Calvary Baptist Church on Jebavy Drive stands out simply and beautifully at night. Tonight I am photographing the cross-crowned spire at twilight to provide a blue background. F8.0 at 4.0, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

The last couple of nights before sunset I have seen large God beams in the sky. Tonight I had to rush to my Uncle Budde and Aunt Sheryl's house on Lake Michigan in order to line up the Ludington North Breakwater Light with the gorgeous God beams behind it. F22.0 at 1/8, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

I have always been proud to say I am from Ludington. So why not a "Ludington" picture for the 365 project? This sign above the front door of the old fish market at the carferry dock screams "Ludington." F16.0 a 1/20, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 130 mm

The amazing God beams were back tonight and even more defined. I waited for the sun to peek through a hole in the thick cloud layer. When the sun finally broke through, the light show was even better than I predicted it would be. F6.3 at 1/200, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 70 mm

Brad called early this morning to report heavy frost a few miles inland from Lake Michigan. Sure enough, pine trees four miles east of Ludington are coated with frost. This is just what I was looking for. F8.0 at 1/100, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 185 mm

The Iris family barn was part of the Barns and Byways tour this past October. I have always loved photographing this unique piece of Mason County history. Today with heavy frost covering every tree in sight, the multi-colored barn stood out even more than usual. F5.6 at 1/80, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I almost missed spotting this picture. After backing up my Suburban on a country road between Evart and Clare, Michigan, for a second look, I stared in awe at a tapestry of various colored leaves clinging to the curving branches of a grand old maple tree in a farm field. I selected a large telephoto lens to focus only on an especially attractive portion of the tree.