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Glorious Ludington

Brad and I both got to witness and photograph the second "Blood Moon" of the year. The earth has eclipsed the full moon on this October morning, blocking direct sunlight. The scattering of the sunlight is causing the red color. I like learning the science behind the "Blood Moon" but it is the resulting art I love.

“Aurora Moon” by Brad Reed Last night at the Ludington State Park, along the shores of Lake Michigan, my daughter Julia and I stood in wonder while watching the Northern Lights dance in the distance. The moon and Venus were perfectly reflected in Lake Michigan as well. You could clearly see the lights with the naked eye, but of course, the camera could capture them much better. Nikon D850. F4, 32 seconds, ISO 800. 14-24mm lens at 24mm. On a tripod at 10:03pm on March 23, 2023.

I received an urgent call from my son and business partner Brad telling me to hurry to get a shot of one of the most unusually colorful sunsets of the year. I am shooting pictures in my yard at the time so I have to sprint to the top of a nearby dune with my camera, biggest lens and heaviest tripod. I am winded but the tip and the effort pay off. F4.0 at 1/640, ISO 100, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

The atmosphere in the sky tonight is creating an interesting golden aura around the moon. This is the second time I have seen such a distinct aura this year. I had never noticed them in past years. F4.0 at 1/10, ISO 100, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Early this morning we met our advanced photography workshop students at the McDonald's parking lot in order to carpool to our first shooting location in Pentwater. I couldn't resist getting my 600mm lens out of my truck and laying down in the parking lot to shoot the crescent moon before we headed out. F5.6 at 1/13, ISO 100, 600mm lens at 840mm

After a long day shooting my portion of Week 21 of Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute, I noticed while shooting the sunset afterglow that the crescent moon was high above the Ludington lighthouse. I was tired and hungry. I could have gone home content with the several good images I had already made during my 200-plus miles of Michigan photo hunting travels that special early summer day. However, more than four decades as a photographer had long since proved to me that patience and perseverance are rewarded. I also knew the moon would not be setting at a peak shooting time the next day. I was rewarded with one of my all-time favorite moonset images and an excellent home-cooked meal afterward. Fortunately, my wife doesn’t mind eating late. Living with an outdoor photographer does not lend itself to strict dinnertime schedules.

What a way to start my day. It is 5:58 a.m. as I am eased awake by the soft glow of the moon as it sets over Lake Michigan at Buttersville Park between Ludington and Pentwater. This is one of those gentle "wine shots" that are great to savor with a cup of coffee while the tripod holds my camera. F16 at 2 seconds, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 23mm

My son Brad and I teamed up to make this last-time-in-our-lifetimes image of the planet Venus crossing in front of the sun. It would be another 108 years before another Venus solar transit. Brad and I shot this photograph at Big Sable Point Lighthouse at 9:18 p.m. on June 5, 2012 as the sun dropped toward Lake Michigan six minutes prior to sunset. What a phenomenal way to cap off Week 23 of Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute.

I am not a big fan of scary movies, but it occurs to me as the moon rises past an ominous-looking cloud that this would be a perfect shot of the moon to use in a horror show. F4 at 1/160, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 500mm

The colorful, atmospheric sunrise this morning stops me in my tracks. The sun is coming up through waves of fog rising over Pere Marquette Lake. I am glad I got out early to catch this one. F4.0 at 1/1250, ISO 100, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Just before I went into Foster School in Ludington tonight to play basketball, I got my big lens and tripod out of the truck and photographed the moon. The sky was clear and the moon was bright, allowing me to get a sharp, detailed photograph of the moon. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

Stars become tracks in a moonlit sky during a nearly four-minute time exposure. I love the view of the trees and sky from the deck of our cabin on the Pere Marquette River. F5.0 at 236 seconds, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

As the sun was getting ready to set over Lake Michigan tonight, I turned to the southeast and noticed the giant moon in the blue sky overhead. Luckily, I already had my giant 600mm F4 lens out and on the tripod. I pulled the 1.4 extender out of my bag and attached it between my camera body and the end of my lens to help zoom in on the vibrant moon even more. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 600mm lens at 840mm

It almost looks to me like a bat is flying in front of the moon as I make this photograph of the full moon setting through a cloud. It is more than an hour before sunrise but already I have found my first picture of Week 48 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute." F4 at 1/500, ISO 3200, 500mm lens at 750mm

My dad started out the day early this morning photographing the moon setting into Lake Michigan. It was fitting that I would end Week 48 of the Tuesdays Project by photographing the moon rising over some pine trees at Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club near Mesick, Michigan. F4 at 1/500, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 600mm