Search

To the human eye, it was very dark outside at 6:29 A.M. when I made this photograph of the Pere Marquette River. However, with my digital camera and a 30 second time exposure, I could make it appear much brighter than it actually was. We teach our workshop students that you need to see how your camera sees. F4.5 at 30.0, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

With the snow, ice, sunshine, and haze, this aerial photograph of Ludington looks like the old painting of the Ludington harbor that has hung in the local restaurant, The Grand, on Rath Avenue for decades. I have always loved that painting and now I have created my own modern version with a camera.

The beauty that lies within Cartier Park is one of Ludington's best kept secrets. I especially appreciate the drive along Lincoln Lake, where the view changes dramatically with the season, day, hour, and even minute. On a February day, the wind had sculpted away snow to create "waves" on top of the ice. The fragile artwork disappeared with the next snowfall, leaving only this photograph to document nature's creation.

My dad and I have been trying all winter to take aerial photographs of Hamlin Lake for "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed" but we have had so little snow this year it was never worth our time or money. Our luck finally changed this Tuesday when Dave Johnson from Mason County Aviation took me up in his plane and I captured this photo of Hamlin Lake covered in ice.

The Beach House at Ludington State Park stand out as the only building along the Lake Michigan shoreline for miles. It has been a landmark for mariners and a gathering spot for park visitors since the 1930s. During the times of year when few people see the beach house, it continues to stand out under all types of weather.

As the sun quickly set tonight, I hustled into position to photograph the new carferry sculpture in front of Harbor View Marina. I had envisioned this photo several months ago while sitting at my computer desk at work. Now it was time to make it come to life. Luckily for me, the sunset was excellent. F22.0 at 1/13, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

As I hung out the open window of a small airplane this morning over Big Sable Point Lighthouse at Ludington State Park, I was struck by how cool the shadow of the lighthouse was. The shadow reminded me of learning about sun dials in elementary school.

Sea-Rays

I have passed this pasture on Iris Road almost daily for 10 years. But it is not until today that I notice the beauty of this lone tree. Fog and melting snow make the tree stand out like never before. Still I wonder why I never noticed it. F4.0 at 1/320, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 17 mm

I have spent a lot of time photographing and exploring all of the bayous on Hamlin Lake at ground level, but it is so cool to see the South Bayou from the air. Dave Johnson, from Mason County Aviation, took me up in his airplane today so I could get some new aerial photographs of Hamlin Lake.

Earlier today, I photographed these two large cottonwood trees on the Ludington Stearns beach as the fog rolled off of Lake Michigan and slowly crept over the landscape. I was very excited looking through the viewfinder to see the blue sky slowly fading into the gray fog. F8.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 26 mm

Of all of the bayous on Hamlin Lake, I have spent the most time on the Middle Bayou. My grandma, Linda Scott, and her husband Scotty had a restaurant and home on the Middle Bayou. The restaurant, Wren's Roost, burned down before I was born, but she still had her home there for several more years. My mom, dad, and older brother Tad used to live on the Middle Bayou as well, but moved into town when they found out I was on the way.

I have been watching these mallards at Ludington Municipal Marina all winter. Bubblers have maintained some open water for them. Today, finally, I see a unique picture of them I like. Reality and reflection make an interesting illusion. F2.8 at 1/400, ISO 100, 300 mm lens at 300 mm

From an airplane, you quickly realize how large Hamlin Lake's North Bayou is even though from the ground, it doesn't seem very large. That may be because it is so shallow and full of stumps and has very little public access. I really appreciate its more rustic, natural, and undeveloped look and feel.

All I could think about as I was taking this image in way-below-zero weather was how well it illustrated the impact on Ludington of the Polar Vortex. Just about everything was closed for a couple days as January roared to a close. This historic commercial fishing building at the Lake Michigan carferry docks looked like it was in Siberia.

The Best Mornings

Today was the first time I have been able to fly fairly low over my family's hunting property on the Pere Marquette River near Ludington. With the fresh snow on the ground and the mid-morning sunlight, I love how the shadows of the trees give this photo such a three dimensional feel. I hope to make this same composition in the spring, summer, and fall as well.

Lunar Eclipse

Lunar Launch

“Worm Moon” by Brad Reed Dubbed the "Worm Moon" by the The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the lunar eclipse early this morning was phenomenal. I captured this blood red moon while standing on my front deck at home in Ludington, Michigan. The sky was clear and the stars were shinning brightly. I had a family of whitetail deer walk super close to me as I was making this image. It was an experience that will not be forgotten! Nikon D850. F6.3, 1/2 a second, ISO 6400. 60-600mm lens at 600mm. On a tripod without a flash. March 14, 2025 at 2:48am.