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Except for four years of college in Grand Rapids, I have lived in Ludington all my life. In that time, I have always been intrigued with the old Thompson Cabinet Company building near Pere Marquette Lake. I was pleasantly surprised to find this American flag hanging in the window today. F10.0 at 0.8, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 95 mm

Rim lighting is always dramatic, especially on frosty mornings in Michigan. With my large telephoto lens, the busy background goes out of focus very quickly making the grasses stand out even more.

What a difference a day or so makes in Michigan! Before the infamous Bomb Cyclone winter storm hit Michigan in February 2019, I was drawn to the Ludington waterfront on a sunny morning to photograph three tugboats moored along the shore. I was happy with my shot. When the storm crossed over Lake Michigan from Wisconsin several days later, Ludington harbor looked more like Siberia. I knew right where to head to make a another good, but extremely different photograph.

Laughing Whitefish Falls

"Get it while it's hot" applies in reverse to icicles. The snow and ice decorating the exterior of Scotty's Restaurant keeps drawing me back. Today it looks so chillingly beautiful it demands to be my picture of the day. Could there be better days to make this photograph? Possibly, but I know the January thaw is on its way. F11.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 120 mm

When I finished photographing some pine trees covered in snow near Bear Lake, Michigan, I turned around slowly in waist deep snow to walk back to my truck. As I turned, I was pleasantly surprised with this scene. The pine tree shot was cool, but this scene was world class. I love these kinds of photographic surprises!

If you like to photograph ice, and also lighthouses, drive a few miles north of Frankfort, Michigan to Point Betsie Light Station in January or February. The combination of various ice sculptures, sand, wind, and clouds made this cold January morning a fantastic time to be shooting the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Seeing a snowy owl appear through the fog and darkness as the sun rose this morning was an emotional experience for me. My grandma, Linda Scott, always loved snowy owls and every time I see one on television or in print it makes me miss her. This photo is dedicated to her.

Tuesdays With Todd and Brad Reed

Manistee Lighthouse

Pentwater Lighthouses

Upper Tahquamenon Falls

The first week of the 365 Project seems to be an overwhelming success. The response to the photos by email and on Facebook has been fantastic. To start the second week of my shooting, I headed south of Ludington to the fruit fields in Summit Township on Morton Road. This is one of my favorite areas of Mason County. F22.0 at 0.5, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I could not imagine a softer looking, more exquisite setting in which to photograph a snowy owl. The rising sun was just beginning to light and color the fog when this snowy owl landed on a frost-coated, grassy berm right in front of me. This Northern Michigan winter view felt picture-perfect to me as I carefully focused and exposed the image.

Phenomenons are exciting to shoot. Brad and I drove to Little Sable Point Lighthouse to photograph the rare occurrence of the planets Jupiter and Venus close to each other. An unexpected bonus was the rare visibility of lights on the Wisconsin shoreline more than 50 miles away across Lake Michigan.

My hat's off to all of the Great Lakes sailors who have to work on Christmas Day and many other holidays. The shipping business on the Great Lakes rarely stops and they all help keep America's economy going day in and day out. Michigan is a better state because of these floating beauties and they make me proud to be a Michigander. F4 at 1/400, ISO 1600, 600mm lens at 600mm

Pentwater Lighthouses

Upon discovering that, even in snowshoes, I was unable to walk over the five-foot snow drifts on the utility road to Big Sable Point Lighthouse, I had to figure out another way to get to the lighthouse. After using some good risk assessment, I decided my best course of action was to walk on the ice a few hundred yards off shore. After almost a mile and a half of treacherous walking and crawling, I made it to the lighthouse. Exhausted and hot, I made this image in seven degree weather, made chillier by 20 mile-per-hour winds. It was so worth the journey. D7000, F22 at 1/60, ISO 100, 10-20mm lens at 10mm

365 Week