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The Great Pumpkin Patch

Mark Scott, who lives at Cherry Hill Farm on Conrad Road next to our hunting property, texted me today saying their cherry tree out front was in full blossom. I waited until the light got lower and headed that way. I am so glad he texted me. It was fun watching the sun light up the barn in the distance and the cherry tree in the foreground.

My dad and I each photographed this barn in a snowstorm for Week 7 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed." We made our way back to the tiny Northern Michigan town of Omena this afternoon to photograph the majestic white barn with the fruit trees in blossom. F22 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

My son Brad and I knew this winter when we photographed this barn north of Omena, on Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, that we had to return to reshoot the grand old structure during other seasons. Spring at the Cherry Basket Farm is turning out to be a far different but equally good visual treat. F22 at 1/30, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 112mm

Photography is like an action sport for my dad and me. Earlier today when I saw these clouds, I knew they were going to be the background of my photo of the day; I just needed to find a strong foreground and middle ground. Once I found this barn and old truck, I had to run and eventually army crawl in order to make a strong composition. F16.0 at 1/250, ISO 400, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

It is another uncharacteristically hot day in Northern Michigan and once again the eastern sky is filled with beautiful cumulus clouds this afternoon as I head to Pentwater to set up for the annual art fair on the Village Green. The Monton farm along the US 31 Freeway at the Mason-Oceana county line looks picture perfect. F16.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

I could see these colorful rays shooting upwards from the setting sun, but I needed a good setting to make a strong image of them. I found this beautiful farm near Custer, Michigan and knew that would be the middle ground of my image. Now I needed a strong foreground. I found these bushes and trees alongside the road and walked out into them to set up my camera and tripod.

We had a fun gathering tonight with two of Brad’s high school friends and their families. Jonathan and Shannon own two Friesian horses. My kids were over the moon at the opportunity to brush them and give them treats. I worked to compose and expose this photo to show off their wonderful barn and the crew inside.

We spend most evenings working with the fair animals. Several of my nieces and nephews house their animals at the farm too, so it is usually hard work but fun to spend time with cousins. And how can you beat this view?

After leaving the funeral in Fremont for our friend Lawrence Monfils, who had been the head chef at Legends Ranch for many years, my dad and I spotted this old barn and farmstead. My dad helped me get on top of his truck to make this image. I needed to be higher to get the vantage point I wanted because the corn was so tall. I waited for the clouds to get into the right locations for my image to sing.

When I see "amber waves of grain" in the American landscape, I feel blessed to live in America where we have so much farmland and an abundance of food. I appreciate Michigan farms like the Andersen farm on Andersen Road in northern Mason County. F22 at 1/30, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 175mm

I have watched many storm clouds over the years. I have seen the sky change colors. Never have I ever seen a sky turn purple like tonight. I was so in awe I almost missed the photograph!

I love passing by the Bentz farm on Conrad Road between Ludington and Scottville and viewing the beautifully manicured garden in front of their well-maintained old barns. Today a sunflower rises above others to stand out in front of one of the barns. F4.0 at 1/640, ISO 400, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

Good friends of ours have a cottage on Hamlin Lake. They graciously invited us out for the evening. I was on the lookout for photos driving there when we passed this barn and field on North Stiles Road. I loved the green in amongst the yellow, leading right to the barn.

The Fredericks family farm is one of the most uniquely attractive farms in Mason County. Slowing down or stopping when driving by the South Amber Road property provides more time to appreciate all the handmade folk art on the barn and elsewhere in the yard. F22.0 at 1/6, ISO 400, 24-70 mm lens at 29 mm

Rachel has the coolest old barn on her property behind her house. This scene reminds me of Ireland or Italy.

My dad had told me about this barn and American flag he had spotted on East Conrad Road the other day so tonight I drove that way to find it. My timing worked out great because the golden light before sunset was hitting the barn and flag perfectly.

Hay bales turn to gold in the early morning autumn light in one of Laverne Soberalski's farm fields along South Victory Drive. The Hansens' neighboring Cherry Hill Farm stands out in the distance. F22.0 at 0.25, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 175 mm

I have been trying to make an image of this tunnel of trees near the Conrad family farm at the east end of Conrad Road for several years. This evening, on my way home from a United Way fundraising event, I round the corner from Gordon Road and there it is, the picture I had envisioned for so long. F11.0 at 1/50, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

Kevin and Nancy Hansen's farm on Victory Drive was one of several farms on this year's Mason County Barn Tour. I am attracted to one of many farm implements on display that were used for several decades by Kevin's grandfather. F10.0 at 1/160, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 22 m