Miscellaneous Images

I have been trying to make an image of the ice formations for a while. I have never been happy with the outcome. Tonight, I worked this scene and finally was rewarded!

On this cold December morning, I was glad to see the sun shining through a thick layer of clouds. I stopped the aperture of my lens down to the smallest hole at F22 in order to make the sun rays more distinct.

The Michigan State Jazz Band came to the Ludington Area Center for the Arts for the third annual Jazz It Up fundraiser. The music was phenomenal and the band received a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd in the performance hall. F2.8 at 1/25, ISO 1000, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

Independence Day

After careful risk assessment, my son Brad has worked his way to the top of one of the tallest mounds of ice piled high in the Straits of Mackinac. He is determined to make a close-up image of one of the nature-made ice sculptures with the Mackinac Bridge as the backdrop. Knowing from my many years of ice rescue training in the Coast Guard that "no ice is safe ice," I am standing by with an assortment of ice rescue gear to assist if necessary.

Chuck Wagon pizza is one of the main icons of Ludington. I told owner Rick Chapman we couldn't do a 365 Project without including a photograph of Chuck Wagon. Zach Gipe, one of my previous students when I was an elementary school teacher, was eager to throw some dough for my photograph. F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 23 mm

Colors Flying

Fireworks Viewers

On our return trip to Ludington after putting on a photography program in Petoskey for the Crooked Tree Art Council, Brad and I cannot resist stopping at Crystal Mountain to get in a few runs on the ski slopes. Plus it gives me the opportunity to capture a moment that shows Brad's intensity and speed while skiing his favorite run

A local ice fisherman sits patiently on Lincoln Lake today hoping to catch his limit. My dad had spotted this scene while taking my grandma to a doctor's appointment. Luckily for me, he called on his cell phone to tell me about it. A few minutes later, I made this image.

Looking through my viewfinder, my mind sees a picture-perfect Victorian mansion on the main street of St. Louis, Michigan. My heart, though, keeps seeing visions of one of those collectible ceramic gingerbread-trimmed houses that are part of a ceramic Christmas Village. This looks like a dollhouse for sure. The architecture and pastel trim give the grand home a most uplifting feeling. I feel privileged to see this Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society Historic Site for the first time.

While driving east across the state of Michigan on M46, my dad and I passed through many quaint little farming communities. St. Louis, Michigan was one of our favorites. This mansion, on the corner of M46 and Delaware Street, greets visitors as they approach downtown St. Louis. The home is known as Colonel Elwell's Castle. I couldn't resist making a photo of this castle guardian.

With just seconds remaining in 2014, I click the shutter and capture this image of the New Year's Eve ball drop from the rooftop of Snyder's Shoes in downtown Ludington. The sky was filled with streamers and the crowd was roaring with excitement. What a way to end a great shooting adventure with my dad and the rest of Team Reed.

Ludington is the place to be on New Year's Eve. The fireworks display after the ball drop is even more impressive than the fireworks during the 4th of July. I love my small hometown and I am proud to be from Ludington.

Since I was a young boy, I have loved going to Ludington Oriole basketball games in Hawley Gym with my dad. I have fond memories of him standing on the ends of the court with his camera covering the games for the Ludington Daily News. He helped me edit my photos down and he picked this one as my best moment.

Earlier today in our gallery we were discussing with a Bass Lake couple how fleeting the peak moments of magic light or atmosphere are when they do appear in front of us. Now as I stand on the Ludington Waterfront along with "The Mariner" a drab winter sunset turns into a momentarily electric afterglow. F22.0 at 4.0, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 145 mm

365 Week 15

The Lunde name has been associated with boats and boat building in Ludington for more than a century. I love the simple yet artistic way this sign was painted many years ago on one of the Lunde Boat Co. buildings close to Pere Marquette Lake. F7.1 at 0.5, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

Our gallery manager, Sarah Genson, has been telling my dad and me for years that we need to go to Frankenmuth, Michigan and get a famous chicken dinner from Zehnder's. Today, for Week 9 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute" we saw a road sign informing us that we were only six miles away from Frankenmuth. Now we know why Zehnder's chicken dinners are world famous.

Kris Stewart and his family have owned the Toonerville Trolley and the Hiawatha riverboat for over 30 years. If you want to see wild Michigan black bears and have fun with the entire family, take a day to travel on the small Toonerville Trolley train and then float down the Tahquamemon River on the Hiawatha riverboat all the way to the Upper Tahquamemon Falls. Kris has a wealth of knowledge and is an expert navigator and ferryboat captain.