Rachel's Images

I took a lunchtime break at the lakeshore. The seagulls were very active!

It was a calm night – but the clouds were moving across the sky. I took a longer exposure showing the movement against the silhouetted trees.

“The Triple Trees” were looking grand this summer morning! Before long, these trees will be full of color.

It is starting to feel like fall! I am always intrigued what makes one particular tree turn (or partially turn) before the others.

I am very proud of Kasey and her first cross country season. She is running in Evart today at SpringHill Camp. Due to COVID-19, they split the large invitational up into three groups of teams to keep the athlete and spectator numbers low.

Today we hosted a birthday dinner for Brad, at his house. We had such a good time that I forgot I hadn’t made my photo for the day! David Benjamin had a jar of corn that he wanted to grind into corn meal. He helped me set it next to a frame sample to create a mirrored reflection.

Simplicity.

Brad and I took a drive around Ludington this afternoon. He made an image of a tree with fall color near Hamlin Lake, and then we ended up on his aunt and uncle’s farm on the Pere Marquette River. I positioned myself to capture the shadows in the water as my leading line into the photograph in the lower left side of the frame and placed the sunburst in the tree in the upper right.

Kasey had a cross country meet in Bear Lake this evening. I decided to take back roads home, from Manistee, on the search of a photo. To my luck, I saw this sandhill crane in a field. I safely pulled the van over and got in position. What a majestic bird!

Summit Park is one place I don’t visit as much as I should. It is such a great park and beach! I left work early to drive that way to explore for photographs. It was such a calm, peaceful afternoon!

Indian Bridge over the Pere Marquette River is a popular spot for fishing. When the fishing is hot, it is lined with men, women, and families fishing. Tonight, the banks are empty, the river is calm enough that the vegetation and trees along it are reflected nicely. I was even blessed with magic light!

I was on my way to Brad’s when I passed by The Market on US-31. It was closed, but the cattails surrounding it were just waiting to be photographed. I used their exterior lights to add depth to the photo. Cattails always bring back memories of picking them at fair, and then forgetting them in the camper until we would find them exploded the next spring. My mom does not miss those days.

This year, as I drop off or pick up the kids from their visitation with their dad, I try to take different routes looking for photo opportunities. I didn’t have to drive far when I saw this field and shade tree on South Custer Road.

We were eating dinner at the farm when I could tell through the window that it was rainbow weather. I rushed outside to see a huge double rainbow to the east. I composed my photo to include each of the bright red colored trees on either side of the photo.

All summer the kids talked about Old Blue – a 6’ blue racer that lived up by the shop on the farm. As much as I despise snakes, I have tried to look for him several times with camera in hand. As we were up by the shop tonight, the kids called out to me. There he was. In all his glory. I used the full length of my lens shooting him so I could stay as far away as possible!

The clouds all day today were magnificent! I had allergy testing in Muskegon in the morning; when that ended, I had to pick up the boys from school and head to Mesick for one of Kasey’s meets. I was focused on cheering on the teams and not shooting. When we arrived home, the clouds to the east were still there and they had turned bright pink.

It is hard to beat the magic light and clouds of fall. Soon, our cattle will be moving from the front field. It seemed time to make a final image of our front yard view.

Todd and Brad have each made images of this tree line on Fountain Road. I’ve never seen a shot to be made before this day. It is that time of year when the fields start to be harvested and the looks start to change. Fortunately for me, this corn was still standing.

The good thing about sporting events, besides enjoying watching your kids, is traveling to and from when you live in a picturesque state like Michigan. The meet today was in Pine River. I was early, so when I passed Howe Lake, I had to turn around and find the right place to stop and shoot. To get the view I wanted, I had to climb on my van roof.

This was one of those days, where the 366 Project got pushed to the bottom of my priority list. David Benjamin started having a rash on his arm, which spread quickly to his face and chest. We think it was poison ivy and he was a miserable little boy. I got creative tonight with a scent warmer and a nightlight.