Summer

I worked hard following this butterfly all over my backyard. Usually, butterflies sit longer and are easier to photograph. This one was super active in my yard and didn’t sit still for more than a few seconds at each landing spot.

Brad and I teach our photography students "clouds are your friends." These are some mighty friendly clouds today. They make an ideal backdrop for Round Island Light, which has helped guide vessels through the Straits of Mackinac since 1895. F4.5 at 1/640, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 112mm

Looking through the viewfinder of my camera tonight with my 300 mm telephoto lens, I can't believe my eyes. It appears as if the sun is melting into Lake Michigan. The color of the sky this year seems to be more intense than previous years. I wonder if it has to do with the volcano eruption in Iceland earlier in the year. F22.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 300 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 450 mm

It is that time of year when all the hay fields are being baled. I love the smell of fresh cut hay! This field in Custer was picture-worthy tonight!

I am thinking I am in the Land of Lilacs as I hike across Mackinac Island en route to makes some images of the Grand Hotel. A horse coach from the Grand Hotel passes by as I pause to smell some lilacs and make an image that makes the flowers appear never ending. Brad and I are finding ourselves in lilac heaven today as we photograph Week 22 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute." Now we know why so many people flock to the island for the annual Lilac Festival in June. F9 at 1/80, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

The family and I spent the morning playing golf at Golden Sands Golf Course near Silver Lake on this 4th of July. On the way home, I found these wildflowers at the corner of 56th Avenue and Deer Road. The amazing clouds and gorgeous light made a wonderful backdrop for this scene.

When my dad spotted these ivy horses and wagon in front of the Grand Hotel, I knew I had to try to make a photograph of them. By getting my camera and tripod low to the ground and close to the horses, I was able to make the horses appear larger than they really were. I micro-composed this photograph to include the fountain in the background and then I waited for the flags to blow into good positions. F11 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Time seems to stand still on Mackinac Island. While standing in front of the Little Stone Church on the island today chatting with an old friend of my dad's, a picture perfect horse and buggy came trotting by. All I could think about as I was making this composition was Robert Frost and his beautiful poetry. I will be back in the winter to photograph this same horse and church and that will make all the difference. F11 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 24mm

Our workshop students tonight are getting a lesson in shooting twice as close. I am demonstrating how shooting part of the Ludington lighthouse can result in fresher, more abstract views. They try it and like it. I try it and also like it. F22.0 at 1/15, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

Tonight, Julia, Ethan and I were on the way to Rachel’s house to have dinner with her, her kids, and several of her relatives. Julia spotted this bald eagle on East Hansen Road not too far from Rachel’s house. This was one of the best “eagle trees” I had ever seen, and it was so cool actually witnessing an eagle sitting in it.

As you float up to the ferry docks on Mackinac Island, you can't help but notice the majestic Sainte Anne Church near the water's edge. This historic church has brought much joy to visitors and locals on Mackinac Island for over a hundred years. F8 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Lilacs seem to be in full bloom everywhere on Mackinac Island on this May day. A canopy of lilacs stretching over the sidewalk at the entrance to an island home provides a vignetted view of historic St. Anne's Church, an island landmark since 1874. F8 at 1/500, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

A summer night tradition in Ludington: watch the sunset then head downtown for ice cream. House of Flavors has a long line tonight as usual. Seeing families enjoying ice cream together reminds me of all those summer nights my parents took us to House of Flavors (Park Dairy in those days) during Sunday family outings. F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 92 mm

One of the many beloved features of Mackinac Island is the lilacs that blossom every spring. The island is full of many different colors and varieties of lilacs. The wonderful smell of the flowers helps hide the smell from all of the horses. F6.3 at 1/500, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 35mm

When getting extremely close to a subject with a wide-angle macro lens, you will notice some very obvious distortion, especially near the outside edges of the composition. I loved how this flower and bee on Mackinac Island looked in my viewfinder and I love the final print even more. F4.5 at 1/2500, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

My camera catches a fawn in the morning light. I make the shot and move on so that it can continue to browse in peace with its mother along the west shore of Pere Marquette Lake. F2.8 at 1/400, ISO 800, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

I was awestruck with the beauty of this fawn and its surroundings in my backyard this morning. My dad is always teaching our workshop students to build “layered cake” photographs with distinct foregrounds, middle grounds, and backgrounds. This might be my best fawn “layered cake” photograph.

This historic yard gate on Mackinac Island caught my eye as I was passing by it today. I got close to the gate with my wide-angle lens to control the background. When I was making this composition I knew the bright green grass in the background would look better as a black and white photograph. By making the photograph black and white, it also gives it a more historic feel. F10 at 1/125, ISO 400, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

After sitting for a Reed family portrait with Sue Brown, I found these daisies in my Uncle Budde and Aunt Sheryl's flower garden. Daisies just have a way of making people smile. F4.5 at 1/100, ISO 1000, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

A Mackinac Island taxi and the trusty team of horses that pulls it waits for passengers. I love the slower pace of life on Mackinac Island, where transportation is limited to horses, bicycles, and feet. F4 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm