Summer

The kids and I were camping at “The Point” on the farm. We had a group out for dinner and s’mores. It was a fun night of sharing stories and jokes. As the sun started to set, the ferns and trees lit up. I love this spot on our farm.

It was a dark and stormy night! As I am awaiting photography workshop students for an evening shoot on the Ludington waterfront, I witness two storm fronts collide at the water's edge. The eastbound front appears to win out and the storm heads inland as I shoot. A short time later a tornado was sighted 10 miles eastward. F4.5 at 1/3200, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

Rachel and I took our kids swimming in the Pere Marquette River today, at her family’s farm. While they were all enjoying playing together, I took our underwater camera housing and made this image of the bright summer sun lighting up a spawning bed on the river bottom.

As Ethan and I sat at the table eating breakfast, I noticed the fog and incredible sunrise to the east. Betsy came and relieved me for a short time so I could go make a photograph of the light show. I headed to the western shores of Manistee Lake so I could photograph the City of Milwaukee, which is now a museum in Manistee, Michigan. F22.0 at 1/4, ISO 100, 70-200 mm lens at 116 mm

Storms seem to be popping up very quickly lately. We were still camping at “The Point” when the wind started to pick up. Everyone pitched in to pack up loose items. I then turned my attention to the clouds passing overhead above the Pere Marquette River.

One of our favorite ways to photograph Lake Michigan is by actually getting in the water a little way. This helps put the viewer of our work into the scene. People will be more likely to feel like they are really at the beach. Shoes and clothes will dry. Get in the water to shoot next time you are out photographing. You won’t regret it!

While photographing two baby skunks playing about 25 yards away, my peripheral vision senses movement on my left. I look up to see this baby skunk no more than 15 yards away emerging from a barn. Attracted to its gorgeous white coat, I swing the camera to shoot, hoping the skunk is not repelled enough by me to spray. Baby skunks have scent glands from the day they are born and can spray when only eight days old. F4 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 700mm

The view from the Jebavy bridge looking east has always intrigued me, but I have never been able to make a good photograph from that vantage point. Tonight, while Ethan and I were driving home from our weeklong vacation in Manistee, Michigan, I saw the reflection of the house in the Lincoln River and knew I had found my photo of the day. F9.0 at 1/40, ISO 320, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

When I think of Bespop, I often picture him in this area of his yard, near his grape arbor. Of course, he would be leaning on his cane, wearing his straw fedora hat, and smoking his pipe of cherry tobacco. I miss his smile. I miss his laugh.

I don’t know what kind of strange fungi this is in my front yard, but it is very large and super cool looking. My new yard never ceases to amaze me with all of its fun surprises.

After I wait an hour for a break in the clouds, magic light falls upon the beach and beach house at Ludington State Park. Time to shoot! F22.0 at 1/6, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

It feels like fireworks! When I saw this Scentsy fireworks wax warmer, I knew it was a must have.

Today my dad and I and our associate Greg Dunn put on our first-ever workshop on Adobe Photoshop. For the evening session of the workshop, we all headed to Ludington State Park to photograph the sunset. The "magic light" was gorgeous, and as usual, very fleeting. F8.0 at 1/320, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I could spend hours exploring the pedestrian area of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, especially when I have a camera in my hand. The light and shadow this morning played nicely on the sand ripples and created a dramatic scene with this old stump.

The calendar still says it is spring but this mid-June view through my large telephoto lens at South Haven beach sure looks and feels like summer to me. It is a splendid day to be on the Lake Michigan shoreline photographing Week 24 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute." F6.3 at 1/1000, ISO 200, 300mm lens at 300mm

My goddaughter, Kayla, celebrated her confirmation tonight in Holland, Michigan. I was glad that I was able to be part of it as her confirmation sponsor. On my drive back home, I stopped in Grand Haven. I don’t visit this lighthouse often, so it was fun to watch the sunset here.

Tonight, we took the Lake FX film crew by boat out to the Hamlin Lake Sand Dunes to shoot some footage on the documentary we are making about my dad and his 50 years of photographing Michigan. It was another glorious night with warm shadows and great light.

Todd, Brad, and I explored the Hamlin Dunes today. It was fun climbing portions that I haven’t visited before. The bright sun created some fun shadows in the sand.

We had a college reunion tonight with my two roommates from Calvin and our families. It was so fun watching the kids all playing together and enjoying the animals and slip-n-slide at Jonathan and Shannon Ray’s house south of Ludington in Riverton Township.

Yes, purple loosestrife is an invasive species. And, yes, it is beautiful. This year it has invaded the wetland area along the north side of Ludington South Breakwater. I will enjoy it until someone sees fit to eliminate it. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 200, 300 mm lens at 300 mm