Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute

I have my camera and tripod set up in the dark, just waiting for the first light of dawn to paint Pentwater Lake with dawn's blue light during a time exposure. I make several test shots before the moored sailboats all have drifted into picture-perfect positions. F8 at 10 seconds, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 62mm

It looks like anything but winter through my viewfinder as I photograph seagulls basking in the sun on a January morning along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Color emanates from the sky on the Ludington waterfront on a January evening. It is 15 minutes after sunset and the color is much more saturated than at sunset.

No one knows the lower stretch of the Pere Marquette River better than Ralph Anderson. Whenever the steelhead are running, it seems Ralph is on the river angling to land one. I admire Ralph's passion for trout fishing and his love of the river. People like Ralph understand what an amazing outdoorsman's paradise Michigan is. F2.8 at 1/640, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

My son Brad has scaled the much taller, steeper side of this sand dune at Ludington State Park to gain a vantage point from which he can see almost all of Lower Hamlin Lake. However, the world-class sunrise he was hoping for is not happening today.

After a long history of catching fish on the Great Lakes, the fishing tug Richard E. is now moored at the Manistee, Michigan ship museum site. I admire the ruggedness of these sturdy vessels and the men and women who went to sea in them. F5 at 1/80, ISO 3200, 24-70mm lens at 40mm

An immature bald eagle soars directly overhead as I hike a trail through the dunes near the Sable River at Ludington State Park. The bird circles over me, seemingly checking me out, or is it just searching for breakfast? Either way, I am grateful for the close-up view.

One of the highest dunes in Ludington State Park offers a bird's eye view of one of the forests tucked between dune ridges at the park. Lake Michigan lies beyond as I look west.

Emerging from the White Birch Forest in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore after searching for images of the birch trees and maple leaves in autumn color, I was about to put my camera equipment back in my trusty Suburban when I took in this view less than 50 yards away. It looked and felt like a melody of color, pattern, and texture.

I love viewing wildlife through natural vignettes. It gives me the feeling of looking through a peep sight and provides framing and layers to my pictures. I have to be careful not to crowd the deer with the framing as I "shoot" her with my camera at the Sable River Outlet at the Ludington State Park.

I walked as far west of Big Sable Point Lighthouse on land as I could tonight to make this photograph of the historic structure. When you view a map of the state of Michigan, you can see why they named this lighthouse Big Sable Point. Both Big and Little Sable points stick farther out into Lake Michigan than any other points of land in the lower peninsula of Michigan. F18 at 1/20, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

I am at first overwhelmed by all the color and patterns bombarding my senses amidst the birch trees and maple leaves in the famous White Birch Forest. I know not to hurry. Finally, I find my prize. The patterns of these maple leaves and birch bark are music to my eyes. I have probably spent an hour looking for strong compositions in this magical forest in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Every minute has been a joy. F11 at 1/250, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

A doe pauses between licks while drinking water from the Sable River at Ludington State Park.

Today has been one of the most fun Tuesday adventures of the year so far. We started with a world-class sunrise, then went up in an airplane and photographed the Pere Marquette River. Next we went photo hunting by boat at the Ludington State Park for bald eagles and we followed that by photographing the Budweiser Clydesdales. To top the night off we end with a gorgeous sunset at Big Sable Point Lighthouse. How can you not love days like this in Michigan? F22 at 8 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

One of Santa's reindeer appears to be on the loose this morning along Hawley Road south of Ludington. I captured this moment as she flew through the snow during a short-lived blizzard that hit Mason County. F2.8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

A fawn curiously and warily makes its way along a trail at Ludington State Park. Its mother lets the young deer learn how to lead the way while staying close by.

The fast moving clouds kept changing the landscape in front of my camera this afternoon atop a tall sand dune just south of the Beach House at the Ludington State Park. After studying the clouds and light for a few minutes, I realized that I could make my photograph of Big Sable Point Lighthouse look more three-dimensional if I shot from the shadows into the sunlight. F22 at 1/40, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 185mm

A pair of trumpeter swans graces the Sable River at Ludington State Park. The threatened native Michigan species has been getting some help in launching a comeback. The band on one of these birds marks it as one introduced to the area by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The "11K" on the band helps naturalists keep track of its whereabouts.

A rare trumpeter swan fans out its wings on a sunny afternoon at Ludington State Park. With a wingspan that reaches six to seven feet, the impressive trumpeters are the world's largest species of waterfowl.

An unseasonably mild February day appears to suit a rare trumpeter swan just fine as it rests in the sunshine on the Sable River at Ludington State Park.