Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute

This rare piping plover and its mate are among only about five-dozen breeding pairs identified by Great Lakes researchers. That is about five times more breeding pairs than in 1983, before protection measures were implemented. A wire cage enclosure over its nest helps keep out predators such as wild animals and dogs. The birds are small enough to enter and exit the cage as they please. The area is posted and roped off to further protect the birds. F7.1 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

A highly visible single black ring around its neck marks this as a piping plover. The multicolored bands on its legs, and on those of its mate, enable researchers and spotters to identify them as specific plovers and thereby keep track of the migrating birds' movements and activity. F4.5 at 1/3200, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

An endangered piping plover walks along the Lake Michigan shoreline far outside its roped-off protection zone at Ludington State Park. The plover and its mate have established a nesting site that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and University of Minnesota researchers have taken steps to protect. F3.5 at 1/4000, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

A pair of Canada geese keeps close watch on their goslings. The waterfowl bask in the morning sun on one of the lagoons at Epworth Heights Resort north of Ludington. F9 at 1/400, ISO 200, 300mm lens at 300mm

For probably a century or more, wild iris flowers have been popping up along Iris Road south of Ludington. Backlit by the morning sun, this iris looks especially glorious to me. I position my camera so that the shaded side of some dark pine trees provides a clean, simple, contrasting background. F5.6 at 1/500, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

As I am walking along the marshy shore of Lincoln Lake at Epworth Heights, I notice how some pink daisies are catching the light as they sway in a gentle breeze. I work hard to time my exposure to a moment when several of the daises are sunlit. F5 at 1/400, ISO 200, 300mm lens at 300mm

What a day to be a turtle. The sun is shining and a downed tree provides a perfect sunbathing spot on the Sable River at Ludington State Park. F6.3 at 1/100, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

One of the timeless pastimes of hiking the Lake Michigan shorelines is trying to skip rocks across the surface of the water. I enjoy seeing people taking part in the simple, pleasurable Michigan outdoor pastimes of life. F2.8 at 1/640, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 155mm

The outlet to Lake Michigan at Summit Park between Ludington and Pentwater turns to gold before my eyes. I have made the composition I want of the rippling water flowing; all that I need now is for the light to line up with the composition. Jackpot! F22 at 1/6400, ISO 100, 200mm lens at 200mm

The wild colors, textures, and shapes on this massive stump caught my eye as I was exploring the small creek at Summit Park this evening. Luckily for me, we had magic golden light that made the colors, textures, and shapes hyper-defined. F22 at 0.8, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 26mm

The creek at Summit Park tonight was rippling with light and water. I got in the creek and put my camera and tripod close to a few of the more defined ripples and waited for the sunlight make the correct angle with the water. I love how the water acts like a magnifying glass and accentuates the creek bottom. F8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

I spent over 10 minutes standing above the creek at Summit Park tonight just studying the shapes and contrast in the sand and creek bottom. My eye kept coming back to the two swirls that were separated by a dark rock. Once the sun was low enough in the sky, I quickly moved in for my shot. I suggest to shoot less, see more, and know exactly what is exciting you before you pull the trigger on your camera. F5 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Summit Park south of Ludington is one of my favorite West Michigan places to rock hunt along the Lake Michigan shoreline. After enjoying a fabulous fish dinner at the famous Bortell's Fisheries just across the road on South Lakeshore Drive, I find some rock treasure on the park beach. F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

This is the fourth photo of the evening that I have gotten at the creek at Summit Park. For over an hour, I lay in the creek exploring the rocks, stumps, and creek bottom for different patterns and compositions. The entire creek is less than 30 yards long before it makes its way into Lake Michigan. By lying in the creek and putting my camera a few inches above the water, I was able to eliminate size perspective and sense of scale in this photograph. F22 at 1/10, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

By now you have probably read or heard my dad and me say several times that we believe good photography is all about feeling. We work hard at building our compositions so that the viewers of our work feel like they are really experiencing the scene and not just looking at a two-dimensional photograph. By getting close to our subject, we build in a sense of immediacy and that helps viewers become more emotionally involved with our photographs. F22 at 1/4, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

The beach near my Crosswinds home in Ludington often provides me a quiet, peaceful retreat from the often fast pace of life. Tonight I will make this picture and then savor the view for another half-hour while waiting for the moon to descend toward the lighthouse. F11 at 10 seconds, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 105mm

After a long day shooting my portion of Week 21 of Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute, I noticed while shooting the sunset afterglow that the crescent moon was high above the Ludington lighthouse. I was tired and hungry. I could have gone home content with the several good images I had already made during my 200-plus miles of Michigan photo hunting travels that special early summer day. However, more than four decades as a photographer had long since proved to me that patience and perseverance are rewarded. I also knew the moon would not be setting at a peak shooting time the next day. I was rewarded with one of my all-time favorite moonset images and an excellent home-cooked meal afterward. Fortunately, my wife doesn’t mind eating late. Living with an outdoor photographer does not lend itself to strict dinnertime schedules.

This photograph shows the only magic light that we spotted the entire day in the Mackinac area. A world-class shelf cloud had just passed over the bridge which was casting dark shadows and adding contrast to the scene in front of us, and the sun was still shining bright above our heads. The combination of the bright and dark made the stones and waves glow and turned the water a tropical blue-green color. The Mackinac Bridge looks even more majestic than usual while bathed in magic light. F14 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 24mm

We arrive back on terra firma at Mackinaw City just in time to photograph a cloud front passing over the Mackinac Bridge and through the Straits of Mackinac. There is nothing Brad and I enjoy more photographically than being on the bright side of a passing front. F13 at 1/100, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

The ferryboat ride to Mackinac Island is a good opportunity to capture some unique views of the Grand Hotel. My favorite part of this composition is the great cloud formation above the island. F10 at 1/800, ISO 400, 18-50mm lens at 50mm