Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute

Spirit Quest

Standing in the parking lot at Captain Chuck's Great Outdoors in Ludington, my six-year-old daughter Julia commented on how pretty the clouds were. The clouds were gorgeous in every direction. I grabbed my camera and looked for the prettiest cloud formation. Julia is getting so good at recognizing the beautiful world around her and for that I am grateful. F10 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 24mm

This wild blue flag iris was spotted by my dad on Blueberry Island at the Ludington State Park today as we floated by on our little boat. We waited about 30 minutes for the sunlight to become less intense in the late afternoon before we beached our boat on the island so I could get out and make this photograph. With the aid of some cloud cover, we now had soft diffused light overhead, which helped make this iris glow. F8 at 1/500, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 170mm

The Wojciechowski brothers have learned at a very early age the importance of working hard and earning one's keep on their family farm in Manistee, Michigan. Skylar, Hunter, and Connor are excited that some of their crops may be used by Brandon Seng's Manistee Community Kitchen to help feed hungry families in the area. For more information on the Manistee Community Kitchen visit: www.manisteekitchen.org. F9 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Brothers Hunter, Connor, and Skylar Wojciechowski work hard picking strawberries at their family farm in Manistee, Michigan. With the help of their parents, Jim and Jennifer, the Wojciechowski family sells their fruits and vegetables every Saturday all summer long at the Manistee Farmers Market. F8 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

My son Brad and I teamed up to make this last-time-in-our-lifetimes image of the planet Venus crossing in front of the sun. It would be another 108 years before another Venus solar transit. Brad and I shot this photograph at Big Sable Point Lighthouse at 9:18 p.m. on June 5, 2012 as the sun dropped toward Lake Michigan six minutes prior to sunset. What a phenomenal way to cap off Week 23 of Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute.

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

Three of nine baby skunks spotted in a farmyard south of Ludington parade past me after playing and hunting for food on a late spring morning. My vantage point provides a clear view of the widely varying black and white patterns of their coats. F4 at 1/1250, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 700mm

Three of nine baby skunks spotted in a farmyard south of Ludington parade past me after playing and hunting for food on a late spring morning. My vantage point provides a clear view of the widely varying black and white patterns of their coats. F4 at 1/1250, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 700mm

Baby skunks come nose to nose while playing in a farmyard on a June morning. The skunks are among nine babies born this month at Larry and Jo Sholtey's farm along South Lakeshore Drive south of Ludington. The playful youngsters have been providing excellent entertainment for the Sholteys and their guests. F4 at 1/500, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 700mm

Baby skunks come nose to nose while playing in a farmyard on a June morning. The skunks are among nine babies born this month at Larry and Jo Sholtey's farm along South Lakeshore Drive south of Ludington. The playful youngsters have been providing excellent entertainment for the Sholteys and their guests. F4 at 1/500, ISO 800, 500mm lens at 700mm

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

The combined patterns of snow, sand, dune grass, clouds, and snow fence make an interesting composition. I like this winter view of the Frankfort shoreline but I know it would be more colorful and more magical if enough light could get out from under those clouds and bounce off them. Nope; not happening tonight. At least I tried.

A seagull feather catches my eye after the wind brought it to rest amidst dune grass in the natural area north of Oval Beach at Saugatuck. The Saugatuck Natural Area beach scene looks even better to me as I move in close with my macro lens, causing the foreground and background to become soft and dreamlike. F3.3 at 1/500, ISO 800, 105mm lens at 105mm

I stand atop a dune at Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan, looking northward into the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. More than 170 acres of rolling, open dunes, wetland, and woods are now accessible to the public for non-motorized recreation as a result of a $19 million land acquisition made through grants and donations to the West Michigan Land Conservancy. F6.3 at 1/6, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

Hoary puccoon flowers stand out amidst the rolling dunes of the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. These flowers are among the many natural gems waiting to be discovered here by hikers and photographers. The Natural Resources Trust Fund provided more than half the $19 million needed to purchase and preserve the 173 acres of prime real estate for the public. More than 900 families and individuals have pitched in to help make the land acquisition possible. F5.6 at 1/60, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

A wave bursts over one of the pilings left from a dock that once jutted out into Lake Michigan at Oval Beach in Saugatuck. I like the repetitive patterns of the worn pilings and the way the waves and light play on them at sunset on a June evening. F8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 32mm

For over 10 years I have dreamed of making this photograph. It has been no secret that I love to make photographs while standing in the water, but I always had to be very careful to not get my camera too wet. Today, I no longer had to worry about my camera staying dry. A waterproof camera housing allowed me to get the immediacy that I have always dreamed about within the rolling breakers of Lake Michigan. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11.5mm

A friend of mine is letting me borrow a professional underwater housing for my Nikon D7000 camera body. He also loaned me his 10-17mm lens that works well with the housing. Today was my first crack at using the new equipment and I loved every second of it. Lake Michigan was very refreshing today. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11mm

For this photograph, my camera was completely underwater in Lake Michigan, safe inside a professional underwater housing. With today's bright sunshine and clear blue sky, I was able to capture good detail below the water line today. I am looking forward to shooting many more photos with this amazing piece of technology! F6.3 at 1/1250, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 12mm