Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute

During that golden hour before sunset, I am struck by the thousands of dimpled impressions left behind by hikers to the Lake Michigan shoreline observation area in the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness. Within a couple months, when the cold and snow arrives, footprints will be few and far between as fewer and fewer people will venture to this warm weather mecca. F13 at 1/60, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

The summer of 2012 is coming to a close. It has been a great summer for photographing the beauty of Michigan. I am generally not a fan of really hot summers, but the warm weather definitely heated up Lake Michigan and made it much more enjoyable for swimming and family fun. F22 at 1/8, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

The brilliant sunlight hitting the newly rebuilt walkway leading to the top of a tall sand dune at the Lake Michigan Campground became the focus of this image. If you and your family have not explored the beautiful Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness Area between Ludington and Manistee, the Lake Michigan Campground is a great place to start. F8 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

The golden light of the setting sun is showcasing the zigzag pattern Porter Creek is taking this evening. I love the way this outlet changes shape and course as the water finds the path of least resistance to Lake Michigan. It is one of countless magical natural places in the Nordhouse Dunes Federal Wilderness. F8 at 1/640, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 135mm

Calm and beautiful is the best way to describe the Pere Marquette River Flats. My favorite time of the day on the river is sunrise. This morning, the sunrise is gold and blue. This is heaven on earth to me. F9 at 1/250, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

The high winds coming off Lake Michigan this afternoon mixed with the bright sunshine made the green dune grass dance. It looked like giant green waves of water flowing back and forth. My job was to wait until the clouds in the background mimicked the trees. After an enjoyable five minute wait, the clouds were just where I wanted them to be. F11 at 1/160, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

Life is good in Ludington. Bring your family and friends here year round and you will find some of the most beautiful lakeshore in the entire country. On this mid-September day, I had the entire Ludington State Park to myself. Priceless! F11 at 1/320, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 35mm

While I was making a sunrise photograph this morning along the Pere Marquette River, my uncle, Rod Marble, called to tell me he was looking at the largest double rainbow he had ever seen. I stood up, turned around, and almost fainted. I instantly knew where I needed to head. My destination was Cherry Hill Farm on Conrad Road. F4.5 at 1/250, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

Roger and Marcia Hansen own two donkeys at their family farm on Conrad Road. These donkeys keep me entertained all year long every time I drive by. I used my widest angled lens and got extremely close to this white donkey in order to make his head look twice the size it should. This photograph will always remind me of "Donkey" from Shrek. F14 at 1/250, ISO 400, 14mm lens at 14mm

After a drizzly start to my hiking day at Kensington Metro Park, diffused sunlight creates a soft glow on leaves along one of the park's many miles of trails. I use a large telephoto lens and fast shutter speed to make only a cluster of maple leaves stand out sharply in the forest. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 3200, 300mm lens at 300mm

A sandhill crane pops up out of the grass for a look while playing hide-and-seek with me at Kensington Metro Park. I took many photographs of sandhill cranes today, some showing an entire bird or birds, but I find this tighter shot riveting and much less expected. F4.5 at 1/1250, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

A mourning dove catches my eye as I hike near the Kensington Metro Park Nature Center. I think quickly but move slowly to frame the bird cleanly against a backdrop of trees beginning to turn color. The subtly beautiful creature stays still long enough for me to finish making a picture that feels good. F9 at 1/500, ISO 3200, 300mm lens at 300mm

Wild turkeys file down a trail at the Kensington Metro Park nature preserve. They seem unbothered by my intrusion into their habitat. I am impressed by how wild it is at Kensington even though the southeast Michigan park borders one of Michigan's busiest freeways and is within a short distance of big cities. F9 at 1/500, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

A great blue heron stands motionless, waiting for lunch to swim his way on a pond at Kensington Metro Park between Brighton and Milford, Michigan. I love the elegant posture, self-control, and patience of these keen hunters. F22 at 1/500, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

I liked the delicate look of the patterns made by these grasses, lily pads, and reflections on a pond at Kensington Metro Park. I composed the image to feature only those elements that I found exciting.

It looks to me like this windmill is spinning clouds today. The windmill towers over the animal farm that is one of the added attractions of the Kensington Metro Park Farm Center. I guess in this case KFC does not stand for Kentucky Fried Chicken. F11 at 1/250, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

Heading westward across Michigan via highways and byways, I come upon this scene near Fowlerville. The quality of light playing on the goldenrod, grasses, trees and barns makes this look like a textured country tapestry. F11 at 1/250, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Big-time farming is a big and impressive business in Michigan. Today is a corn harvest day for Jorgensen Farms in Williamston, Michigan. Two giant John Deere combines load a Jorgensen Farms semi before harvesting more corn. F11 at 1/500, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 16mm

I have already made several images of the exterior of the famous Ada Covered Bridge in Ada, Michigan. Now, after moving inside, I find myself loving the geometric shapes of the bridge interior and the way light and shadow plays upon the timbers. Originally built in 1867, the bridge was restored in 1941. I think it is a work of art. F22 at 4 seconds, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

I have photographed my way westward across Michigan today. Clouds have been an important ingredient in several of my shots. Now my hunch that the supersized marshmallow clouds in the western sky are going to help create one of the most spectacular sunset light shows of the year is paying off. I have reached the Grand Haven shoreline just in time to see the sky on fire. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 130mm