Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute

This day started with a massive double rainbow in the west and now we have some of the largest, most distinct God beams I have ever seen. Days like today make my job as a photographer a whole lot easier, but more importantly, more fun. F11 at 1/60, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 145mm

By setting my camera aperture to F22 and shooting directly into the sun, I was able to make it appear like the Ludington North Breakwater Light had a crown of sunshine. Shooting on full auto would have never allowed for this look or feel. At our weekend workshops, we teach our students how to use their own cameras on full manual. F22 at 1/80, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

The God beams have quickly disappeared and now the sky is flaming red, yellow, and orange. My favorite part of this composition is the lone fisherman standing at the end of the breakwall. He became the little person in the big world and he gives the photograph a sense of scale. The tiny fisherman makes the sky seem 10 times more powerful. F2.8 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

The God beams have quickly disappeared and now the sky is flaming red, yellow, and orange. My favorite part of this composition is the lone fisherman standing at the end of the breakwall. He became the little person in the big world and he gives the photograph a sense of scale. The tiny fisherman makes the sky seem 10 times more powerful. F2.8 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

I have always been impressed with the brilliant engineering of the Ludington North Breakwater Light. Obviously it was designed well before computers were ever imagined, but they still had the foresight to make the portholes line up with each other on opposing sides so that the sunlight during a sunset would shine through the entire lighthouse. F2.8 at 1/1000, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

As the colors of tonight's sunset changed by the minute, I watched the orange, red, and yellow sunset quickly turn to purple and magenta. Luckily, I was exposing as the purple and magenta started to take over the sky. Experiencing sunsets in Ludington never gets old. F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 92mm

A few weeks ago during Week 37 of the Tuesdays Project, my dad and I discovered a public boat ramp on Upper Hamlin Lake off Nurnberg Road. We discussed that it would be an excellent place to photograph a sunrise. There are not a lot of great vantage points in our area to shoot stunning sunrise photos so we were really excited. This morning I knew right where to head first. F22 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 32mm

A box turtle makes its way along the edge of a country road near Ruby Creek. I am eye to eye with this beautiful creature because its sunshine-bathed yellow shell and body grabbed my attention like a turtle-crossing sign as I was driving eastward across the Michigan countryside. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

The golden light from the beautiful sunrise this morning turned the entire forest a vibrant golden-yellow color. Look at the detail on these berries. A few minutes earlier they were dull and shapeless looking. Minutes after making this photograph the light got too bright and all of the detail was washed away. Timing and chasing the light is everything in photography. F10 at 1/13, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Javen Dillenbeck is dreaming of catching a big salmon on his first fall salmon fishing trip to the Pere Marquette River with his dad and other family members. My camera catches him wading in the P.M. at Gleason's Landing. The Dillenbecks love traveling north from Jonesville in Hillsdale County to enjoy the Michigan outdoors surrounding their Baldwin area cabin. F2.8 at 1/640, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 130mm

I almost missed spotting this picture. After backing up my Suburban on a country road between Evart and Clare, Michigan, for a second look, I stared in awe at a tapestry of various colored leaves clinging to the curving branches of a grand old maple tree in a farm field. I selected a large telephoto lens to focus only on an especially attractive portion of the tree.

As I drive by the W.C. Cornwell Ranch north of Clare, Michigan, I get a quick look at a nice young buck trotting through one of the many pastures of the big centennial farm. From the looks of this deer, the eating is good at Cornwell Ranch. F10 at 1/800, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

A fox darts for cover moments after I spotted it lying in a farm field south of Clare, Michigan. At first I thought I was seeing a fawn lying down in the grass. What a surprise to see a fox pop up. F9 at 1/800, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

I have seen a lot of beautiful farm fields but none more distinctive than this big rolling field at OK Farms north of Clare. Green Bay Packer fans have to love this green and gold Michigan field, featuring a mix of clover and wheat. Erma Kleinhardt, who has lived on the family farm all her life, said the field will be solid green with clover in time for her granddaughter's wedding next year. F16 at 1/125, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

At first curious about the human visitor to OK Farms north of Clare, a Holstein suddenly shifts its attention to the bird that has landed on a wire right in front of the cow's face. Cows are very curious creatures. F9 at 1/250, ISO 200, 300mm lens at 300mm

Farming is big business in Clare, one of Michigan's busiest agricultural areas. The Johnston Elevator in downtown Clare has served several generations of farmers. I love that the traditional elevator building has been maintained as modern additions have been added. F5.6 at 1/400, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 32mm

An Amish farmer carries on the Amish tradition of using horses instead of a tractor for pulling power on his Clare, Michigan farm. However, a modern farm implement makes his planting job easier. The machine plants 15 rows at a time without the need to till. F8 at 1/800, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

Picking out her pumpkin is a big task for 18-month-old Alice Stutzman. She checks some excellent prospects at Tice's Farm Market in Clare, Michigan. The pumpkin harvest is a traditional, colorful sign of the arrival of fall in Michigan. F11 at 1/125, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

There is a lot of truth in the saying, "There is no place like home." As I was photographing this beautiful sunset at the First Curve in the Ludington State Park, I was feeling very fortunate to live in Ludington my entire life. Thousands of people visit here every year and dream about the day they can retire to Ludington. I hope to forever call Ludington my home. F6.3 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

For decades many local high school and college-age kids have spent time exploring the cliffs south of Ludington. I have heard a few different names for the gorgeous cliffs, but the most common is Peter Pan Land. In this photo you can clearly see the sculpted beauty of the cliffs behind the SS Badger as she heads into port. All of this land is now privately owned and trespassing is frowned upon. F4.5 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 600mm