Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: A Michigan Tribute

Cresting a steep hill on US10, I am greeted by an impressive view of the sun setting over the Michigan countryside near Evart. I pull over quickly, grab the camera and tripod and try to make a picture that conveys the beauty of this rural Michigan landscape view. F4.5 at 1/1600, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

As the sun was getting ready to set over Lake Michigan tonight, I turned to the southeast and noticed the giant moon in the blue sky overhead. Luckily, I already had my giant 600mm F4 lens out and on the tripod. I pulled the 1.4 extender out of my bag and attached it between my camera body and the end of my lens to help zoom in on the vibrant moon even more. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 600mm lens at 840mm

For years I have been seeing photos on Facebook of fall color at the Lake of the Clouds inside the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Earlier this year my dad and I decided that we would head to the Lake of the Clouds during peak color for our Tuesdays Project. I am so glad we did. It is one of the most beautiful views in all of America. I shot this photo in total darkness an hour before sunrise. I love that digital cameras see in the dark. F4.5 at 179 seconds, ISO 200, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

As the warm magic light hits the escarpment of the lookout at the Lake of the Clouds inside the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, I quickly position my camera and tripod at a steep angle to capture the fog rising above the Big Carp River far below. F8 at 1/30, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

If this is not God’s world I don’t know what is. I waited in the dark along with my son Brad for more than an hour for the sun to peek over the mountains at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I felt like a very small person as the sun began to light the big, beautiful world around me at Lake of the Clouds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

This alpine-like view looks more like Yosemite to me than anything I have seen in Michigan before today. I can envision my outdoor photography hero, the late Galen Rowell, hanging off this rocky cliff with his camera in hand at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park like he did so many times at Yosemite. I am sticking to the walkway to capture this morning image at Lake of the Clouds. F22 at 1/8, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

The Porcupine Mountains loom large and colorful in the distance as I get up close and personal with the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior at the edge of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. F32 at 1/10, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Morning fog rises along the shoreline of Lake Superior near the South Boundary Road at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I like the way the fog stands out against the shadowy early morning light and yet the fall color stands out as well. F22 at 1/15, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 92mm

Near the main entrance of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park we came across beautiful Ash Creek, which empties into Lake Superior. This morning I lay down on my stomach in the wet sand to capture the reflections of the fall color in the slow moving water. If you look closely, you will also see the moon and its reflection. F10 at 1/100, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

The foreground in this photograph of Manido Falls is the most important part of the composition. When focusing on building a strong middle ground and background, it is easy to forget the most important part, the foreground. I micro-composed the image so that the orange tree would show up in the reflection of the water in the foreground. F8 at 1/25, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

A section of Manido Falls on the Presque Isle River catches my eye at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The mid-morning sun plays nicely off the water and the trees from this vantage point. I move in close to keep the "burned up" front-lit trees further to the right out of my image. F22 at 0.3, ISO 400, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

I find the patterns of rock, water, and colorful woods at Manido Falls exquisite on their own, but combined together the patterns make this one of my favorite views so far in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Hiking to this waterfall is well worth the effort. F22 at 1 second, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

When you are photographing fall color and the sun becomes too bright to shoot the trees and leaves, try shooting the reflections of the bright colors. The mist from Manido Falls on the Presque Isle River at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park made the rocky surface very reflective. By positioning myself at just the right angle, I was able to show the reflections of the brilliant colors. F22 at 1/5, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

When you are photographing fall color and the sun becomes too bright to shoot the trees and leaves, try shooting the reflections of the bright colors. The mist from Manido Falls on the Presque Isle River at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park made the rocky surface very reflective. By positioning myself at just the right angle, I was able to show the reflections of the brilliant colors. F22 at 1/5, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

I love photographing small, intimate details of large objects and giving a fresh view of common objects. Today I moved in close with my telephoto macro lens on a small, but colorful section of Manido Falls on the Presque Isle River at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I love how the reflections of the fall color on the surface of the water look like flowing flames. F4.5 at 1/640, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Imagine a 25-mile-long narrow road lined on both sides with trees that appear to be on fire with vibrant fall colors. Now imagine the forest floor covered in leaves and growth that is also flaming with fall colors. This is what South Boundary Road looks like today, at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. F5.6 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

This is the largest white birch tree I have ever seen. My dad and I spotted it while we were driving on South Boundary Road at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I love how the trunk makes a slow s-curve and the bright colors from the surrounding trees make the birch tree stand out even more. F9 at 1/50, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 24mm

A hiker weaves her way down the meandering trail through the mature white birch forest at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The reward at the end of the trail is a small rental cabin in the woods less than 100 yards from Lake Superior. I want to rent that cabin someday. F11 at 1/60, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 86mm

I swear I did not place this leaf on this birch tree at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. As a photojournalist, I would call this a "found" picture. As an outdoor photographer, I consider it a discovery worthy of waiting for the sun to add some "magic light." The sun strikes the leaf before the breeze gets strong enough to blow it away. F8 at 1/250, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 185mm

Hikers pause to savor the view from the summit escarpment at Lake of the Clouds inside the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. It seems to me there must be a million colorful trees to appreciate from this incredible vantage point. I know I am going to continue to appreciate this autumn view until darkness takes it away. F13 at 1/60, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm