Summer

I never tire of experiencing Ludington from new perspectives. I made this photograph from 11,500 feet above Ludington with a telephoto zoom lens. I hope you and your family and friends find time to come experience everything the Ludington area has to offer. F9 at 1/640, ISO 400, 70-200mm lens at 70mm

For the evening shoot of Week 30 of "Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed" I headed to the Western Michigan Fair in Ludington. My first stop was to photograph the truck and tractor pull. I am a huge fan of Chevy and GMC pickups and this one owned by Mike Tomac is about as awesome as it gets. Mike had one of the longest pulls of the night in the Hot Diesel Class. F5 at 1/250, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

For years, this photograph has been living in my head and haunting me. I just hadn't gotten off my butt and made the image. After the truck and tractor pull, I got onto the Pharaoh's Fury ride inside the Midway at the Western Michigan fair. Towards the end of my three-minute gut-dropping ride, I finally figured out the best camera settings and angle to make this picture. It feels good to not be chasing ghosts anymore. F10 at 1/10, ISO 1600, 18-50mm lens at 22mm

For years I have heard from friends that the fireworks at the Western Michigan Fair are as good or better than the Fourth of July fireworks at the Ludington city beach. After experiencing both shows this year, my vote is for the Western Michigan Fair. I love music and it was cool that the fireworks display was timed perfectly to the music being played through the grandstand at the fair grounds. F8 at 2 seconds, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 18mm

While Brad is using a wide-angle lens to photograph wake boarder James White, Bass Lake and the famous Three Sisters, I use a telephoto lens to make an up-close and personal image of the 15-year-old daredevil. F8 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

Looking at sunbathers on an island at the Bass Lake Outlet to Lake Michigan, I find myself wanting to sing a favorite Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton song about "Islands in the Stream." What a special piece of Michigan real estate this spot is! F6.3 at 1/500, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

A beautiful breaking wave comes ashore this afternoon at the Bass Lake Outlet along the Lake Michigan shoreline near Pentwater, Michigan. In the distance a family is enjoying playing in the warm water of the outlet. F8 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

Today, while exploring the dam at the Bass Lake Outlet with an underwater housing for my camera, I decided to try shooting from under the water straight up towards the sky. The resulting photograph turned out a lot cooler than I thought it would. I love trying new things with my camera. F13 at 1/2000, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

With an underwater camera housing, I got a unique perspective of the dam at the Bass Lake Outlet. The water coming over the dam felt as warm as a hot tub. I could have stood in the water the entire day. F9 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 10mm

As this fawn's first year on earth continues to evolve, it now gets to experience balmy summer evenings, luscious grasses and other tasty foods. Life in West Michigan appears to be treating this healthy-looking deer kindly. I hope it continues to eat well while the warm weather food supply is abundant. F2.8 at 1/250, ISO 1600, 300mm lens at 300mm

I am running with my large telephoto lens, camera and tripod to get to the Lake Michigan shoreline in time to capture the sun and colorful summer sky. It's just another great ending to another great Great Lakes Day. F5.6 at 1/1000, ISO 800, 300mm lens at 300mm

When I am out photographing, especially when the light is extraordinary, I feel like my soul is coming to life. During this incredible sunrise over the Pere Marquette River Flats, every muscle in my body was twinging with excitement as the world around me was also coming to life. F8 at 20 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

This Tuesday morning sunrise just kept getting better and better. As the sun rose, it created fog over the Pere Marquette River Flats. The calm water easily reflected the trees and clouds while the sun painted the entire scene beautiful pastel colors. F8 at 1 second, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 44mm

Who knew that zucchini plants have such beautiful flowers? Not me. But am I glad I got out of the car to check out the flowers up close and personal. I later learn that this female zucchini flower will only be open for a few hours daily during its short life, allowing little time for pollination. F11 at 1/80, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

A crop dusting plane looks like it is about to land in a Michigan farm field. I admire the pilot's skill and nerve as he deftly maneuvers around trees and utility lines to be able to spray entire fields along the Mason-Oceana county line. F6.3 at 1/1000, ISO 400, 300mm lens at 300mm

I hope everyone gets an opportunity someday to see Michigan farms and homesteads from above. The view today of this majestic farm in Eastern Mason County near the Pere Marquette River made me proud to be a Michigander. F9 at 1/400, ISO 800, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Farmer Ralph Oomen pauses by his truck after looking over a 100-acre field of zucchini in a West Michigan field. Ralph and his brother Ken of Oomen Brothers Farm in Hart, Michigan, grow 1,500 acres of vegetables. F11 at 1/80, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 16mm

If you have had the opportunity to see Michigan's Manistee National Forest from the air, you know how unbelievably dense the forest actually is. Today, I was drawn to the beautiful patterns created by the different shades of green on the trees below. F8 at 1/400, ISO 400, 18-50mm lens at 50mm

Queen Anne's Lace and other wildflowers look like an impressionist painter's dream to my eye as I watch them sway in the morning breeze along a Michigan roadway. August is the best time to see and appreciate mile upon mile of wildflowers along Michigan's highways and byways. F6.3 at 1/640, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 80mm

My dad and I have photographed several bald eagles this year on different Tuesdays, but this was the first day we actually set out to specifically photograph the majestic animal at the Ludington State Park. In two short hours, we successfully photographed five different bald eagles. I never tire of seeing these massive birds populating the woods in Michigan. F5.6 at 1/6400, ISO 800, 600mm lens at 840mm