“I pre-visualized how the Charlevoix Lighthouse might look three hours and 150 miles before I got there. The fresh coat of ice on the Charlevoix pier from yesterday’s north wind and waves looks even better than I envisioned.” – photographer Todd Reed.

The tree-lined west side of Merdel Manufacturing in Ludington, Michigan with fresh snowfall simplifying the color palette. Photo by Todd Reed.

“Like the thousands of other people packing downtown Ludington on New Year’s Eve, I am overwhelmed with excitement and a sense of community spirit as the giant ball touches down to mark the start of the New Year. ” – photographer Todd Reed.

“The fire barn at White Pine Village screams with color every day as I pass it by on my way to and from home.” – photographer Todd Reed

A stand of birch trees lining a creek along Fisher Road near Ludington, Michigan. Photography by Todd Reed.

“A male cardinal, in all his glory, perches on a rock along the Sable River. The red birds stand out year-around but especially brighten the winter landscape of the park and brighten my day.” – photographer Todd Reed.

“With its snowplow leading the way, a freight train barrels eastward through the countryside between Ludington and Scottville. Soon the plow will be needed to keep the Marquette Rail line clear.” – photographer Todd Reed.

“I have never seen so many milkweeds. In this amazing growing season, some Michigan fields have so much milkweed silk catching the sunlight that they look like cotton fields. The autumn winds scatter the seed-laden milkweed silk near and far.” – photographer Todd Reed.

“The day was Nov. 10, 1975. It was-and still is-the roughest I have seen Lake Michigan. I was amazed by the 20 to 30 foot waves slamming into the Ludington lighthouse.” – photographer Todd Reed

“Waves, clouds and trees turning color give Epworth Heights an autumn look. It is a quieter but beautiful time of year at the historic resort. North Point cottage stands out on the Lake Michigan shoreline just south of the Lincoln River outlet.” ~ photographer Todd Reed

“One of the concepts my son Brad and I emphasize to our photography students is framing. Using something in the foreground to frame or partially frame an image provides immediacy, depth and added interest elements. I framed this shot shortly after sunrise at the beginning of November along the Lost Lake Trail.” ~ Todd Reed

“Pine needles, a birch log and a maple leaf came to rest together on the forest floor. It was the first day of November and colorful leaves were scattered everywhere along the Lost Lake Trail. I spent much of the afternoon looking down. But of all the thousands of colorful leaves I saw that afternoon, this one stood out.” ~ Todd Reed

“If you love the countryside, you surely have a favorite road with barns and trees that you enjoy seeing year-around. The beautiful Polcin farm can be seen on Conrad Road east of Ludington.” ~ Todd Reed

“I admire the craftsmanship and the beauty of this wooden vessel as it sailed past me onto Lake Michigan into another spectacular Ludington sunset. I have seen the sailboat before, and longed to be able to photograph it closer to my vantage point. On this evening I was on the end of the South Breakwater and the view was picture perfect.” ~ Todd Reed

This tree graces the Ludington beach near the entrance to Stearns Park. It often frames picturesque views of Lake Michigan. Photograph by Todd Reed.

“At least once more in my lifetime I would like the privilege of photographing a moment as power-packed as this one I witnessed in September 1997. I was as charged as the air about me as an enormous storm cloud fired lightning bolts faster than a giant Gattling gun and swept across Lake Michigan toward my vantage point on the Ludington shoreline. I believe recording this magnificent moment was God’s will. We named it “God’s Light.” ~ Todd Reed

“I came upon this dune grass with Big Sable Lighthouse towering in the background. I knew immediately I was in the presence of a good picture.” ~ Todd Reed

A Mac Wood’s Dune Rides dune scooter provides a scenic view of the Silver Lake sand dunes in this photo by Todd Reed.

“Pentwater is a very charming, picturesque village at ground level. The view of Pentwater Lake from the air shows why so many boaters are attracted to one of Michigan’s most beautiful harbors.” ~ Todd Reed

“The asparagus-picking season is over in this field along South Scottville Road. The plants are left for now to grow wild. This is the time of year when I start to find these fields very photogenic. I find the bright color, soft look and repetitive patterns of the overgrown plants eye-catching.” ~ Todd Reed

“Old enough to explore, a fawn pauses to check out a potential threat at the edge of its still small world in a swale between dunes near the Sable River. Hundreds of park visitors swimming, fishing, or just sitting on the beach have no idea the nearby swale is the fawn’s first home.” ~ Todd Reed

A porcupine wisely stood perfectly still – blending its body into a tree trunk at Ludington State Park – as photographer Todd Reed captured its portrait.

A handcrafted wooden dinghy drifted lazily upon the still waters of Pentwater Lake on a summer evening in this photograph by Todd Reed.

Like a picture out of its past, Big Point Sable Lighthouse keepers’ quarters glow with lights in this photo by Todd Reed.

A white horse pastured along old U.S. 31 between Ludington and Pentwater, photographed by Todd Reed.

“Curious cows line a fence, while two others check things out from the flapped doorway that allows them to go in and out of their barn as they please. I always look forward to seeing …

“A wild Iris greeted me on a dewy morning, the first week of June in one of the wetland areas of the trail near Hamlin Lake.” ~ Todd Reed

“Brad and I say, ‘Clouds are your friends.’ After waiting two hours on Easter at the base of the Father Marquette monument in Buttersville, a bright spot in the fast-moving clouds lines up perfectly with …

“Our adrenalin flew off the chart when this bald eagle swept right over the top of our photography skiff on Hamlin Lake.” ~ Todd Reed

“The foot of Ferry Street has long been one of my favorite vantage points to look over Ludington harbor. Winter sunrises provide some of the best views. The carferry Badger is at left and the carferry City of Midland (since converted to a barge) at right.” ~ Todd Reed

“A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” applies to photography. Todd Reed captured the carferry Badger as it appeared beneath a rainbow in Ludington.

Traveling by horse and buggy is a way of life for the Amish families who have settled in Riverton and the surrounding areas. On the verge of spring, I was photographing a Riverton farm near the sunset when a horse and buggy came down Hawley Road at a fast pace. Even though the Amish choose a simpler way of life, they always seem to be on the move, undaunted by hard work, or lack of life’s luxuries. I appreciate that they always seem to have time to give a cheerful wave as they pass by.

“Heaven knows how many times a God beam like this one has lit the Ludington lighthouse. When I saw the sky open and the light pour down. I quickly maneuvered my small boat close to the light, lay over the gunwale, and fired away for about 20 glorious seconds before the clouds and spotlight moved on.” – Todd Reed

Photographer Todd Reed captured a huge storm on November 6, 2007. The photographer states, “Lake Michigan looked like it was in a Mix Master.”