Came across this cute little painted turtle while driving around the backroads of Northwestern Ontario last week. A good reminder to always pay attention, even while driving along desolate dirt roads. These little creatures can easily be mistaken for rocks and it saddens me whenever I see one that has been run over by a vehicle.
A layer of fog blankets the horizon as the Milky Way rises over Pete's Island and Lake Superior in Grand Portage, MN. I am incredibly fortunate to have this view right out in front of my house!
As I was coming back from Thunder Bay, Ontario this evening I noticed the fog looked really cool over the Susie Islands. So, I made an unexpected stop of about 45 minutes to watch the changing conditions and do some photographing of the fog. The bugs were AWFUL, and I came away with from the experience with blood all around the bottom edge of my hat, as the gnats tend to cluster there. Maybe I should invest in a head net. The photos were worth it, though. The fog was so beautiful and just got more beautiful as the sun gradually set behind me.
Yes! I am so excited! I finally was able to save up enough to purchase a "night" lens for my new camera. For years I have used Nikon's F-mount version of the 14-24mm f/2.8 lens, which I absolutely loved. I just picked up the new Z-mount version of the lens and if my first few shots are any indication, I'm going to love it just as much if not more than the F-mount version! For one thing its quite a bit lighter. And the surface area of the glass is smaller, which I like. The old lens had a huge piece of glass. And, my first shots reveal that the sharpness of the images is very good. This photograph was just taken from my backyard, looking at the Milky Way over my house. I'm really looking forward to getting out a lot more with this new lens!
Things warmed up considerably the night before last when a large line of thunderstorms moved through northeast Minnesota. The following morning Lake Superior was covered with a thick blanket of fog. I stopped on my way to work to make these photographs of the fog rolling over Francis Island, one of the islands within the Susie Islands archipelago.
Last week I went for a backroads drive and while passing by a favorite beaver pond I just had to stop and make a photograph. The fresh green colors of spring were so vibrant it seemed unreal. Another thing that was unreal were the bugs. I had wanted to sit by the pond for a while and watch the beavers (if you look closely you can see one of them swimming out in front of the lodge). However, as soon as I rolled down my window I was swarmed by a horde of mosquitoes. I only made 2 or 3 photos then I had to get out of there. I had to drive with all of my windows down for the next several miles to flush all of the mosquitoes out of the car.
A June view of the Fisher constellation, as it is known to the Ojibwe people. Also known as Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Or, as it is most commonly known, the Big Dipper.
The moonlight has been pretty amazing these past few nights. Generally speaking, unless I'm photographing the Milky Way, I don't like a sky that's completely devoid of any clouds. When there's moonlight, however, it's a different story. I feel like the right clouds combined with the right moonlight can really make a for a powerful image. And that certainly was the case a few nights ago when I made this photograph. The clouds made the sky so interesting and full of texture. I love that there were still some bright stars visible through the breaks in the clouds too.
I enjoy looking for opportunities that provide a moment for mindfulness. While mindfulness can be practiced pretty much anytime and anywhere, it is moments like those portrayed in this photo that I find the most beneficial. When I come across a scene like this, yes, I am taking some time to survey the scene and set up my tripod to make some photographs. But I am also taking time to just sit and "be" with everything around me.
Once my tripod and camera are set up, I typically will sit or lay on the ground for several minutes and just listen to everything that is going on around me. On this particular evening, I could hear red-winged blackbirds, pileated woodpeckers and a variety of songbirds off in the distance. Across the pond I could hear a beaver chewing on a piece of wood. At one point I heard but did not see a pair of sandhill cranes calling as they flew high overhead. I could also feel the breath of the calmest of breezes occasionally drift across my face. I could feel the light touch of the tiny black gnats as they danced across the surface of my exposed arms. I also noticed the intoxicating aromas of the forest, the rich scents of pine and spruce, the intense fragrance of the rainfall that had passed by just moments before and the humidity of the waters that surrounded me.
Taking the time to notice each of these things helps you appreciate each of them in their own way (yes, even the bugs!). Keeping an open mind and recognizing that each of these elements all have their place and purpose in nature helps me come away with a deeper sense of the necessity of all of these things. Not just for their place in nature but also for our own well-being. I can't always pull off a peaceful mindfulness experience but when I can the experience is that much more meaningful and makes its mark in the banks of my memory.
A peaceful moment of solitude before another day of hustle and bustle on the north shore begins...