Wading Moose

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These images were taken on the Pigeon River in northeast Minnesota. The Pigeon River forms the border between northeast Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. I work at a state park that is right on the river, and during my shift at work I noticed there was this moose hanging around most of the afternoon on the river. After work that evening I brought my kayak out on the river and was able to get fairly close to this moose for several shots. This moose was actually suffering quite badly from brain worm, and as a result more often than not the moose was swimming in circles out in the middle of the river. Every once in a while she would get out on shore and walk around a little, but always she returned to the river and whenever she did she would end up swimming in circles. I notified the local wildlife biologist and told him I would check again in the morning to see if she was still around. The next morning before work I again brought my kayak out on the river but after searching upstream and down she was nowhere to be found, and hasn't been seen since. These images were shot from my kayak from about 40 feet away using my Canon EF 100-400mm lens.

Bluegrass and Partridge Falls abstract

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A couple of interesting things I photographed today... the image above was made along the banks of "Little Lake" in the village of Grand Portage. These grasses along the edge of the lake were backed by some incredibly calm and very blue water. I couldn't resist making a shot! I call this image "Bluegrass".

The image below was made at Partridge Falls on the Pigeon River. I've photographed Partridge Falls many, many times and was looking to do something a little different this time around. This image is a shot of the middle of the waterfall, and is a 1/15 second exposure during which I also panned the camera a short distance. The resulting image is not something that is normally seen when viewing a waterfall with your naked eye.

Owachomo Bridge, Newspaper Rock, Goosenecks State Park

Staying in Blanding, Utah tonight. After a day filled with sunshine, spotty rain, occasional snow showers, and some pretty good dust storms (not to mention some REALLY cool clouds throughout the day), I caught a nice sunset over Owachomo Bridge at Natural Bridges National Monument. Was hoping to photograph some stars over the same bridge, but it was too cloudy.



Some other highlights from today: Stopped by Newspaper Rock in Canyonlands National Park, an amazing rock which has probably the highest concentration of petroglyphs of any single rock in the Southwest. I also drove through some intense rain today, followed by some amazing skies as the storm broke up. As I drove North from Monument Valley I took a quick side trip to Goosenecks State Park to photograph the sky above the bends in the San Juan River.

Antelope Canyon

WOW... Antelope Canyon is... in a word... SPECTACULAR!!!!! Definitely some of the most fascinating light I have ever seen. I spent 4.5 hours in the canyon. My mind is officially blown :-)



Above: The entrance to the canyon. Only about two feet wide at its beginning, the canyon is a bit of a squeeze to climb down into it!



Once you are down in the canyon, it does open up and travel through it is a bit easier than at the beginning. There are several areas, though, where it is only wide enough for one person to walk through at a time.



Above: A shot of Lionel, one of the Navajo guides that brings tour groups through the canyon.



Every place you look in the canyon is a treat for the eyes. The shapes and lines in the canyon walls provide for unlimited photo opportunities. The reflected light coming from above makes for some of the most amazing light that a photographer will ever see.

Lake Powell - Alstrom Point

Now in Page, Arizona after a VERY WINDY drive from Moab. I stopped at the entrance to Antelope Canyon to inquire about shooting there tomorrow. It's 80 degrees and the Navajo people that were at the canyon entrance were wearing sweaters. Sheesh. I'm wearing a t-shirt and I'm too warm!



After checking in at Antelope Canyon and stopping for a bite to eat in Page, I drove out to Alstrom Point (and back) on Lake Powell. The road was nice and dry, a few deep hard ruts in some places but otherwise not bad. Sunset was spectacular, but the wind was a pain. Watched the moon come up over Lake Powell. Tomorrow I head into Antelope Canyon!

Arches National Park

Great morning in Arches... headed out well before sunrise so I could be at a vantage point that allows you to see Turret Arch THROUGH North Window... it's an awesome view. Once the sun came up and the first light started to hit the arch, the rocks just GLOWED. It was awesome. I shared the spot with a medium-format film photographer from Montana.





I spent a couple of days at Arches, which is a park that I do not like during the day... there are just too many people. Early in the morning and late in the evening, however, it is sublime. Last night in the park was incredible. It was so quiet you could actually hear yourself think. The intense quiet of this evening is quite a stark contrast compared to a couple of days ago in the photography blind in Nebraska, with the sound of several hundred thousand Sandhill Cranes filling the air. Tomorrow I'm off to Page, Arizona to photograph Antelope Canyon!



Above: Sunset hiker at Turret Arch

Nebraska - Sandhill Crane migration!

As many of you know, each year for the past few years I've made a pilgrimage to Nebraska in March to photograph the large gathering of Sandhill Cranes that takes place on the Platte River. This year my friend Roger (http://www.rogernordstromphoto.com/ accompanied me on my trip to Nebraska. We had a great time photographing the birds over a period of several days. The highlight of this year's trip was staying in an overnight photography blind at the Rowe Sanctuary. The overnight blind offered up some incredible views of the birds. One thing we learned from our night in the overnight blind is that the birds make noise ALL NIGHT LONG! They did quiet down a bit between about 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. but they definitely make quite a racket throughout the entire night. I say this every year so I'm going to say it again this year... if you've never been to Nebraska in March to see this migration, you NEED to go! It is one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles a person can see! I can't wait until next year so I can experience the Cranes again :-)