What a magical night, basking under the glow of the stars from above and the blinking green of the fireflies below. The fireflies were AMAZING. There were so many of them... more than I think I've ever seen before. It made for some really cool photographs. This was taken at the Greenwich Wind Farm in Dorion, Ontario after the sun went down. The glow in the sky is the last little bit of daylight fading away, slowly revealing a world of magic and wonder.
Milky Way over The Toadstools
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
Willis Creek Canyon was the first slot canyon hike that I did in the southwest several years ago. It was nice to revisit it after so many years. It was just as amazing as I remembered it from that first visit. A relatively easy hike, Willis Creek is also special because it always has running water (at least, as far as I know it does). The canyon walls get pretty high in a few places and as you hike through the canyon it's hard to decide when to turn around because you keep wanting to see what's around the next corner!
As you might guess by it's name, sunsets are pretty amazing at Sunset Arch. As it turns out, sunrises are pretty awesome too! This arch always remind me somewhat of a dragon. I think its because of the "scaly" look it has along its top edge.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. I was sad to see the night end during my visit to Sunset Arch. It was such a beautiful night I wanted it to last longer. Even so, the coming of day was beautiful as well. The clouds moving over the arch made for a nice photo as the first light of day brightened the horizon.
Standing alone is better than standing with people who don't value you.
I was trying to think of a sentiment to go along with this photo, and one came to me as soon as I opened my Instagram feed this morning. The thought was too good... I just had to share it.
This photo was made in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, not far from Lake Powell. I had spent most of the night staring in awe at this arch with the night sky hovering above, watching as little puffs of clouds passed silently overhead. It was so calm and quiet there wasn't even the slightest sound to break the silence of the night.
Growing up in the land of water here in northern Minnesota, completely silent nights are very hard to come by. Water is always moving, and with that movement there is sound. In stark contrast to that, I have experienced several nights in the desert where the silence is deafening. And I love it.
"Don't look back unless in gratitude. Look forward, up and beyond limitations and get inspired with what could be instead of fretting about what isn't. Above all else be positive around the opportunities you can create for yourself in the future."
The passage above is borrowed from a favorite blog post that I read this week. I felt like it was a good companion thought to go along with this photo, which was taken in Nipigon, Ontario as we were approaching the June full moon phase.
