Fog, yard light and the Milky Way

 

I don't really like to say it, but sometimes light pollution can be pretty. Such as that time when I went out in my yard after dark to see how the sky looked only to realize I couldn't see the sky because of the fog. The neighbor's yard light made for some intriguing light rays shining up into the fog, so I decided to photograph that.  As I was making images, the fog quickly started to burn off and soon the stars were visible above the fog.  It was a surreal moment for sure and I had a lot of fun making image after image as the fog continued to burn off. 

Moonrise over Rock of Ages

 

I was looking through some older photo folders today and came across this image which I really found intriguing. At first glance it really didn't look like much but the more I looked at it the more I liked the simplicity of it. And I love how the moon looks through the clouds.  Then I noticed the lighthouse.  If you look closely (you might have to zoom in on the image), you can see Rock of Ages Lighthouse on the horizon. 

I photographed this from the mainland in Grand Portage, MN using a Tamron 150-600mm lens at 420mm.  From this vantage point, Rock of Ages is more than 16 miles away from mainland Minnesota and roughly 2.5 miles away from the westernmost tip of Washington Island, which is part of Isle Royale National Park. 

Backyard Beauty

 

Wow, is it ever beautiful outside tonight!  The moon is bright and the stars are bold, making for quite an intriguing scene photographed from my back yard. 

Superior Steam, 24 below zero on Lake Superior

 

What a beautiful morning it was over Lake Superior today.  Bitter cold temperatures make for extreme beauty.  That is one thing I've learned in my life and in my experiences as a photographer. Some of the most dramatic images come from the most dramatic weather. 

January 31st Moon Ring

 

Pretty crazy ring around the moon last night!  These photos were taken over my house at about 7:00 PM. 

Milky Way Reflection - White Pocket

 

Coming across this scene was more than I could have ever hoped for during my overnight at the White Pocket in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument this past October.  Just visiting a place such as this is special enough, but if I'm able to come away with a few interesting photographs it makes the experience even more memorable.  On top of that, being in the middle of the desert and finding this pool of water reflecting the heavens above, made it unforgettable.  As it is above, so it is below.  The connection of earth and sky... something I always strive to show in my photographs. 

Winter Light

 

Not something I would normally photograph but for some reason this really caught my eye. The light on the foreground trees, the dark shadows in the deeper part of the woods, and the little tufts of snow on the ground... it all spoke to me.