February Stars and Lake Superior

The stars were amazing last night!  So was the light pollution from the south shore of Lake Superior.  For some reason, last night cities on the south shore of the lake were casting a very bright glow on the horizon.  The glow was bright enough to easily see with the naked eye.  I don't think I've ever seen these lights show up so prominently.  I kind of like the effect it adds to this photo though.  

Cedar Squirrel

I saw this cute little squirrel perched in the perfect spot for a photo while I was out on my last bike ride. 

What a great day for a ride!

 
Longing for another day like this... one of the best winter biking days I've experienced.  This was during last week's warm spell.  The temp was about 40 degrees, the trail was nice and firm and the sky was beautiful!

Night Magic

I got out with my Nikon D750 for a couple of hours last night to make some night sky images, something I've been slacking on the past couple of months.  It sure felt good to get out and spend some time under the night sky again.  On one of my recent bike rides I came across this giant maple tree that had one of the coolest shape I've ever seen! When I first saw it I thought it would make an excellent foreground for some night sky photography.  I can't wait to go back to this spot when the northern lights are out!

Magical Maple

I think this is my new favorite maple tree.  Some of you might remember a few years back I used to frequently photograph a tree that I called the "Ghost Maple".  Well, that tree has since fallen and lately on my bike rides I've been discovering several new ones that are just as interesting to photograph.  I can see myself coming back to this one time and time again.  Trouble is, it's not easy to get to.  Which makes it all the more rewarding when I am able to make images of it :-)

Surreal February Sunset

Some pretty sweet clouds at sunset last night.  No way I could pass up making this photograph!

A gloriously beautiful day for a ride!

I went for a 14 mile ride on the Ice Cream Truck today and wow what a beautiful day it was!  The ride started late in the afternoon and continued into the first couple of hours of the night.  It was so nice out I didn't even need long sleeves or a jacket. I wore a t-shirt under my ski vest and I was plenty warm the entire ride.  The clouds were beautiful all day and I took a break in a lovely stand of maple trees to watch the colorful sky as day faded into night.  As I watched the light fade from the sky a barred owl called repeatedly in the distance.  It sure was a surreal experience!

Calm Clouds over the Susie Islands

The sky is very gray this morning, with rain (yep, rain in February) in our forecast.  Yesterday morning, however, the sky was a beautiful blue and Lake Superior was in one of her very calm moods.  I captured this scene from the side of Highway 61 on my way to work.  

February Moonrise, Susie Islands

Last night's moonrise over the Susie Islands of Lake Superior in Grand Portage, Minnesota.  It sure was a beautiful and calm night!  After a very unusually warm day for February (the temperature hit 54 degrees) the night was very calm with almost no wind and very comfortable with a temp of around 34 degrees.  Perfect for watching the moonrise! If you look closely at the photo you can see a light on the horizon just to the right of the moon's reflection in the water.  That light is from Rock of Ages lighthouse, a few miles west of Isle Royale National Park.  

The Blizzard Busters!

We've received quite a bit of new snow in the past week and our local plow crews have been out diligently keeping the roads clear for us.  I don't really know why but I love taking pictures of the plow trucks in action!  The orange trucks are state trucks (MN Department of Transportation) and the yellow trucks are county (Cook County Highway Department).  Both do an excellent job taking care of our roads during these snow events!  

Night Ski

Last night I was finishing up a fat bike ride as it was getting dark, tonight I was finishing up a nice outing on the cross country skis.  Last night there was very bright moonlight, tonight it was very dark because of the thick cloud cover.  There was also almost a foot of fresh snow.  Oh, and last night the temperature was right around zero degrees... tonight it was 30!  

Zero Degree Moonlight Ride

Testing out my new bike light at the tail end of a 3 hour ride today.  It works great!  Really lights up the trail nicely.  If it was a little warmer out I would have kept on riding for a while longer.  But, after 13 miles with a LOT of hills I was ready to call it a day.  The view of the rising moon on the last stretch of trail was a great way to end an awesome ride!  

First Tracks in Fresh Snow

First tracks in fresh snow are the best!  I got out for a couple of hours on my backcountry skis yesterday to enjoy the snow we received the day before.  It was cold (the temp was zero degrees when I got back to the car) but the forest was absolutely beautiful.  

Orange Lichen on Lucille Island

Last night I was looking for some images for a client and I came across a batch of photos from the Susie Islands that I never did anything with.  It was fun seeing these photos and the memories that came flooding back from the time spent making them.  It really made me long for summer too.  This particular image I'm surprised I never did anything with because the colors in it are so striking.  The photo was taken from Lucille Island within the Susie Islands archipelago in Grand Portage, MN.  The view is on the south shore of the island, looking east towards the direction of Isle Royale National Park. 

Evening Ride on Upper Fluvial

Out for an evening ride on Upper Fluvial Trail at Pincushion Mountain in Grand Marais, MN.

High Falls Ice Abstract

Grand Portage State Park, MN - The ice formations at High Falls continue to impress, especially now that cold weather has finally returned!  During the January warm spell, the ice at the waterfall was dwindling and starting to look rather dingy.  Cold weather has freshened it up nicely, however, and new ice is being formed once again.  This photo shows the ice that is forming just to the right of the main channel of water that is still flowing.  The spray and mist that splashes up and lands here keeps freezing and building up on top of itself.  It makes for some really intriguing shapes and textures and it looks different each day!

Shoreline Ride

There aren't too many places where you can ride a groomed fat bike trail right along the shoreline of Lake Superior!  Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, MN.