Snow Globe

 

With insanely high winds the past couple of days, it feels as though we have been living inside a snow globe. I hope you all are staying safe and warm and are enjoying the holiday season! These photos are of the Catholic church in Grand Portage, MN. 

Fresh Snow at Grand Portage State Park

 

We have a lot of snow already this winter!  Lately it seems like it's been snowing every day. I took these photos along the High Falls Trail in Grand Portage State Park. The waterfall is certainly beautiful in December, before it fully freezes!  Water was running over the top of the ice which made for a really cool scene. The fresh snow along the trail was beautiful as well. 

The Winter Solstice

 

As we make our way through the shortest day/longest night of the year, let us not forget the importance of darkness. It wasn't that long ago, really, that we humans survived and even thrived despite not having the capability of lighting the night the way we do today. Being able to see the stars connects us to that not-so-distant history. 

Sunlight is important for our health, but so is darkness. And the night brings a beauty to the sky that is unparalleled. So I say... embrace the night! Like everything in nature, darkness moves in cycles. Right now we have the longest period of darkness that we see each year. And, before we know it, we'll once again have the longest period of daylight that we see each year. Appreciate both for the wonderful things that they are. 

Beautiful ring around the moon!

 

There is a BEAUTIFUL ring around the moon tonight!  This photograph was made looking to the southeast from my driveway along the Lake Superior shoreline. 

Jeep camping under the Milky Way

 

My absolute favorite thing to do... spend time under a sky filled with stars and the glow of the Milky Way. This "self portrait" photograph was made in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona, at a dispersed campsite near the "White Pocket", a unique and endlessly fascinating area filled with surreal eroded sandstone formations. The night skies of the southwestern U.S. are a huge draw for me. The desert is a magical place that I never tire of. No matter how much time I spend there, I always yearn for more. 

A beautiful late November day!

 

We had some VERY nice weather today, a stark contrast to what the norm has been this November. Today the sun was out and the temperature was in the upper 40's.  I'll take that over cloudy skies, storms and freezing rain any day!  This beaver seemed to agree, as he/she was also out taking advantage of the abnormally nice weather. 

Autumn Change

Yesterday the weather was crazy perfect for October. It was warm, the air was calm and the leaves were beautiful; probably as good as they're going to get. 

Last night some thunderstorms rolled through and today it's raining. The temps are supposed to drop and there might even be some snow flurries in the coming days. The weather is, if nothing else, a reminder that change is a constant in our lives. 

I have learned, over the years, that some may not like change all that much, tending to think of it as a negative thing. For my own part, I try to see the positive side of change (as much as possible, anyway... don't get me wrong, I definitely have my negative moments too). And in that process I've discovered that, even though things may be changing overall for what seems to be the worst, there is always something beautiful to see as well. 

Sunny Autumn Days

 

This past weekend was definitely the peak for the fall colors this year.  The forest was glowing like crazy almost everywhere you went. The leaves are falling now and before long the trees will be bare and the night sky will be revealed in all its glory once again from beneath the forest canopy!

Maybe I'll just grow in all the directions...

 

What a year for the maples!  Their colors this year have been phenomenal.  While out wandering around in the woods I came across this really interesting tree that couldn't seem to decide which way it wanted to grow... so it just said I'll grow in every direction I possibly can 😊

Autumn Details

 

The maples have been exceptional this year!  Such vibrant colors all around. This past Friday I spent the whole day out in the woods and came away with quite a few photos.  These are a few of my favorites from that day. 

Pigeon River Kingfisher

 

Kingfishers have, for me at least, been very difficult to photograph.  I've heard them plenty of times when I'm out paddling or while hiking near a river or lakeshore. But, they rarely come close enough or stay still long enough to make a decent photo. This summer, however, they have been slowly revealing themselves to me. 

On a few occasions I've been able to observe and photograph them as I slowly drift down the local rivers. The most recent encounter was this past Friday, as I was floating down the Pigeon River. I came around a bend in the river and there, perched perfectly on this tree arcing out over the water, was a kingfisher surveying his hunting waters below. As I drifted closer and closer, I couldn't believe how close he was allowing me to get.  Eventually, he dropped down from his perch and flew past me, headed upriver. 

Prime Time for Fall Colors

 

The fall colors may have been late to arrive this year but now that they're here, they're really good!  This is most likely the peak weekend for the maples. Most of their leaves will probably be on the ground by next weekend then it's the birch, aspen and tamarack show.  What an incredibly beautiful time of year!

Fall Color Reflections

 

One of the calmest, most peaceful mornings I've ever experienced. More often than not, a dominant characteristic of fall days seems to be the wind.  Not on this day, however. You could hear a squirrel drop a pine cone from a mile away. All I could hear at this moment, though, was the deafening silence and the occasional soft "oooOOOooo" call of a loon from the next lake over, behind the ridge you see here.  

Fall colors and frosty meadow

 

The other night the temp got pretty cold, down to about 25 degrees. The next morning there was quite a bit of frost in some areas. This meadow with a thick layer of frost looked particularly beautiful with the fall colors in the foreground. 

Road to the Stars

 

I can't imagine ever getting tired of the stars. I am endlessly fascinated by them. Every time I look up at night I am reminded of how awesome the universe is. 

It's pretty easy to get caught up in the everyday grind that is "normal" life. I think we all need something that reminds us of what's really important. For me, that something is the night sky. When I'm gazing up at the stars, everything else just melts away. And I'm reminded that what really matters is this moment, right here and right now. You live where you are. 

Forest Details

 

A couple of interesting things we found yesterday morning while out wandering around in the woods.  Maple tree reflections and a beaver-chewed ash tree on a local lake. 

Aurora Surprise

 

A nice little showing of northern lights last night with some interesting colors. Windy and cold conditions, but beautiful as always!

September Star Trails

 

95 minute exposure of the northern night sky on September 6, 2022. 

Floating Feather

 

I saw this the last time I was out canoeing. Never saw the bird that dropped it, but was intrigued by this and several others that were drifting down the river. The abstract feel of it mesmerized me. 

September Sunrise over Lake Superior

 

It's been a while since I've gotten out early enough to photograph a sunrise.  I picked a good morning to go out because the sunrise on this day certainly didn't disappoint!  I was excited when I saw that I captured a gull flying through the frame after the sun had risen above the clouds. I need to get up early more often... Lake Superior sunrises are amazing. 

Wonders of the moonlit night sky

 

Here are a few scenes that were photographed this past week while doing some filming for a very special project that has been in the works for the past year or so. More to come soon!  For now, enjoy these views of the sunset, moonlight and stars from northern Minnesota. 

Kingfisher and rising moon

 

What a great day to get out in the canoe. Extremely comfortable air temp, calm winds and beautiful sights. Had the pleasure of watching a kingfisher hover numerous times overhead while he scanned the water for fish. Saw him dive a few times too.  Super cool. Beautiful views of the moon as I was coming back in to the landing. 

Aurora Encore

 

The northern lights made a brief appearance last night too.  These photos were taken on my mom and dad's property on the Lake Superior shoreline between 10 and 10:30 last night. By 11:00 the lights were pretty much done for the night. It was nice to get this brief but beautiful encore after the awesome geomagnetic storms the previous night!

Orion and the Aurora

 

September 4, 2022: Orion rises into the sky on the right while the Aurora Borealis dances in the sky on the left. 

Border Country Aurora

 

It's been a long time coming, but last night we finally got a northern lights display to rival those that we saw during the last solar maximum several years ago! I went out just before midnight and stayed out until about 3:00 AM and the lights were very active during that entire time. As usual, the activity ebbed and flowed which kept things interesting. Several times, just as the lights were slowing down and fading and I was thinking I had seen the night's best activity, they would once again flare up and provide another round of waving and dancing throughout the sky. They were still going strong when I headed in for the night. Unfortunately I do need a little sleep before going to work later in the morning... 

Front Yard Milky Way

 

Here's a shot of the Milky Way, taken from my front yard. I like the way the trees frame the galaxy here. This time of year the Milky Way is pretty much vertical in the sky, unlike in the spring where it is at a much lower angle which complements the horizon nicely. Always fun to witness and photograph, no matter the angle!  I will forever be fascinated by the stars...

Cedar Tree and Milky Way

 

A peaceful night staring up at the stars on a lake within Grand Portage State Forest in northeast Minnesota. 

Late Summer Loons

 

A beautiful adult and juvenile loon paid us a visit last week as we were out canoeing across one of the local lakes. Always a treat to see these magnificent birds. 

Heron Surprise

 

While out paddling recently I was surprised to come across a group of herons hanging out in the treetops. There were 7 or 8 of them all hanging out in various trees along the lakeshore. I was almost right underneath them when I finally noticed them. I had been so distracted by the beautiful lily pads along the lakeshore I wasn't paying attention to what was going on in the trees.  As I was photographing the lily pads I heard some guttural noises, so I looked up and said "Whoa!" as I spotted the 3 herons in the tree almost directly above me. As I slowly rounded the point that was up ahead, I saw several others perched in the various evergreen trees. It was such a cool surprise to see these birds!