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. 

Sunshine and Snow on Old 61

 

A beautiful day yesterday along Old Highway 61 in Grand Portage, MN. The sun was shining and it was snowing at the same time, making the sky look as though it was filled with glittering diamonds. I love being outside on days like this!

Golden Aspens

 

Fall colors along the Rimrocker Trail near Nucla, Colorado. It's been such a dreary, overcast winter so far here in northeast Minnesota that I had to share something with some color in it.  This is from my vacation out west this past October. I came across some beautiful stands of aspen trees that were at their peak fall color. No way could I drive by this spot without stopping!

North Shore Blizzard Winds

 

Flashback to December 23, 2022 and some of the strongest winds that I've ever seen along the north shore of Lake Superior.  The wind gusts on this day peaked somewhere around 70-75 MPH in Grand Marais, which I heard were the second highest winds on record. The blowing snow that day was crazy.  At times it reminded me of what blizzard conditions are like on the plains out west, with near-zero visibility at times. It certainly made for some interesting photographs. On this particular stretch of road, you can normally see at least a half mile down the road ahead of you. 

White Pocket Milky Way

 

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona

From my trip to the southwest this past fall, White Pocket in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is easily one of my favorite places in the desert. The unique landscape here defies description. You really need to see it yourself to believe it. This is my third time visiting the location and the first time visiting it during new moon, which meant that I had awesome views of the stars and the Milky Way. Thanks to the time of year and the lack of any nearby light pollution it didn't take long for the Milky Way to become visible after the sun went down. There was still some dusk light visible in the sky when I made this photo. 

Winter Sunset, Lake Superior

 

Beautiful sky, sun and reflection on a recent sunset over Grand Portage Bay of Lake Superior in northeast Minnesota.