Making Waves - *Castor canadensis*
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR

The Beaver Pond

June 14, 2018 in June 2018, Other

Spring was late to Minnesota this year. The beaver pond and its inhabitants have been a favorite photographic muse since 2015, and with the average temperatures rising annually throughout the decade, my accessibility to the beavers has been as early as March 14. Since the 2018 winter followed past climatic patterns, I assumed that I'd be photographing these little engineers in March once again. Because unpredictability is the only predictable assumption one can now make about weather this century, it should be no surprise that my spring intentions ran contradictory to expectation. The unseasonably warm winter was followed by a heavy April snowfall and chilly cold conditions. As a result, I was not able to photograph the beavers until mid-May. During my second visit to the pond, I witnessed with a cornucopia of wildlife and accelerated spring behaviors that included migratory birds, a newborn fawn, mating beavers, and a rather hasty raccoon. Although spring was late, all seemed fine with the world on this May morning.

Tree Swallow in Sumac
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f4 VR

Sunset on the North Shore - Grand Marais, Minnesota

Favorite Places - Minnesota's North Shore

June 30, 2017 in June 2017, Other

There are very few places that inspire my creative eye like Minnesota's North Shore. While Superior is a freshwater lake, the adjacent boreal forest and rugged rocky coast is reminiscent of the Atlantic Ocean's juxtaposition to Maine's Acadia National Park.

Bordered by jagged igneous rock, the ancient Sawtooth Mountains that once stood as grand as the mid-continental Rockies, are the perfect corridors for wildlife and water. Heavy rains and snowmelt produces a cornucopia of ephemeral streams as water flows downhill towards the Great Lake.

Swirling Fals - Sawtooth Mountains, Minnesota

Weather during spring and early summer is as unpredictable as winter in this border region of state. Temperatures can soar as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit to only fall into the mid 40's within a single hour. Unpredictability is the charm and curse of this area. Often enveloped by clouds, fog, or rain, predicting climate patterns in the Arrowhead region is an exercise in futility. So if you are planning to travel to Minnesota's North Shore, be prepared and pack a bit of everything.

Fern Falls - Cascade State Park, Minnesota

Photographer's Notes - All images were made between June 24th and June 28th, 2017. The weather was an unpredictable mix of rain, clouds and sunshine. During our stay, temperatures hovered between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. An unusually wet spring produced stunning fields of lupines and numerous ephemeral waterfalls. All pictures were made from a sturdy tripod with my Nikon D810, 16-35mm f/4VR lens.

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) - Stillwater, MNNikon D800E + Nikkor AiS 105mm f2.8 Micro — Dutchman's Breeches (*Dicentra cucullaria*) - Stillwater, MN
Nikon D800E + Nikkor AiS 105mm f2.8 Micro

Inner Conflict

April 26, 2015 in April 2015

The transition from August to September and April to May are when I often feel conflicted about the priorities in my life. August is the tunnel that begins in summer and arrives in Autumn. This is the period when I mourn the loss of the me that is bruce and become the adult that is Mr. Leventhal. Emotionally conflicted, I feel the need to retire my camera each September just when fall is ablaze with color.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) - Stillwater, MNNikon D800E + Nikkor AiS 105mm f2.8 Micro — Wild Ginger (*Asarum canadense*) - Stillwater, MN
Nikon D800E + Nikkor AiS 105mm f2.8 Micro

Now that April is yielding to May, and the spring ephemerals have returned from their winter respite, I must continue to play the role of Mr. Leventhal when I'd rather be bruce. This is the life of a photographer who teaches biology and the teacher who pretends to be a photographer. Until I finish molding young minds into neophyte biologists, this wannabe artist/naturalist/traveler will suppress the desire to wander afar and squelch the inner conflict that now bubbles from within.

Powered by Squarespace