Falls at Willow River State Park, WI
Nikon D810 + Nikon 18-35mm G

Close to Home, Summer 2016

August 24, 2016 in August 2016

You know that little ditty by Johnny Cash? The one that begins with “I’ve been everywhere man, I’ve been everywhere, man…?” Well, there were times this summer when that song could have been my anthem.

Barred Owl *(Strix varia)* - North Central Minnesota
Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-400mm f/4.0 VR

June belonged to Iceland where I spent nearly two weeks photographing the southern coast and midnight sun. Home for only a day and suffering from sleep deprivation, I boarded another plane, but this time it was pointed to New York.

Just a Pastoral Landscape under Stormy Skies, MN
Nikon D810 + Nikon 18-35mm G

July began with a camping trip to the headwaters of the Mississippi River and ended with seven days in and around Santa Cruz, CA. By the time I was home long enough to re-established my position in the pecking order with the dogs, it was time to leave for Munich, Germany. Ironically, this trip was via Iceland; so, should you need advice about the best restrooms in Keflavik International Airport, send me a note… I’m your man.

Deceptively Small Falls
Nikon D810 + Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Micro VR (9 image focus stack)

Despite the travel and opportunity to make images in some fairly exotic locations, I do enjoy practicing my craft close to home. While I still have thousands of photos to edit and process from my Icelandic adventure and paddle throughout the Elkhorn Slough, I can’t suppress the urge to shoot the places that I know best. So while it’s likely the next few blogs will focus on the flora and fauna of Iceland or California, this gallery is all about the upper Midwest.

Sunrise Over the St. Croix River
Nikon D810 + Nikon 300mm f/2.8 AFS II

Aspen Snow - February 14, 2016Nikon D4 + NIkon 200-400mm f4 VR — Aspen Snow - February 14, 2016
Nikon D4 + NIkon 200-400mm f4 VR

A Cup of Joe

February 20, 2016 in February 2016

I was hunkered down and patiently waiting for the coyotes I so enjoyed photographing the past two weeks. Nestled between snow banks and last year's cattails, I was situated in the middle of an ice-covered river. It was snowing, cold, and I was a bit feverish, yet I was determined to see this playful group once again. The snow blew in from the southwest, and the tracks that once guided me towards their world were all but gone. Ninety-minutes later with gear and body coated in fresh snow I saw this pattern in the distance and waited for the right gust. Once "in the can" and chilled to the bone I knew that my shooting day was over. With my head down I slowly trudged the mile hike out of the woods and retreated to the warmth of a cup of joe and steamy hot shower.

St. Croix Valley Sunrise - MinnesotaNikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR — St. Croix Valley Sunrise - Minnesota
Nikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

End of a Long Fall

October 29, 2015 in October 2015

Yellow and Red in Morning Light - MinnesotaNikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR — Yellow and Red in Morning Light - Minnesota
Nikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

The Warning (Castor canadensis) - MinnesotaSt. Croix Valley Sunrise - MinnesotaNikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR — The Warning (*Castor canadensis*) - Minnesota
St. Croix Valley Sunrise - Minnesota
Nikon D7200 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR

Goodbye Autumn (Castor canadensis) - MinnesotaSt. Croix Valley Sunrise - Minnesota — Goodbye Autumn (*Castor canadensis*) - Minnesota
St. Croix Valley Sunrise - Minnesota

Sunrise on the St. Croix RiverShot with a Nikon D800E & 17-35mm f2.8 mounted to a Gitzo GT1932 Tripod — Sunrise on the St. Croix River
Shot with a Nikon D800E & 17-35mm f2.8 mounted to a Gitzo GT1932 Tripod

Day 3 - Landscape Workshop

August 09, 2015 in August 2015

I just want to send a big shout out to Rohit, Ellen, Angie, Eric and Sharon who joined me at West Photo in Minneapolis, MN for day three of the Landscape Workshop. In this session we focused on post-processing and sharing the images we made together in field.

Special thanks to Sean Patrick who made the arrangements at WestPhoto, as well as Tamron and Manfrotto for sponsoring the program.

Celebrating with Solitude

June 10, 2015 in June 2015

Friday June, 5th was my last student contact day and Monday the 8th was a scheduled ‘workday.” I italicize “workday” to underscore the asinine verbiage used to describe a non-student contact day. As far as I am concerned, any day in which I commit my brain and body to the act of teaching, creating or grading is a work day… but, once again, I digress. Monday ended prematurely, as the custodial staff emptied my room in preparation for some long-overdue duct work that promises a more stable climate in room 119 next year.

To celebrate the end of my 23rd year in public education, I awoke an hour earlier than the normal to photograph a sunrise along the St. Croix River. Located just four miles from my home is a quiet little cove that is familiar to locals but hidden from the heavy tourist traffic that would otherwise envelop my town on spring and summer days. At 4:45 a.m., I was confident that I could spend a good hour in solitude with only the sounds of eagles, herons and woodpeckers to break the silence. Like clockwork, a young fisherman ambled down the ancient staircase an hour later to cast his line.

I had hoped for some clouds on this morning, but knew that the night’s rain and heavy winds would leave me with a clear morning sky. The photo pictured is an exercise in reduction. The first effort was a grand landscape of the river and canyon walls. With too many busy elements throughout, I paced the shore for something less. My second attempt was tight image of a branch crossing the frame and entering the water, but the lack of focal point and drama caused me to abandon the composition. The photo, pictured here, was my third crack at the landscape. Fearing that I would lose the “sweet light,” I took a time out and sat on log to regain my focus. As an eagle called out to its mate, the image you see revealed itself to me.

Sunrise on the St. Croix RiverNikon D800E + Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 AFS — Sunrise on the St. Croix River
Nikon D800E + Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 AFS

Postcard From Spring

April 15, 2015 in April 2015

While spring is a welcome respite from the short cold days of winter, I do miss the soft light and simple elements of a snowy landscape. It is now April in Minnesota, and with the increasing daylight comes the burden of an early sunrise. The morning shoot that once began at 7:00 a.m. now requires the vigilant photographer to be in the field by 6:00. Cloudless mornings produce moments of brilliant light to anyone into self-deprivation. The solitude of a spring sunrise is as fleeting as its light, and much like my hours of sleep, it seems to dissipate in a flash.

The Root - St. Croix River, MNCanon 6D + Canon 17-40 f4.0L — The Root - St. Croix River, MN
Canon 6D + Canon 17-40 f4.0L

Flooding on the St. Croix

July 28, 2014 in July 2014

I've just returned from a 3200 mile photo-adventure that began at home in Stillwater, stretched into North East Ontario and encircled the Great Lakes. Like every road trip, it's about the journey and not the destination.

With over 1500 images to edit, let's begin at the beginning. It's the day before our travels and the banks of the St. Croix are still under water.

Scars from the River -  St. Croix River, MNCanon 6D + Canon 17-40 f4.0L — Scars from the River - St. Croix River, MN
Canon 6D + Canon 17-40 f4.0L

More from the road in future posts... cheers,

Another Strange Year - St. Croix River, MinnesotaCanon 5D Mark iii + Canon 17-40L — *Another Strange Year - St. Croix River, Minnesota*
*Canon 5D Mark iii + Canon 17-40L*

Signs of Spring III

May 19, 2014 in May 2014

Call this one wishful thinking... I made this photograph on May 19, 2013. It's one year later and we're still waiting for the buds to burst throughout the St. Croix Valley. It's another strange year here in East Central Minnesota, but as the seasons come and go, I've begun to realize that "strange years" have become the norm around here.

Early Fall on the St. Croix - St. Croix River, Stillwater MNCanon 5D Mark iii + Canon 300 mm f2.8L IS w/ a 1.4x matched converter — *Early Fall on the St. Croix - St. Croix River, Stillwater MN*
*Canon 5D Mark iii + Canon 300 mm f2.8L IS w/ a 1.4x matched converter*

Five from Fall - ( i )

November 10, 2013 in November 2013

In this first of a five image series, you are peering at a fragment of the river that separates Minnesota from Wisconsin. A remnant of an ancient ice-age, this river divides forested cliffs that offer clues about a wilderness that is all but gone.

Taken around 6:20 a.m., I hiked down to the edge of the river and waited for the predawn light to strike the eastern shore. I stabilized the legs of my tripod in the river to position the camera and lens at water level. With the camera set to ISO 50 (L on the Canon 5D Mark iii) and an aperture of f/16, I was able to use a long exposure to blur the water and smooth the reflection.

St. Croix Scenic River - Stillwater Area, MNCanon 5D Mark iii + 17-40mm f4.0L @ f16 — *St. Croix Scenic River - Stillwater Area, MN*
*Canon 5D Mark iii + 17-40mm f4.0L @ f16*

Good Morning From Stillwater

May 19, 2013 in May 2013

A postcard from home...

Spring has sprung. Missed you all winter... welcome back!

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