Summer Storms

Last weekend the Twin Cities got hit hard with heavy rain and a couple tornado's. So naturally, I grabbed my camera and headed out west of Maple Grove. I drove nearly 40 miles going up and down dirt roads until I found what I was looking for!



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Nature Photo Contest

Last week I entered a couple photos into the Eastman Nature Photo Contest in Elm Creek Park Reserve. I entered a Trumpeter Swan photo that I took in Monticello last winter. To get that photo I spent 5 very cold mornings along the river and took over 1,200 photos. I am pleased to say that my patience paid off. The swan photo took second place in the wildlife category.

2nd Place!


I entered a second photo in the contest for the landscape category. This photo was taken last month at Cascade River State Park. Again, I am pleased with a 3rd place ribbon!

3rd Place

Cascade River State Park pt.II

I spent another weekend camping at Cascade River State Park last weekend with some friends. I didn't have Dodger with me so it was a little easier to get close to the falls. Also, a big thanks to Gerald for helping me get my equipment into area's most people don't go!

While walking around and looking for a place to make a new photo I noticed a number of people (amateurs, and pro's) hanging around the same places. The reason they all were in the same places is simple: easy access. That's were is Gerald came into play. I found a rock ledge that I wanted to go out on, but I didn't want to go myself with all my camera gear. So Gerald hopped down first, I handed him my camera and jumped down my self. Once I was down there I new that few other photographers had been there.

Enjoy the view!

Dickcissel stills and video

Last weekend I was just outside of Mankato taking photos of a Dickcissel. The lighting was absolutely perfect. I took a number of shots and then decided to shoot some video. Chad normally takes video and I typically forget.

Now you can see and hear a moving Dickcissel and check out the stills in my gallery!

Framing

One thing I was trying to do last week while taking photos of the Cascade River was to try something new. As I mentioned in the pervious post I used my Lensbaby for a different look.

My first evening in the park I was out and about with my camera, I had an idea of where I was going to go. Well, when I got to my first location there was another photographer standing right where I was planing to be. I set up my shot anyway and fired off a few shots and then moved further down the river. Sure enough at location #2 there was the same guy shooting from where I was going to. Once again, I set up my shot and fired off a couple of more photos. I was thinking about how I probably have a similar photo as the guy before me, so I had to try to frame the photo differently.

I used two massive trees to frame the waterfall to create something is just a little different.



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Cascade River State Park

Last week I was up at Cascade River State Park along the north shore. Cascade River is roughly 10 minutes south of Grand Marais. I had beautiful weather both days I was up there. I brought Dodger along with me, but he made it tricky to stand still in one place to take landscape photos. I still managed to get some photos of moving water.

As always you can click the image to view it larger or go into the Naturalvision gallery.

Shore Birds

This morning I headed out to photograph shore birds. Once I found the location of the birds I had a new problem. I was walking on ground that is normally under water. With soft, spongy and wet ground, I had to move quickly but not too quickly so I wouldn't scare off the birds. That proved to be a bit tricky. Once I got to a good spot with the sun on my back, all the birds flew away! So I walked to the end of the point and sat on a small outcrop of rocks. It didn't take too long for a friendly White-rumped Sandpiper to pay me a visit.