A most memorable night

 

Here's a favorite image from a most memorable night spent in Cathedral Valley of Capitol Reef National Park back in late April of 2019.  I had spent most of the night waiting for storms to clear so I could photograph the Milky Way.  I was beginning to lose hope when, at about 4:15 AM, the clouds started to part. Eventually the Milky Way did come out and it was soooo beautiful... but before that I made several images where the stars were peeking out from these breaks in the clouds. It was definitely lots of fun to photograph with the constantly changing conditions in the sky. 

The Middle of Nowhere is Somewhere

 

A fun find seemingly in the "middle of nowhere" in the southern Utah desert. As I've always believed, however, the middle of nowhere is somewhere. And to those that live there, it's the center of their universe. 

Contemplating the Cosmos

 

I'm workign on some images for a new project and this one definitely stands out as a favorite. From an amazing night spent under the stars in southern Utah, back in May of 2019. 

The Colors of Spring

 

I love the subtle beauty of early spring in the north woods. One of the best examples of that beauty, in my opinion, is the striking color of dogwood. It really stands out this time of year.  Once everything greens up, that color gets largely hidden by the leaves. This time of year, though, it screams "Look at me!"

Proud Ruffed Grouse

 

This guy really put on a good show for us today.  Very flagrant and so proud. Lots of grouse drumming in the woods today. My dad and I spent most of the day adventuring in the woods but seeing this fellow was definitely a highlight. 

A glorious night and sunrise

 

I had my camera going all night last night. I shot two 3-hour long timelapses of the night sky then caught a beautiful sunrise. The night was gloriously clear, with a light breeze kicking up every now and then. It only takes me about 15 minutes to hike to this location not far from my house. I can't stay up all night as easily as I used to, so after starting each timelapse I went back home and took a nap. On one of the hikes back up from the lake a barred owl serenaded me with its haunting calls. On the 3rd and last hike down to the lake to retrieve my camera, I hung around and waited for the sun to rise. It was all so worth it!

Dark and Clear

 

The last two nights were perfect for viewing and photographing the Milky Way. I was out all night on both nights, focusing on capturing some timelapse video for a new project that I'm working on. I did make a few still photographs as well, this one being my favorite. This was in front of my parents house on Lake Superior. The last bit of winter snow and ice clings to the shoreline as the stars pass by overhead.