10-03-13 Fall Fire II

Since I posted a "dusting of snow" photo a couple days ago, and since we are really beginning to see fall colors, I figured it was appropriate to post a "colorful maple tree" photo. Though I'll have to admit that this is from the 2012 archives.

I took this one in late September last year on a class field trip to Sica Hollow, a state park about 90 miles north of Watertown, South Dakota, where I live. Enjoy!

Canon 5DIII 1/320s f/2.8 ISO100 200mm

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10-02-13 Fun & Games?

I don't normally take requests for this blog - largely because I don't get them. But yesterday, Brad H, one of the instructors at Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, South Dakota, saw me and told me I needed to post more Alaska photos. He said, "You must have more than we've seen on your blog!"

The fact is that I do have more but I'm trying to show my versatility by posting other photos. :-) But, because Brad asked for one, here's a whale for you.

We saw many whales on our cruise to southeast Alaska in August but only once did we see one frolicking as this one was. Though "frolic" may not be the right word since experts don't necessarily agree on why they jump out of the water. Whatever the reason, this young whale put on a heck of a show for us on a day that would have been perfect even if he/she hadn't shown up.

Canon 5DIII 1/640s f/8.0 ISO250 170mm

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10-01-13 West of the River

Yes, it is October 1st but no, the snow hasn't started falling yet. But it could do so soon. Such is the nature of living in the upper Great Plains. I'm guessing that some of my readers are more enthralled with snow than I am. I would also guess that many of those same people live in places where snow is a bit of a novelty. But it isn't a novelty to me: I don't like winter all that much, in spite of the fact that it provides attractive photo opportunities from time to time.

Incidentally, this isn't the first time I've photographed this scene.

Click here to see green grass.

Click here to see even this same scene on the same day in different light.

Canon 5DII 1/200s f/7.1 ISO400 58mm

09-30-13 A Perfect Fall Day

We spent this past weekend at Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa. And while the weather was far from perfect when we got there on Friday night, Saturday turned out to be a great day to be at the lake. In our part of the world, fall can be one of the most beautiful times of the year but it also means that the nights are longer, the days are colder and winter is on the way.

Canon 5DIII 1/400s f/18.0 ISO320 32mm

09-28-13 Cooling Off

I am calling this "Cooling Off," though it could be that they are warming up. "They" are harbor seals that we encountered resting on ice bergs as we left the area of the Dawes Glacier. They are staring at us with suspicion while we were staring at them with wonder.

Canon 5DIII 1/800s f/7.1 ISO400 280mm

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09-27-13 Change of Seasons, Alaska

Yesterday's post is a broader view of what you would see from the Safari Endeavor, the Un-Cruise ship we lived on for our week in Alaska. Today's post shows what you might see if you were lucky enough to move into the apparently dense forest of spruce trees. This photo was not taken on this neat little island but it wasn't taken far from this spot.

Fall in moving in to our part of the world but, as you can see, it arrives even earlier in Alaska, given that this photo was taken in late August. If I paid more attention to our guides and less to my photography, I could tell you the name of this plant, which is apparently one to be avoided because of its serrated leaves. But it's looking pretty photogenic here.

Canon 5DIII 1/125s f/4.5 ISO400 100mm

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09-26-13 Colony

Alaska has the lowest population density in the United States with 1.264 people for every square mile. But the tree population is another story and this island is a good example of crowding. And in spite of living shoulder to shoulder with other trees, the crime rate is very low: the trees seem to get along well with each other. We should take a lesson from Mother Nature . . .

(Note: South Dakota has the 5th lowest population density with just over 10.6 people per square mile. Highest in the United States? New Jersey with 1,205. Washington, DC has a density of 10,357 people per square mile.)

Canon 5DIII 1/160s f/4.0 ISO250 58mm

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09-25-13 Shoreline

No, this is not typical shoreline along my beloved Lake Oahe in central South Dakota. You might have already guessed that this is one of several photos I took in Alaska. This photo was taken near Ford's Terror in the Endicott Arm and if you go back to my Captain Jenna post, you might notice that the shoreline visible out the window to the left is this very shore.

I shouldn't tell you what you should be looking at, but it's hard not to notice the big, black hole worn in the rocky shoreline. If you are hoping I'd tell you how it came to be there, I can't. But my theory is that it was caused by erosion. And a few hundred thousand years.

Oh, and you no doubt noticed my new theme? I thought it was time for a new look. How about signing up to be notified by email when I post a new photo. It's easy and it's free. Go to the bottom of the page and put your email address in. You can always cancel your subscription. :-)

Canon 5DIII 1/400s f/4.0 ISO400 280mm

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09-24-13 Harvest Moon II

Yes, I'm a lunatic, though I don't howl at the full moon. I just try to take photos of it. This photo is chronologically misplaced in this blog in that it was taken about 12 hours earlier than the other full moon posted a few days ago. As you can see, the moon plays a much less prominent role in this photo. And I guess that was my intent. Here the landscape dominates and the moon just peeks in at the scene.

09-23-13 Crystal Blue

As I've already said, our recent trip to Alaska on the Un-Cruise ship Safari Endeavor was an incredible experience. There were many highlights but what I will remember the longest, I think, is our tour of the Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. The eerie silence, the steady drizzle, and the awesome geology of this place contributed to the experience. It didn't hurt that our son, Jon, who is Chief Mate of the Safari Endeavor, was our excursion pilot.

And, of course, there was the blue ice, with its fascinating textures and its inner, blue glow. I know it's a leap to say it, but as I was photographing the chunks of ice, I couldn't help thinking of Walter's blue, crystal meth in the hit series "Breaking Bad." And I was also thinking of the '60s hit "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James and the Shondells, which has nothing to do with glaciers. If you are in to chain of consciousness, here's mine on this post:

Un-Cruise > Dawes Glacier > ice bergs > blue > "Breaking Bad" > crystal meth > "Crystal Blue Persuasion" > the 1960s

Look over yonder what do you see The sun is a-risin' most definitely A new day is comin' people are changin' Ain't it beautiful crystal blue persuasion Better get ready gonna see the light Love, love is the answer and that's all right So don't you give up now so easy to find Just look to your soul and open your mind Crystal blue persuasion, mm-hmm It's a new vibration Crystal blue persuasion, crystal blue persuasion Maybe tomorrow when He looks down Every green field and every town All of his children every nation There'll be peace and good brotherhood Crystal blue persuasion

Buy it on iTunes

09-18-13 Scaling Down

Since I talked about the immense scale of Alaska yesterday, I thought it would be proper to show the smaller side of nature. In the context of looking at mountains, forests and glaciers, it's easy to miss things that are under foot some times. Of course, this is the power that we have as photographers.

Also, when I post my mushroom photo, I can feel better about myself: there are things in the Alaskan wilderness that are smaller than me. :-)

Canon 5DIII 1/80s f/2.8 ISO1000 100mm

09-17-13 A Different Scale

I have read that the great cathedrals and basilicas of Europe were designed, in part, to make humans feel small in the presence of the awesome power of God. And I'll have to admit that even to a 21st century traveler, these structures still have that impact on me.

But the amazing wilderness of southeast Alaska makes the biggest structure than humans have built seem puny. And, frankly, there is little that a photo or a mere description can do to communicate this. Suffice it to say that for most of the seven days we cruised the waters of Alaska, I felt small - both in terms of my size and in terms of the brief time my life represents compared to the geologic time it took to craft and scour the mountains and fjords of Alaska. But the effect of this on me and other viewers is not to be overwhelmed but instead to be inspired.