landscapes

A picture-perfect sailing regatta

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The 2009 Inter-Lake Regatta was held this weekend on White Bear Lake, with eight participating yacht clubs.  This event dates back to the late 1800’s with a challenge regatta between the White Bear Yacht Club and the Minnetonka Yacht Club.   The weather for Saturday’s races was cool and windy with wind gusts between 25 to 30 mph, with clouds and intermittent sun.   We had the good fortune to be welcomed onto a pontoon boat owned by Peggy & Craig, who are both avid sailors and who were very generous in sharing their knowledge and information about the regatta.  Plus, they were able to position their boat  by the finish line, giving us a perfect perspective to see the maneuvering that took place right at the end.  The clouds in the sky and the sun glistening off the lake and illuminating the sails made for some wonderful photographs.  My thanks again to Peggy & Craig for their White Bear Lake hospitality!

Up north to the lake

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PS0420“Up north to the lake” is the common weekend occurrence here, whether it’s a small lake or a big lake.  And the biggest lake is Lake Superior.  We spent the weekend in Ashland, Wisconsin, along the southern shore of Lake Superior.  It was a perfect summer weekend — warm daytime temperatures, cooler nighttime temps, the lake close by, along with a special 4th of July celebration.  We were treated to beautiful sunsets with calm waters that reflected the boats in the marina as well as the fireworks that were set off after dark.   A perfect dose of summer relaxation!

Kansas wildflowers

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Kansas wildflowers_StaatsWe just recently returned from the Biking across Kansas ride where we traversed from the Colorado border, across the wide state of Kansas, to the eastern border with Missouri.  As the state has had plenty of rain this spring, the landscape was lush and green.  Although I was focused on bicycling (as opposed to photographing), what jumped out to me were the beautiful wildflowers that were dotting the fields and roadsides.  The coneflowers, butterfly milkweed, daisies, spider-wort — all were bursting into bloom.  Last year at this time I spent over two weeks in Iowa and was fortunate to document the daily changes in a prairie area.   That experience gave me a new appreciation for the wildflowers that grace our landscapes with their burst of color and beauty.  So our mode of travel across the state of Kansas by bicycle gave us front-row seats to this amazing display of blooms.

Double rainbow at Como Park

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39253Spring is an unsettled time of year in the upper Midwest.  Our weather comes from all four directions, oftentimes colliding over Minnesota.  Last week we had a beautifully sunny and warm day.  Until about 5:00pm, when the clouds rolled in, the winds picked up, and it started to rain.  I headed to my office to get some work done, not realizing that the front was moving through quickly and it would be followed by clearing.  About 7:30 the clouds parted from the western horizon, creating a beautiful low directional golden light.  With the rain still to the east a vivid double rainbow emerged.  I grabbed my camera and hurried to nearby Como Park and the McNeely Conservatory.  Luckily I arrived before the rainbow disappeared, thanking the weather and photo gods for presenting such a stunning and vibrant display.

Bougainvillea red & white

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bougainvillea-red-white_staatsMy exhibit of photographs titled “Paths and Portals” ends today at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.  Thanks to all the people who came to the receptions (the opening and the closing) and to those who left comments for me at the Center.  This image  “Bougainvillea red and white” was one of the more popular photographs.  Perhaps the colors speak of warmth and summer, while we’re still battling winter’s grip here in Minnesota.  This scene is from Tucson, Arizona and caught my eye with its contrasting colors as well as the details that were so artistically painted over the door.