The Minnesota State Fair is in full-swing and summer has made its hot and humid comeback too. But there is always cool artwork to be seen in the Fine Arts Exhibit. I’m happy to tell you that my entry “Single tree island, early autumn” was accepted into the exhibit this year. With a 15% acceptance rate, I feel exceptionally honored that my photograph was juried into the exhibit. If you’re attending the fair, be sure to spend some time in the Fine Arts Building. You’ll be treated to some beautiful, imaginative, creative, and unusual art of many kinds – all created by artists from the state of Minnesota.
Minnesota
Fishing through the sunset
On a warm summer’s afternoon we returned to one of our favorite small lakes for some fishing. Our plan was to fish through the sunset and after dark – something I have never done before. The winds died down throughout the evening and set up for a beautiful sunset, with the colors of the sky reflecting in the quiet of the lake’s surface. We’d shared some dinner in the boat and the fishing had been successful. The light in the western sky faded to black, the near-full moon was high in the sky and we were the only ones still out on the water. We pulled out our fly fishing gear and settled in for some night-time fishing. Our eyes adjusted to the darkness and our ears became our “eyes” as we listened for the fish to take the poppers we laid out on the surface. More reliable for me was feeling the fish tug on the fly line. It was beautiful to be out in the dark; the shoreline was discernible with the moonlight, the lake’s surface was like glass, the stars came out overhead, and the night sounds surrounded us. The experience and beauty of this summer’s evening and night on a small lake were now embedded in our memories.
Casting into the clouds
Yesterday was a day of diverse activities – fishing and a glorious wedding celebration; and yet the two were very connected. As the day dawned to overcast skies and thick clouds, we headed out for some fishing. The cool and the clouds eventually broke up and we fished under an amazing sky brimming with filtered sun and brilliant clouds. Our fishing was successful, and we laughed that our outing was in honor of the bride and the groom for their wedding later that afternoon. This joyful couple celebrated their summer wedding outdoors in a grove of trees, surrounded with family and friends all dappled with sunshine. The bride and groom share a love of nature and especially fishing. And how appropriate that the groom, his groomsmen, and the bride’s proud father all wore decorative fishing lures as their boutonnieres!
Horse and rider in motion
A year ago I was asked by a friend to photograph she and her horse. On a sun-soaked evening we spent a couple of hours in the presence of a wonderful Arabian horse named Diamonds. When I showed the images to my friend she was unable to decide which one image she wanted to use as a framed print. Within a few weeks she asked me if I would help her put together a book of the images. Over the past months we crafted a book that tells the story of the relationship between this horse and rider; from over 15 years ago when she got Diamonds, through the four seasons with photographs she had collected, to the present time and the images I took that summer evening. We included the horse’s registration papers and the reminiscences that she has of their adventures over the years. The book was printed in a 12×12″ size. We used full-page photographs as well as groupings of small details, allowing the story to come alive on the pages. Today I delivered the book to her. Slowly she went through each page, lingering over the images and the many memories they have shared. The book has allowed her to collect in one place and put to page this wonderful story that she can now share with her friends and treasure for years. As the sun was filtering through the trees, I made this image by panning as they rode by, capturing their fluidity and grace. We included the photograph in the book with a quote by Sharon Ralls Lemon that sums up this horse and rider’s relationship — “The essential joy of being with horses is that is brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire.”
Coneflowers
Summer is the season of so many flowers, yet one of my favorites is the coneflower. From a tall stem and a tight bud, the petals are gradually pried open by the sun and warmth. The white petals are small, and reach upward. Then as they mature, the petals turn a beautiful shade of pink and flex backwards, leaving the cone accessible to butterflies, bees, and small birds. I have coneflowers in various stages throughout the gardens, yet this photograph seems to symbolize the uniqueness of this flower with both the early blossom and the fully developed bloom in the background.
lindastaatsphoto.com 