An early morning fishing trip was a no-brainer this morning. The last few days have been clear, warm, and no humidity. We left the house early enough that the air was still brisk from dropping into the 50’s overnight. As we motored onto the lake I was reminded again of the beauty of the morning. It was then I saw the diamonds sparkling on the lake — the sun’s reflection in the water and waves. So many times I admire it, but this morning I decided to photograph it. The random patterns and the twinkling stars shimmered across the water. Those of you that have spent time on a lake or a river will recognize this, and I trust it will bring back wonderful memories.
summer
Unlikely photographic subjects
Like many photographers I often head out of the house with an idea of what I’m planning to photograph, or at least an idea of what I might find. The other evening I wandered over to the horticultural gardens at the University of Minnesota. There is a wonderful display of flowers, trees, shrubs, herbs, and vegetables. No matter which season or what time of the year I go to the gardens, I am almost always guaranteed to find something of interest. I had spent close to an hour photographing various flowers. As the sun was getting lower in the sky and the light was fading I decided to pack up and head home. I passed through the flower gardens and then through the vegetable gardens, but something caught my eye. The dill plants were glowing in the evening light. And as I passed, they didn’t look anything like the herb I was accustomed to seeing. With the sun setting behind them they took on an ethereal quality – something so delicate and lovely. I spent the next 15 minutes racing with the fading sun to make the photographic images that were delighting my eyes and senses. I certainly hadn’t planned to photograph any herbs, but this was a wonderful surprise.
Daybreak over the lake
Last week I shared a sunset photo from our northern vacation. As beautiful as the sunsets were, I was equally amazed at the sunrises. We were staying on Jack the Horse Lake – a quiet lake with only a few cabins and houses and only one resort. The stillness of the morning, while the sun was yet to rise, was wonderful. The air was calm and the lake’s surface was like a sheet of glass. Off in the distance I could hear an owl making its presence known, and eventually the loons would add to the chorus. Slowly the sky would turn from black to a deep rose color, then to a pale pink and eventually to a brightness of yellow as the sun cleared the horizon and the distant shore, all the while reflected in the mirror-like lake surface. It was a wondrous and delightful way to greet the day.
Vacation for the spirit
We’ve just returned from a most relaxing and refreshing vacation. A mere four hours north, in the land of lakes and pines, is a sure spot to restore one’s spirit. The Minnesota north woods were calling us, and we were not disappointed. The weather was perfect with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 40’s. I photographed six beautiful (and equally different) sunsets, one full moonrise, three peaceful sunrises, and many adventures in between. We caught more than our share of bass, crappies, and sunfish. We canoed over an aqua-marine lake, and hiked through the woods. And during all of these we were accompanied by the sounds of the loons – a haunting yet wonderful call. Without the distractions of television, radio, news, and city-life we quickly decompressed into a life of quiet and simple pleasures, relaxation, and the appreciation of the beauty and wonder of this area of Minnesota.
Cosmos
I’ve always enjoyed the lightness of cosmos. Their delicateness is enhanced by the manner in which they sit atop their long stems. They blow easily in the wind, yet remain upright. Their colors are numerous, as these were, yet I chose to tone this photograph. I wanted the delicacy and beauty of the cosmos to be the central idea of the image, not their color.
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