Tag Archives: Northern Minnesota

Getting the Shot–Split Rock Lighthouse Under the Stars

February 9, 2020 Troy

After reserving my campsites at Split Rock Lighthouse last winter I began to explore different photographs I wanted to attempt to get. With several weeks passing pondering several ideas I finally decided I would love to capture the lighthouse under the Milkyway. The direction didn’t line up great but with the dark skies of the North Shore in Minnesota I expected to at least see a partial band of the our galaxy over Split Rock. Continuing my research I discovered the moon could be a problem as it would be nearing it’s full phase. Armed with this information I waited until the camping trip in June to make further preparations to capture the lighthouse at night.

During the afternoon, while at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, I began to scout out potential locations and compositions. Starting from a distance I took a look at the overall scene attempting to figure out how much of Lake Superior I wanted in the photo and how much of the night sky I could get in a picture and still see the lighthouse well. From here I continued to move closer to the building as there was no way it would stand out this far away.

As the afternoon was nearing the end and evening was about to take over, I continued to climb over the sharp granite of Lake Superior searching for an interesting place to set up later that night. I began to feel more confident in a location to start at once darkness arrived. It may work well but it could be less interesting once the moon broadcast its light over the landscape.

Pressing on to find an alternative location or two I continued on closer to the lighthouse perched on top of a cliff overlooking the grand lake. Finding a couple more spots closer to Split Rock Lighthouse I was finally satisfied. Time had arrived to return to the campsite for a delicious dinner cooked over a fire and a little rest before journeying back during the night.

Now with a full stomach and the sun falling below the horizon it was getting time to head out. But now the days activities were beginning to wear on me and I was ready to crawl into my sleeping bag. In addition, the temperature was dropping quickly which had begun to penetrate through to my bones really causing me to question just how bad I wanted to go out with the camera underneath the dark sky. After fighting with myself for nearly 20 minutes I forced myself to get up, put on a coat, and grab the backpack containing my gear. Still reluctant to take the 15 minute walk to the lighthouse, I just kept putting one foot in front of the other until my motivation returned. I knew where I wanted to go and in no time I arrived. Scanning the scene now under moonlight, I became less convinced it was the spot for the photograph I wanted. Still I knew that if I didn’t pull out the camera and take a couple of shots I would likely not make it back here. What if this turns out to be the best location? After a few pictures, I wasn’t satisfied with my results.

The first thing I like to do is change my cameras orientation to see how that alters the scene. I liked this look better as the boulders became more prominent for a more complete picture. Still it wasn’t giving me the photograph I was after. The lower boathouse was a huge distraction under the near full moonlight and I couldn’t compose the shot in a way that the boathouse was removed and the lighthouse was located nicely. It was time to move closer as I suspected I would have to do. Under the moons illumination along with my flashlight I continued to crawl over the rocks slowly getting closer to the lighthouse and the cliff it guarded. By this time I was beginning to warm back up from my efforts to safely maneuver the rocky shoreline.

Finding a spot close enough to capture the lighthouse with stars above I scoured the shoreline seeking out boulders positioned in an interesting way to give me the picture I was attempting to capture. While doing this a voice called out from the dark. It was another photographer camped among the rocks photographing the Milkyway. Proof that each photographer sees things differently to create a unique picture. He had come here on a rare free night with no work the next day to capture the beautiful band of stars but having a difficult time due to the moon. I wanted to capture the Milkyway also but knew it would be a challenge due to the moon and altered my plan to use the moonlight to my advantage. It lit up the shoreline and lighthouse better than I could have expected creating a photograph that appears to have been taken during the day but then the stars shining above let you know it was not. It made for a scene very few people get to experience let alone photograph. It did take a bit of time to get an appropriate exposure due to this high light with a dark sky and water. Once I found a good exposure I kept snapping photos making little adjustments until I had what I thought would be a nice photograph. I actually like the picture above better than the one at the top of the post but that doesn’t show as well on the website which is why I used the landscape oriented picture for the post.

I decided to snap a couple of pictures of the Milkyway shining dimly in the night sky just to see how it would turn out. Some time I hope to work with the photo a bit more and see if I can extrapolate this band of bright stars more. While talking with the other photographer, he mentioned that using a good telephoto lens you could actually capture Jupiter with its four visible moons. Once I was done with my session at the lighthouse I headed towards my car to retrieve my Sigma 200-500mm lens and attached it to the camera. After a little searching through the viewfinder I spotted Jupiter. Focusing in on it I could definitely make out four other objects around it. These must be the moons! Playing with the camera a bit I snapped some photos before decided I had enough fun and was now cold again and ready for sleep.

Exploring, State Parks, Troy's Blog

Splitrock Lighthouse State Park

November 30, 2019 Troy 2 Comments

The only full day at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and I wanted to make the most of it. Sunrise in the middle of June is about quarter after 5 in the morning. That’s a difficult choice to make while on vacation. Roll over and go back to sleep for a couple of hours or make yourself climb out of a warm sleeping bag to watch the sun rise over Lake Superior. Rising behind the lighthouse which is peering over a cliff? Clearly from the photo above I chose to get up, but it was not easy as I needed to be out of the tent before 5am to get to a good viewing spot. I rarely regret getting up after I begin moving and get out of the door. It’s such a peaceful beginning to a day. Quiet and calm, often times with a serene scene. You can here the wildlife around or in this case, listen to the waves of Lake Superior crashing softly into the shoreline under a foggy landscape. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful sunrise at the lighthouse. The fog was such a nice surprise definitely worth waking up early for as it rolled out over the big lake on this cool, summer morning.

As the sun continued higher in the sky, the fog disappeared revealing interesting black sand beaches in a more northern setting. I’ve been fortunate to visit a black sand beach in Hawaii a few years ago and what struck me as a little weird is that the black beach of Split Rock State Park was similar even though the sand was made of from different rock. Or maybe the rock is not that different as they are both volcanic, I believe, and both get pounded into small bits and pieces from the forces of water crashing over them. Thousands of miles separate these different black sand beaches and quite different environments but they are not all that different to walk on. On this morning I had the beaches to myself to enjoy for a little while. A great opportunity to take some pictures of these beaches with large pieces of granite interspersed among the sand while enjoying the peacefulness of the quiet part of the day.

Hungar was beginning make itself known at this point which became a bit annoying. It required heading back to the campsite to find food and that meant leaving the tranquil warming sun over this beautiful beach. I fought this hungar for awhile longer which was not as hard as I thought it might be. The many distractions of every part of the landscape helped immensely. While the sun’s intensity continued to grow, I shifted from taking in the overall landscape to focusing in on a bit more of the details. There where so many different interesting rock formations, colors, and textures. Seeing some orange ribbons of stone traveling from the shoreline into Lake Superior which become interrupted by waves splashing up as they meet the shoreline. I could have spent a lot more time just exploring these places on the beach but on to more important things like nourishment.

Much of the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon were spent exploring some of the nearby state parks I love to see like Tettegouche and Gooseberry before returning for some R & R. My intent was to return to my sleeping bag for a little more sleep because my intention for the night time was to attempt astrophotography over the lighthouse. With the sun setting just after 9 pm at this time of year it would be well after 10 pm before I could start photographing the stars. Shortly after my hit the pillow I could hear a lot of water splashing down on the shores of Lake Superior near the campsite. I figured it would go away in a few minutes but it persisted over and over again. Finally I decided to see what was going on and noticed ducks making all kinds of noise back and forth along the shoreline. Of course by the time I would grab the camera and get to the shore they would surely be gone. But they continued which allowed me to set up next to a tree and capture some pictures of male Common Mergansers chasing each other. No doubt over a female. This went on for over 45 minutes before they where out of range. I returned to the campsite to see if I could now get a little sleep. And very little it was before hunger once again forced an exit to the tent.

As evening was approaching it was time to explore closer to the lighthouse to scout some possible locations for shooting the night sky. Viewing the lighthouse perched on top of a cliff looking out over this vast lake from the shores below really gave a different perspective of the Split Rock Lighthouse. One that I’d never seen before. It was so impressive from this angle. As luck would have it, there was such a nice blue sky with white, puffy clouds floating by for a great summer’s day picture. What made it even better is that the lighthouse was now closed to tours so there were very few people here in the area allowing for an even more relaxed time of exploring around the rocks along the shoreline.

With the sun getting even lower in the sky, it was time to return to the campsite for an evening fire as the air was growing colder. It was expected to get down into the upper 30’s Fahrenheit overnight which is a bit chilly when sleeping in a tent. The campfire would feel really good After a beautiful day exploring a small part of the North Shore. There’s so much more to Split Rock State Park than I had anticipated and this was only a portion of this park. There are other trails which I must return to explore another time.

Camping, State Parks, Troy's Blog

Camping at Split Rock Lighthouse

November 10, 2019 Troy

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is one of the most familiar locations visited when traveling to Minnesota’s North Shore. I have stopped there a few times to view the this iconic lighthouse a few times. Usually I would pull into an overlook for a few minutes to view it towering over Lake Superior. On one occasion I drove up into a visitor’s parking lot to see the building up close but never really stopped and participated in a tour of these structures. Until recently I didn’t really know there was more to this beautiful state park other than the lighthouse itself. A couple of years ago I saw pictures taken from places I wasn’t familiar with and began to wonder what I was missing.

Earlier this summer, a college friend and I decided to spend some time camping in Northern Minnesota. He had never seen what amazing scenery Minnesota is known for before. We talked about some of the different places we could go which would provide some fun adventures during a week of camping under the stars. Narrowing down the destinations I knew the North Shore needed to be on the list. I’ve never camped next to Lake Superior and this would be a good opportunity to do so. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park was not one of the places I really wanted to camp because it’s closer to Duluth than I wanted to be making this a busier park than I was interested in staying at. Looking a little further north for camping destinations I suggested a few places but decided to research Split Rock also. It didn’t take long to begin to become more interested in this relative unfamiliar state park because all of the campsites were walk in sites. This meant no RV’s with loud generators and air conditioners to ruin the experience. Exchanging a few texts and emails, my friend and I decided to take an opportunity and camp at Split Rock Lighthouse.

Once you take the short drive towards the beach and camp ground, the crowds of people begin to disappear. At least in early summer anyway. The campsites are beautiful with locations next to Lake Superior or views of the majestic lake. Because they are only walk in tent sites it was very quiet and peaceful. Just what I was looking for in a camping experience. There were only two nights in this place so we had to make the most of this short time. I wasn’t disappointed as we were absolutely blessed with a great mix of weather and beauty. The way our time here began, I was certain it would be a disaster and I would be looking to leave as soon as our sentence was up. We arrived mid afternoon and decided to scout out the campground before checking in and setting up. After a brief time looking over the different campsites we became anxious to get our gear and begin this new camping experience. As I looked to at the reservations to check in I realized they were for the next night and the night after that. We had no reservations for this night. I couldn’t believe I had made such a mistake. We discussed our options and I began to try and make some changes. At first I was attempting to change our reservation at another location in two nights. Unfortunately that place was almost 2 hours away. Driving that distance today after already driving half of the day to get to Split Rock was not appealing at all. I began to feel anxious and ill. Those reservations were unable to be changed so now what? It was difficult to research options as cell service was very limited and the ranger station had just closed. Eventually I found that there was a nice campsite available for the next couple of nights. There was a modest change fee to make this adjustment but that was minor in my opinion. Relief! Now we were ready to move our tent and food into our temporary home just as a crack of thunder radiated through the park.

We couldn’t see the storm to know which direction it was going as there were tall, rocky bluffs behind us blocking the view from the west. Let’s hurry and get the tent set up so we at least have a dry place to hide. With the booming thunder becoming louder and more frequent we rushed to get stakes pounded into the ground and the tent poles standing. Just as the last of our gear was brought into the tent it began to rain. Perfect timing! Maybe luck was with us. We were hopeful a storm would be a part of our time at Split Rock Lighthouse. I would love to photograph a bolt of lightning behind the lighthouse itself. There wasn’t a lot of lighting on display with this fast moving thunderstorm so that photograph would have to wait. It was still relaxing to just listen to the storm overhead as it wasn’t severe by any means. Once the rain stopped falling we emerged from the tent with enough time to cook something to eat before nightfall. The rest of our time provided nice clear skies with a few white, puffy clouds and perfect temperatures cooling off at night for some very much appreciated deep sleep. This has become a favorite place to camp and I definitely want to spend more time here relaxing and exploring.

Adventures, Photos, Troy's Blog

Inspiration Returns

September 7, 2019 Troy

I don’t remember when I was this excited to be holding a camera. It was probably early this year out photographing winter scenes and snowflakes. While in Utah early this spring I had fun photographing some of the incredible landscapes but the excitement and motivation wasn’t as strong as it typically is when out with a camera. Most of the time, for the last four months or so, the camera stayed in its case. When I did pull it out, the batteries were usually low. That’s very unusual. As soon as a battery is running out of power I immediately put it on the charger so it’s ready to go the next time there’s an opportunity to go out. Even on this trip to Northern Minnesota I felt a lack of inspiration. I was extremely excited for this adventure to the Gunflint Trail since I’d never been to that part of Minnesota but photographing it didn’t really interest me. For the first couple of days I couldn’t see much I really wanted to capture with the camera. I knew it was a lack of inspiration because there had to be many, many opportunities of things to photograph. That all passed in a matter of minutes on this morning.

All of a sudden there were so many things to capture with the camera. I couldn’t get them all fast enough. There were so many ideas running through my mind. So many pictures I wanted to try. And to think, I was wrestling with myself to even get out of bed to see the mornings sunrise. A portion of that was only getting a little over 4 hours of sleep. Also the sunrise the previous morning was nice but lacked the spectacular features of a stunning sunrise, adding to my lack of interest in getting up. Thankfully I did trade my nice warm bed for the cool, Northern Minnesota air on this day. In the previous post I wrote about the early portion of the sunrise but once the sun broke above the fog, I moved on to other subjects all around me. I had just moved from my original spot near a canoe launch back to the waters’ edge by our cabin when overhead flew a small flock of ducks which landed near the canoe launch.

I watched them for a short time before deciding to try and sneak back to the canoe launch and capture these unfamiliar ducks to me. They cooperated and stayed put while I set up the tripod as quietly as possible and began to photograph them. After awhile of swimming back and forth beyond my view I noticed they seem to be making their way towards me so I got the camera ready and stayed still. Success! They swam right in front of me before realizing something was there they didn’t recognize causing them to slowly move away back towards my cabin area. I hustled to get over there but they had swam faster than I could walk and were just leaving the area when I arrived. Unfortunately I was experiencing difficulties in getting my camera to focus and take pictures so the photo above is the best one I managed to get. Several other opportunities were missed because of my technical issues but it was fun non the less. (These issues were due to a dirty shutter button which I fixed right after this trip)

As the sun continued its climb I noticed my shoes were quite wet. While that’s not very comfortable it also means a lot of dew clinging to everything providing more photo opportunities. One of my challenges has been to isolate these drops and get a clear shot of the reflections coming through them. In the photo above of equisetum I felt like I accomplished that. In addition, the lines running up and down this stem really stand out against a blurry background. It took me a little bit to get all of this set up but worth the outcome. At this point the dew drops were beginning to disappear under the warming sunlight so I needed to hurry a little. I tried a few different plants, attempting to find an interesting perspective highlighting these drops of water when the leaves of these Marsh Marigolds stood out. I love how the sunlight highlights the ridges and valleys of this leaf created by the veins and leaf shape. Adding in the water droplets makes it even more interesting to me because they really highlight the iridescence contained in the leaf surface and contrast nicely with the lines. So much fun!

As the dew continued to fade I moved on again to other subjects as they shined in the beautiful morning sun. Below is the partial flower of a Marsh Marigold with a fly warming itself up in the warming sun while beginning it’s day of moving from one flower to the next. Even though half of the petals had already fallen off I liked this particular one because the anthers and stigmas were visible with a few petals behind them. It was like a cross section of the flower with the lines created flowing to the fly for an interesting composition. I then moved on to the Blue Bead Lilies which I wanted to capture before needing to leave this campground. The yellow, bell shaped flower above is of a Blue Bead Lily. I eventually had to stop to grab some breakfast and pack up the campsite but what an invigorating day. My excitement to get out with the camera has remained every since. My motivation and inspiration returned on this morning. We just never know when or what will reignite our passion but I’m grateful it happens.

Adventures, Photos, Troy's Blog

A Sunrise Worth Waking Up For

September 1, 2019 Troy

Slowly opening my eyes, I could see a touch of light entering through the window. I grabbed my watch from the nearby floorboard I set it on before falling asleep and saw that it was 4:30. That’s 4:30 A.M.! Having stayed up enjoying a campfire the night before, it was a real struggle to keep from just rolling over and going back to sleep after only a little over 4 hours of rest. I got up the morning before and enjoyed the sunrise so I can just sleep through this one, right? Laying there a few more minutes, almost returning to dreamland, I finally decided to get up for the sunrise after which I would return to my bed for a few more hours of desired shut eye. Adding to the challenge of getting up was the cool temperatures outside while being nice and warm inside my sleeping bag. Besides, looking out my little window from the bed, the sky looked like it was completely clear. Typically a beautiful sunrise involves some clouds to capture some of the suns amazing colors reflecting off of them. Grumbling I slowly got out of the cozy sleeping bag, put on some clothes,and grabbed the camera.

Once outside my demeanor changed. I love the early mornings watching the sky grow brighter and brighter while birds begin to chirp. Arriving a few steps to the edge of the lake by our cabin I was immediately grateful for the motivation it required to get out of bed as the scene in front of me was breath taking. While there were very few clouds, fog rising off of the calm water made for an amazing view. My current camera set up would never do. I headed quickly back towards my car to get a different lens and a second camera with another lens along with the tripod. Rushing back towards the waters’ edge I set up the cameras and began shooting away. I just couldn’t believe how beautiful the landscape was in front of me. The pristine water reflecting this incredible light making its way through the fog and I was the only one awake to witness such a view. Part of me felt disappointed others were missing this sunrise and at the same time I was thankful for this solitary moment. My adrenaline was flowing and the lack of sleep was nowhere to be felt.

In a short time I discovered I was not alone. A curious beaver drifted near while eating a morning meal and watching as I switched between photographing with one camera and then the next while taking some time to just be in the moment and enjoy the spectacular surroundings. Everything so calm and beautiful. A moment that stops all that is going on in the world. A moment so beautiful you almost don’t want to take another breath for fear of it being gone. But you do and realize it’s all still there, and if possible, better than the previous moment. The sun starting to shine through the tree tops making it’s way through the fog casting a soft, yellow light over everything. It’s warmth now making its way to my cool face bringing the realization I was a little cold. Everything was so beautiful I didn’t even feel this cold penetrating through me. Closing my eyes for a second or two, I could feel the sun’s summer strength being absorbed inside of me. Opening my eyes once again I could see this beautiful sunrise beginning to fade.

Quickly the sun made it’s way above the trees, becoming brighter and brighter as the dawn gave way to day and this beautiful experience came to a close. This is one of the reasons I love photographing things. I can look back on these photos and return to this moment. Remembering the struggle to get out of bed, rushing around to gather my gear, and walking to different locations to find the spot to photograph from. All ending with this gorgeous moment of beauty and calmness not only on the water but within myself.

Rolling out of bed and experiencing this sunrise re-ignited my passion for photography. For the past several months before this, I didn’t really want to touch my camera. I couldn’t explain why because I didn’t understand why. And for the most part I was ok with that. There were moments where I took photos because I knew I should but my heart wasn’t really into it. They would sit on my memory card for weeks or more which is unlike me. I just didn’t want to even take the time to look over them. That’s how I know my inspiration is lacking. Typically I can’t wait to see pictures I’ve just taken. There’s always something I’m excited to look at. This morning’s sunrise brought back my passion and excitement. I continued to photograph for another couple of hours and never did return to my bed except to pack it up in order to move on to another campsite.

Adventure, Photos, Troy's Blog

Finding Spring Again

July 14, 2019 Troy

About a month ago I had the opportunity to head into Northern Minnesota for some camping and exploring with a friend of mine from college. Just getting there was a lot of fun as the further north we drove from the Twin Cities, the more like spring it felt. There are so many things I enjoy as spring begins to transform the winter wonderland into a landscape so full of life. One of those is the scent of crabapples in full bloom. They’re beautiful to look at but so captivating to smell. Unfortunately their blooming season seems so short so to be able to enjoy this sweet fragrance once again at the Leif Erikson Gardens in Duluth was such a great unexpected treat. Winter held on a little longer this spring delaying these spring flowers a little which worked out extremely well for this trip. In addition to the crabapples, tulips were showing off their vibrant colors while being complimented with the large Lake Superior as a backdrop. I could have spent more time here just enjoying an absolutely gorgeous spring day but there still was a significant distance to go before getting to the days destination in Northern Minnesota.

As the vehicle continued towards the Canadian border along Lake Superior, spring seemed to rewind as the leaves on trees were smaller, earlier flowers were blooming once again, and the air grew cooler. By the time we reached our destination just outside of the Boundary Waters we were greeted with early blooming wildflowers such as Trillium – my favorite spring wildflower I think. It may be a toss up between Trillium and Lady Slipper Orchids. Since I didn’t come across any hardy orchids in bloom in the area I just enjoyed the pure white flowers reaching out above the interesting leaves of these intriguing Trillium grandiflorum. There were also nodding Trilliums in bloom along with a number of other wildflowers. What a great way to start out a weeks trip camping in the North Woods!

Exploring, Troy's Blog, wildlife

In Search of Winter Birds

February 3, 2019 Troy

It take a lot of motivation to purposefully venture out in subzero temperatures with a brisk north wind blowing. Getting up before the sun on a cold January morning seemed like a good idea until the alarm goes off and you see exactly how cold it is outside of the window. And to voluntarily do that on a weekend is not always the most thrilling way to spend those dark hours unless there’s something you’re looking for more than sleep. The motivation this morning was to find birds that migrate to this area for the winter. It does seem a little weird that birds fly to Northern Minnesota during the winter. This day began at –15 degrees Fahrenheit with wind making it feel more like –30. Once again would the vehicle start at these temperatures? Turning the key created some noise under the hood but nothing near starting, at first. A few revolutions of the starter and the engine came back to life but you could hear the hesitation as it whined as if it was begging to be turned off until a warmer day. Sax Zim bog was the destination which is world renown for winter birding. Nearing the bog the temperature had dropped to –25 degrees with a slight wind making it seem much colder. Would the birds even be moving in this cold? How will the camera function?

Arriving at the bog there wasn’t much for signs of life however there were tracks all over the place bringing promise to the adventure. The goal of this day was to witness the Snowy Owl which travels here from the artic during the winter. There had been posts online showing Snowy Owls so they were in the area but finding them may be a bit of a challenge. The morning was spent driving to the “hot spots” searching on top of power line poles, hay bales out in fields, and scanning fields for any sign of an owl possibly snagging breakfast. No success! As the morning grew longer it was time to focus on other birds that fly into the area. Fortunately there’s a nice map showing where people feed these winter birds and where owls may be present other than the Snowy. A couple of other owls on the list to see were the Hawk Owl and Great Gray Owl both known to be in this area. Until I saw Sax Zim Bog myself it seemed rather odd that people set up elaborate feeding stations during the winter so that people from all over the United States and the world can see these magnificent birds. While heading to a promising group of bird feeders I spotted something out of the corner of my eye that didn’t seem to fit the roadside which has been flying by. Quickly stopping and looking more intently, there just sitting by the side of the road was a Pine Marten. I did not even expect to see one of these here. The first opportunity to see if the camera and lens would cooperate with a nice photo. Slowly the camera turned on and became ready to photograph but the lens had other ideas. Focusing was not one of them. The auto focus was extremely sluggish and having difficulty finding something to key in on. After a little time it did finally get close to focusing on the Pine Marten but still didn’t get it as sharp as I wanted. A few shots and the Pine Marten decided it was time to retreat back into the trees it had come from. That was a little disappointing start with the camera but a great start to a day of exploring the frigid bog.

Continuing down the road there was a couple of cars stopped and talking with one another. What could they be discussing? Eventually they parted ways continuing on down the road and stopped to inform of a Northern Hawk Owl located just down a ways. Turning around to follow these new found birding friends until they stopped and discovered several other cars parked in this area just along the side of the road. There was a trail, which had been discussed earlier if that should be explored further, leading off into the forest. Now there was a great reason to follow the footprints of others into the unknown area. Spending a few minutes collecting the necessary clothing and camera equipment in an effort to stay warm while hopefully capturing a nice photo of this owl. Following the two people that pointed out this spot into the snow covered forest searching for an owl perched where it had been seen before but this day there was no owl. A couple of other bird enthusiasts were walking in the opposite direction on the trail able to provide more encouragement explaining the owl was a little deeper today but it would be obvious where because of all the other large cameras pointed towards it. They were right! Getting close the first thing visible were cameras perched on tripods each hold what appeared to be cannons but were really just very large lenses. The kind that could pick out a mosquito from 100 yards away. Following the direction of these and there it was – a Northern Hawk Owl! A beautiful bird watching over the landscape. Almost like it was entertained by the constant motion of people traveling to this one area and then stopping like there was some sort of invisible wall preventing them from going any further. As a courtesy to other photographers and birders no one wanted to risk getting too close and spooking the owl.

Retreating from the cold forest back into a warm vehicle, it was time to venture to some feeding stations and discover what kinds of birds were out today. Slowly approaching the first one, there was all kinds of activity there but it was difficult to see exactly what types of birds where fluttering about because of the shade protecting their identities. After a few minutes they moved into more light revealing Evening Grosbeaks. The color of these birds was amazing. Yellows, whites, and blacks typically reserved for summer migrants but here they are in the middle of a harsh winter day in Minnesota. Typically the birds living through the winter are more drab waiting until spring time to show off their beautiful plumage. Not these grosbeaks! There were numerous birds flying in between surrounding trees and the bird feeder offering a full supply of sunflower seeds to get through a difficult January day. Chickadees and Blue Jays accompanied the Evening Grosbeaks in gorging themselves on these black seeds moving back and forth as if they’re being orchestrated by a control tower so each can safely land, grab a few seeds, and depart making room for another bird to do the same. Occasionally there’s a conflict quickly resolved as a pecking order becomes established for each trip to the feeder. At this point the camera seemed to have woken up and accepted the cold as it began to focus more accurately on the fast moving creatures revealing these beautiful colors flashing in and out of the bird feeder. Watching the activity started to make the cold disappear bringing out the enjoyment so many people come here to find among the winter inhabitants.

There was much excitement now to see what other bird feeders held so it was off to another area spot. Driving down the road you could tell when there was something of interest as there would be several cars parked on the side of the road with people watching a particular spot. It reminded me of being in a national park and there was an animal browsing along the road. A traffic jam! At this next spot there was a multitude of birds I’ve never seen before. At first the Blacked Capped Chickadees were easily spotted. Joining them were a flock of Pine Grosbeaks in their vibrant colors. It was so much fun to watch as they hopped between the trees nearby to the ground and up to the feeders themselves in search of their next morsel of food. In an instant you could hear excitement among those watching and there was another species high on the list of wanting to see – a Boreal Chickadee. There were not many spotted this winter so to see at least one was a special treat revealing why there was so much excitement when this one was spotted. Taking a few seconds to listen, there were cameras busily shooting all around as the sound of their clicking filled the roadside. In the picture above of that chickadee you can see small pieces of wood flying behind the bird as it pecked away to get at the food hidden inside. In an instant all of the birds disappeared as if a warning bell had gone off.

Scanning the trees the reason for their departure quickly became apparent. A pair of Gray Jays, otherwise known as Canada Jays, entered the feeding area. They were quite entertaining to watch as they perched in nearby trees almost as if they were posing to say “look at me” and giving everyone an opportunity to snap their photos. Soon they moved from their perches to begin consuming the nutritious nuts capable of giving them the necessary energy for the day. As they moved on, other birds returned and everything appeared normal once again. Still a few birds remained elusive. It was time to venture into the Visitor’s Center (which is only open during the winter months) to get information on possible spotting earlier in the day and potential locations to see more birds. With this information more exploring began without much success. As the sun moved towards the horizon, the snowy owls should be reappearing for the night. Following recommendations there was an area targeted on the map to find one of these beautiful owls. Getting closer to the specified trees, there perched at the top of one of them was a larger bird. Getting closer it was revealed to be a Snowy Owl on time like it had a schedule to keep. Once again there were several vehicles on the side of the road with tripods containing cameras or spotting scopes all directed at the owl. Grabbing some photographs, the owl flew off into the setting sun bringing an end to a fun, cold day. One that hopefully will be repeated soon.

Adventures, Lake Superior, Troy's Blog

A Winter Trip North

January 27, 2019 Troy

A cold, windy winter weekend exploring the shores of a cold Lake Superior provided a beautiful landscape to those who were willing to venture into seemingly inhospitable conditions. Arriving in Duluth the night before with temperatures just below zero and a strong northern wind made me question my own sanity and the safety of the conditions to be venturing outside the next day. Just a few minutes outside was enough to make any portion of skin exposed to the elements burn and start to lose feeling. How would it be to spend hours outdoors with these conditions which were forecast to be even worse in the morning even though the sun was expected to be shining bright?

Hoping to see the sunrise from the shores of Lake Superior, two friends who had never been to Minnesota’s North Shore and I got up well before the sunrise to grab breakfast and travel from Duluth to Tettegouche State Park. Anticipating a beautiful sun rise over the vast lake to begin a day full of exploring some absolutely amazing sights, our day began to a blaring alarm clock startling us quickly and reluctantly awake. After breakfast the outside temperatures were reading 15 degrees below zero. That’s Fahrenheit! I began to wonder if my car would even start at these cold temperatures. Maybe staying in the nice, cozy hotel would be a better way to spend this day. Instead I pulled on my heavy winter jacket and headed outside. That immediate blast of cold air took my breath away bringing the cold instantly to my uncovered hands and face as I looked up at the sky to see bright shining stars looking back at me. Unlocking the car I quickly got in the drivers seat and hoped for life to return to my vehicle. Turning the key was met with some resistance, almost as if the car was trying to tell me we were going nowhere on this clear, cold morning. Then the engine fired bringing life back into the quiet parking lot. Loading any gear we could possibly think of needing, we were off to endure this cold challenge nature was presenting. A little over an hour later we arrived at one of my favorite state parks – Tettegouche.

During this time in the car it had only barely begun to warm to a comfortable level making it a difficult choice yet again to crack open a door to venture into the frigid conditions waiting for us. The sunrise was supposed to have occurred several minutes before we arrived but there was so much sea smoke rising from the completely unfrozen waters of Lake Superior creating a cloud filled sky that there was no sign of a warming sun piercing the horizon. How could the lake be completely open in such freezing conditions? Deciding it was time to begin our adventure our doors opened to the cold air blasting from a wind blowing so hard from the north it was tough to even close a car door against its power. This icy wind made it feel like it was more than 30 degrees below zero! There could be no exposed skin if we were to stay outdoors for more than a few minutes. Thankfully there is a Visitor Center and rest area that remains open 24 hours a day allowing us to grab the winter gear and head inside to change in a more comfortable environment.

Now, with everything covered as well as we could, we headed to the beach to discover whatever beautiful sights Lake Superior had for us. Within a minute my glasses became covered in frost from the moisture in my breath quickly freezing to each lens making them useless in this environment. Hands and feet became a little cold to start but warmed up as the heat packs began to work their luxurious, hot magic making this outside ice world hospitable for a little while. Exploring along the shoreline, as we traversed icy and snow covered stairs making it treacherous requiring each step to be carefully placed, the beautiful winter landscape enveloped us helping to forget the extreme winter conditions surrounding us. Even though the water was without ice covering it, the entire shoreline showed January’s wrath as anything touched by a drop of water was now covered in layers of thick ice from the shore to cliffs 30 – 40 feet above the now calm waters. A warning of Lake Superiors potential power.

After climbing over ice covered boulders and walking along a beach or two, we decided it was time to head inland for more explorations and be witness to the waterfalls now frozen in place under a thick blanket of snow. Before venturing off to the waterfalls and river that make them, a short stop inside the visitor center was needed to bring feeling back into our faces. A few minutes next to the roaring fireplace and comfortable chairs made it near impossible to leave. Finally prying ourselves from these warm chairs we were back outside hiking along the Baptism River in search of a winter wonderland and any potential wildlife daring to venture out of their dens. There was about two feet of snow covering every portion of the ground slowing down travel over summer hiking trails. Fortunately others had forged a path making it passable without the aid of snowshoes. Trudging along the frozen rivers edge, the bright sun made its forecasted appearance highlighting each turn of this beautiful winter landscape. With the river running well below the surrounding hills we were given a much appreciated reprieve from the strong north winds making the outdoor environment much more tolerable. We could even remove some of the heavy pieces of cloth protecting our skin from freezing. Eventually the waterfalls appeared covered in several inches of ice and snow. In some areas running water could be seen through the ice along with a few spots of actual open water captivating us in this beautiful winter scene.

After tiring from the deep snow it was time to return to the now cold vehicle and find a warm place to sit and eat as we have felt the pangs of hunger for awhile. Recovering it was decided to continue on to some of the other treasures of the North Shore. Our next highlight was the popular Split Rock Lighthouse which was bathed in a warm afternoon sun now shining over the vast lake providing for some nice photo opportunities. Others were stopped at the same overlooked we decided to view this iconic lighthouse from hoping to catch the full moon rising over the ledge this building sits next to. Unfortunately the moon was coming up in the wrong place to be able to create this desired photo but it was still a beautiful scene.

Our final destination was Gooseberry Falls but daylight was becoming less and less so we needed to continue on from the lighthouse down the shoreline. We arrived with enough daylight to walk over the now heavily frozen river to view these popular waterfalls which were now covered with layers of ice which were covered by the beautiful glistening snow hiding almost any sign of water flowing over these solid cliffs. Laying on the snow the soothing sound of moving water could be heard almost lulling us to sleep on top of the soft, white powder we were laying on. I could have stayed there listening for a long time if it weren’t for the call of another scene needing to be photographed. I wanted to stay until well after sunset to capture the bright moonlight shining bright on all of the snow and ice so after the sun went down we spent a few minutes recuperating in the heated visitors center before grabbing camera gear and finding our way through the dark onto the solid river for some nighttime photos. Finally the stars began to shine and the moon rose high enough to shine on this sleeping landscape bringing a different view of Gooseberry Falls than I had looked at before. With numerous shots now recorded in the camera it was time to end our day and search out a warm place to eat once again.

Adventure, Troy's Blog, wildlife

Merganser Feast

September 23, 2018 Troy

Before the sun had risen above the horizon at Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota I ventured to a dock hoping for a foggy morning scene. There was some fog hanging onto the lake as sunlight began casting shadows from the pine and maple covered shoreline but not the epic foggy morning dreamt about the night before. Everything was so still waking up from a cool summer night. So peaceful! The type of morning I have come to cherish. As I was soaking in this serene landscape movement caught my attention. Ducks swimming slowly through vegetation nearby. With camera already resting on it’s three legged perch I stared into these grasses watching as ducks disappeared under the water’s surface and returned again all without making a sound. Only the ripples giving them away. Zooming in on one of these busy birds I noticed something in it’s mouth appearing to be a crayfish.

Watching intently through my cameras eye the outline confirmed my suspicions. It was indeed a crayfish caught in the beak of a merganser. This hard shelled creature appeared much to large to be swallowed by the little mouth of this bird so I continued to watch, snapping a few pictures along the way, as it wrestled to get it’s next meal ready to eat. As if it were dancing, this duck would swing it’s head from side to side opening its clamping beak attempting to shift the crayfish in another direction before dipping it underwater as if rinsing it off in preparation to eat it. The crayfish dance would be repeated for several minutes until finally satisfied this meal was ready to be consumed. All the while the crayfish appeared to be in a state of uncertainty of what was going on. Only moments before it was the predator eyeing up the next meal.

Once this early morning meal had reached the stomach of this merganser it was back to hunting. A water bird of this size appeared unable to handle more than one of these bottom dwelling creatures and yet continued searching for more. Watching this happen several more times I began wondering just how many crayfish can a little duck eat before becoming too lethargic and tempting a nearby perched eagle into a possible easy meal. Finally the mornings feast seemed to come to an end and preening was the next event on this cool, sunny mornings calendar. A few dunks in the water while flapping its wings before drying off in the warming sunlight in preparation of checking that all of this little ducks feathers were perfectly in place removing those that were not. Returning to the soundless swimming in and out of grassing camouflaging this brown aquatic bird from sight before once again losing it under the waters surface.

Scanning over the nearby waters surface this merganser re-appeared once again holding another crayfish in it’s tiny beak. The dance continued, although as if perfected, lasted a much shorter time before another crayfish was swallowed whole into the small mouth of a motivated predator. By this time more people were stirring causing these little ducks to retreat further into the weeds protecting them from the large two legged animals wandering along the shoreline. It was time to store my camera and tripod back into its protective sack relinquishing my place on this dock for others to begin launching their water crafts for a summer day out on the water.

Night Sky, Photos, Troy's Blog

A Meteor Shower on the North Shore of Minnesota

September 4, 2017 Troy

A few weeks ago the Perseid meteor shower was expected to peak providing a possible meteor every minute burning through the night sky. For the best viewing, the darkest sky possible is required so we took a road trip to the North Shore of Minnesota and settled in for a great, however short, astronomical show as a near full moon would be rising about an hour after total darkness descended across the horizon. As the sky grew increasingly dark I worked the camera to capture this annual event. Yes, the Perseid meteor shower occurs every summer near the beginning of August.

While taking in the meteors buzzing across the blackened sky I wanted to make another attempt at photographing the Milkyway as I’ve spent some time earlier in the summer trying to get a photo showing the arc produced across the sky by the Milkyway if there is enough darkness. Finally I successfully accomplished that with a photo that shows some of the amazing colors available in the night sky with the help of distant northern lights glowing on the horizon and a few city lights off in the distance.

While photographing the Milkyway, many of these photos caught a meteor or two and sometime more streaking across the sky. They may be a little difficult to see in these photos but if you look hard enough, especially in the one directly above here, you can see them. I can see as many as four in the photo just above but the sky is a little too bright to make them out easily. Unfortunately the best ones were not caught by my camera. There were a few that crossed almost the entire visible night sky leaving a trail of light for more than a second. In what seemed like a matter of minutes the moon began rising lighting up the whole star filled sky making it much more difficult to see these meteors however the brightest ones still left a bolt of light as they flew through the universe. While this may not produce the same excitement as a total solar eclipse it is still worth trying to view on a nice summer night. Just be prepared for mosquitoes if they exist where you are.

Gaining Life Experience