Deer hunt 2009

from flickr user GSankary
An old road house that was along the old dirt road that took people to Mille Lacs from the cities up to the 1930s. When they built 169, or the road that would become 169, it was built a half mile or mile east of here on the other side of the Rum River. You could still make out places where the road is sort of visible through the property. Mostly where there is a life of newer growth poplars through the the old oak forest.

Brilliant Bridge

from flickr user CarloBambino
While this photo is a nice example of nighttime photography, the star flares coming off the lights are almost too much.

The end of the season

from flickr user yearofthewhitedog
With the clouds rolling and the shadows seeming longer than usual, this photo feels like November.

The Minneapolis Library

from flickr user ssphotos2009
The public library building in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Shot made just before dawn.

The gift of the moose

from flickr user Steve took it
The photographer says:
"Our trips to the paddle-only wilderness area along the border of Minnesota and Ontario are not really about fishing. It‘s just easier to tell everyone we’re “goin’ fishin’” than try to explain we’re going to rejuvenate our souls in a pristine world of natural beauty unchanged since the Ojibwa tribe made it home. People would just roll their eyes.

The magic of becoming one with nature has been a topic of conversation around many campfires. We’ve decided that when a traveler sacrifices modern conveniences and schedules, and leaves clocks, phones and work at home, the wilderness is more likely to bestow them with certain “gifts”. And for us, the most valued of these are the gift of loon calls, the gift of northern lights and the gift of the moose. Any one of those precious gifts makes for a GREAT trip. The rare perfect trip grants all three.

As usual, on this trip we tried to select campsites with northern exposures, and about the fourth night in were rewarded with a clear night and incredible show. The shimmering greens and red explosions of Aurora Borealis put civilized fireworks displays to shame. And twice we camped in lakes where we could sit quietly at the waters edge and hear loons on both ends of the lake exchange hauntingly piercing calls. On most trips we would surprise more than one moose as we paddle into a secluded bay or drifted by a quiet marsh. But for 12 straight days the moose remained elusive.

Every morning we discussed if this would be the day for the gift of the moose. I was beginning to suspect one of my companions cursed us with a smuggled cell phone or something. And sure enough, on the last night of the trip my friend confessed he had packed an alarm clock to make sure we got an early start on our final push home. I crawled into my sleeping bag, swearing to the spirits that it was not MY alarm clock, but resigned that two out of three gifts was pretty darned good.

It was still pretty dark when I woke to what sounded like distant grunts. HRUUP! HRUUP!

“What the heck is that?” I asked my snoring, technology-whipped tent-mate.

“I don’t hear anything….scared of the dark?” he said sarcastically. Then he glanced at his uninvited clock and said, “Stop worrying and go back to sleep because we have to get up soon.”

Instead, I threw on some clothes, grabbed my camera, and jumped in the canoe to follow the grunts. I quietly paddled around our point and into a little bay behind our campsite. And there I received the ultimate gift of the moose.

For more than 30 minutes as the sun slowly peeked up through the morning mist I sat mesmerized as this majestic beast ate and explored less than 30 feet away. He posed, grunted, and swam in front of me several times before finally climbing back on shore and noisily disappearing through the trees. The BEST gift of the moose ever!

Sunrise Rock Lake St. Croix State Forest

from flickr user Jim's outside photos
The photographer says: "I slipped onto the water at first light this morning and found this light show!"

Jim's Apple Barn Also Sells Bacon!

from flickr user Monkey River Town
Made a trip down to Jim's Apple barn just south of Jordan, MN on Hwy 169. Been going there for years. Not only do they have many different kinds of apples, fresh pies, and tremendous candy selection, they also have bacon.

Downtown Northfield, MN

from flickr user kindofindie
Downtown Northfield, Minnesota. It's got two highly regarded liberal arts colleges, Carleton College and St. Olaf College, and there's an artsy, indie vibe to the town. Which is weird, because there's nothing else like it nearby. It's grown a lot because the Twin Cities have grown and it's on the fringe of the metro area.

St. Paul, MN

from flickr user GretchenMariePhotography
A perfectly photographed silhouette of the St. Paul skyline.

Conor Oberst

from flickr user mplsjeff
Conor Oberst, photographed during the Monsters of Folk tour at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on October 29th, is one of those singer/songwriters whom you either love or have never heard of. You may know him better from Bright Eyes fame. He's also a midwesterner hailing from Omaha, Nebraska. Check out his music if you even remotely like alt-country, indie rock or folk rock music.

Daryl

from flickr user Christopher Ward
The most impressive detail behind this photo is that the only light used is from the campfire illuminating the subject's face. This is a stunning example of nighttime photography.

Two Harvests

from flickr user PXLated
Harvesting the Wind, Harvesting the Corn. Photo taken this weekend near Chandler, MN.

It had been a good day

from flickr user HelenJr
Taken near Park Rapids, MN, a few years back this is what autumn colors should look like. Remember them fondly as it's now November - typically the cloudiest month of the year in Minnesota.

Spooky Couple on Nicollet Mall

from flickr user erlin1
These two were taking a stroll on the Mall. They were a cross between babies and aliens. Kind of something out of Fringe.

Downtown Minneapolis

from flickr user Shia Yang
Anyone can take a photo of a skyline but this photo of the Minneapolis skyline is one of the best I've ever seen. Patience, a good eye and a good camera makes it happen.

The cordial cocoon

from flickr user Ruptured Dog
Wow. I'm a huge fan of light art like this and while this is simple it gives me my fix for the day.

Milkweed Seeds

from flickr user djsime
A killer photo taken at Austin, Minnesota's Hormel Nature Center. The Milkweed seed pods are filled with smooth as silk seed material making the weed pleasant to have in your neighborhood.

Haunted House

from flickr user glness
An awesome photographic trick with the light from an obvious long exposure pouring out through the windows of this abandoned house near Vergas, MN. Perfect for Halloween.

Ski Jump in Autumn or Stairway to Heaven?

from flickr user Croixboy
The rather impressive ski jump at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, MN.

Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

from flickr user kla4067
Nearly complete in September 2009, Target Field becomes the new home of the Minnesota Twins Baseball team as of opening day April 12, 2010. Will seat 40,000 screaming baseball fans.

This shot looks like it was taken with a tilt shift lens but what you see is the effect of a distorted plastic window on a DC9 while approaching MSP.

Love and murder

from flickr user photosynthetique
This photo, taken during a band's photo shoot, is wonderfully staged. I am digging the themes of life and death with the promise of hidden roses and a hidden butcher knife while being united by some red wine which could also be used to signify blood. Nice work.

Pumpkinzilla

from flickr user John McNab
Chris Stevens, shown with his five-year-old daughter Kaley, will enter this 1,340-pound pumpkin in the Stillwater, Minnesota, Giant Pumpkin Contest on Saturday. The Stevens family grew the pumpkin this summer in their family garden south of New Richmond, Wisconsin.

Photo credit: Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Zombie Santa

from flickr user Danny Guy
Taken almost three weeks ago during the fifth annual Minneapolis Zombie Pub Crawl, Zombie Santa Claus looks like he's been getting more than his fill of delicious brains. I just hope he isn't the Santa to make his way down my chimney this year.

Where trees go to die

from flickr user helmblogger
Taken in the backwaters of the Mississippi River, this photo captures the somewhat barren feel of the backwater areas of Minnesota's big rivers. They're not pretty to look at but all of those dead trees are a beaver's best friend.

A fence of trees

from flickr user boscbo
This shady photo, taken near Stillwater, MN, is a perfect example of what happens when you take a photo from in the shadows. It's great for creating a silhouette effect and that's exactly what this photographer did. An excellent showcase of what Minnesota looks like at this time of year - with just 6% of the state's corn crop harvested compared to an average of 44% in previous years.

A rural patchwork

from flickr user rkehret42
This photo, showcasing the rolling hills of southeastern Minnesota between Harmony and Preston, presents us with a varied texture of farm fields and woods that give the area its character.

Gathering Snow

from flickr user PXLated
Left Alone, Abandoned & Cold. Taken near Minnetrista, MN.

Oberg Mountain Loop

from flickr user siskokid
The Oberg Mountain Loop is one of the North Shore's most scenic hikes. Located just north of Tofte, Minnesota off the Onion River road and Highway 61. Oberg Mountain offers great views of Lake Superior and the surrounding "mountains".

Doubletown

from flickr user austin1227
A Polaroid photo is not usually the subject of anything artistic or creative. The whole idea of a traditional Polaroid photograph is that you get quick results and we all know that quick doesn't usually equal quality. This photo, though, is the exception. I love the reflection captured as well as the rather 70s-era tone of the photo.

Northwest Airlines

from flickr use Points1
This photo of a Northwest Airlines Airbus A330 taking off is at least similar in model to the Northwest Airlines Airbus A320 which overshot the Minneapolis-St. Paul International AIrport Wednesday night by over 150 miles while the pilots were in an apparently heated argument about airline policy. The Delta Airlines-owned jet was out of radio contact for over an hour but even without radio contact, the Department of Homeland Security never bothered to scramble fighter jets in an attempt to intercept what could have been a hijacked flight.

Flight 188's two pilots who missed MSP International are currently on paid leave while the investigation continues. None of the 144 passengers on Flight 188 were injured or even apparently aware that their flight was well over an hour longer than it should have been.

View the crazy flightpath here.

Interesting interview with a Flight 188 passenger

Blessing Biscuit

from flickr user Josh Hed
Blessing of the Animals ceremony at Guardian Angels Church.

Click here for more details about the event.

A good landscape helps

from flickr user *Lampy*
Two dirty Canadian Pacific units lead northbound 199's train near Maple Springs, Minnesota.

Now that is how you photograph a colorful reflection. Nicely done.

Canoe bliss

from flickr user Steve took it
Another gorgeous morning in the amazing Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness along the border of Minnesota and Ontario Canada. This is from a slide. I kind of like the dreamlike soft feel but touch of grain.

A grand structure

from flickr user Jeana Marie Photography
The immense size of this bridge in downtown Minneapolis could easily make a person feel tiny. Just look at how small the Metro Transit bus appears.

Amber Waves

from flickr user siskokid
These impressive waves crashing on the mix of rocks and sandy shoreline could very well be somewhere in Hawaii. Instead it's Minnesota's own Lake Superior. The photo was taken at Artist's Point in Grand Marais, MN.