A New Tradition

We went to this longstanding New Ulm tradition for the first time last night. The Schell Brewery owners have been doing this for decades, a labor of love lighting hundreds of luminaries. A new tradition was started for us.

Merry Christmas!

I was looking for a winter scene to wish you all a very Merry Christmas this morning but found this ice pattern. With the  grass still green it didn't seem right to share a snow scene, maybe tomorrow I'll get a chance. When you think about it this is not a celebration of winter but the celebration of a birth and the promise of the future. Take a moment to reflect on the the true meaning of Christmas while you enjoy your families today.

Dale

Water in Transition

It is not really winter or is it autumn, just a prolonged transition to cold. This waterfall was nearly dry last December but was a great location to explore over the weekend. Southwestern Minnesota has a number of waterfalls that are not as high as those as the north shore but are dramatic in relation to the stark prairie that surrounds them.

Busy Mice

Elves are not the only little creatures busy at this time of year. These field mice were recorded over 13 nights of camera trapping at Townsend Woods SNA.  I hope to get out during a full moon to record their activity in person.

Think first. Shoot later.

Canon Australia is a great inspirational site on YouTube for all photographers. Their subjects rarely involve nature but pertain to all of us who use a camera. This short piece in a cemetery made me think about how I can improve my prairie shots.

Winter Coat

Not needed today. The longer it stays warm the happier this guy will be. Red squirrels and grays tend to sleep in cold weather but fox squirrels are out most of the winter, benefiting from more fur and body fat. The red squirrels we see at feeders are taking advantage of a free meal and in the process giving us a few hours of entertainment.

Three blind mice

The title is the first thought that comes to mind when I see this camera trap image. When watching them scurry around I can understand how that term was coined. There was near constant motion for around this pile acorns nestled at the base of the log. About 2500 files were captured over a 2 week period. The task of reviewing them for unique content or other creatures has been completed so now the fun of putting a video together is the next step.  It will be M rated, definitely not for those who are squeamish at the sight of a mouse.

Fox squirrel at the knot

I love this pose. Squirrels frequently stopped for a picture on their in and out of this log. Shots coming out are much more appealing than those going in. I thing these are the second most colorful animals in the woods with the red fox being number one. I have yet to capture one of those in a camera trap here. That seeks to their scarcity in the habitat or extreme shyness. My guess is the former.

Technical: It could be argued the squirrel is centered but I think the composition works because of the depth provided by the distant trees.

Gray Squirrel Framed

A little light on blogging recently but should be getting into the swing of it again. I was unable to get my camera trap for a couple weeks and had a few thousand files to review, among other things. Most files were mice at night but a few were squirrels during the day. This hollow log is a treasure chest for squirrels where they eat acorns while sheltered from the weather and birds of prey.
Technical: still image from Reconyx Ultrafire, medium tone curve in Lightroom and slight sharpening.

December Sunrise

This was taken on the way to my current project site. This tree caught my attention as I was driving by and I just had to turn around. I was reminded of a lesson which I often forget and regret when I do. When the scene inspires it is worth the time to stop. Clouds and fog descended the next day.

Technical: iPhone6, color enhancement with clarity, vibrance, and +2 saturation 

Winter Begins

What a difference a little snow makes! I was in the woods when the first snow came on Thanksgiving and watched the animals while staying warm but getting a little wet.