Roadside Beauty

I spent a couple days at Fish Lake Wildlife Area over the weekend after missing last summer's flowers due to a health problem. It was invigorating to return and the absence helped me recharge creatively.  Photographing these wood lilies interspersed with non-native crown vetch made it easier to cope with the hovering, occasionally biting flies.

Technical: sky exposure reduced using -1.5 stop graduated ND filter in Lightroom

Raven's Nest

Raven Nest from Dale Bohlke on Vimeo.

When you can't find the icons of Yellowstone there are always birds to see and photograph. This nest was conveniently located across from a pull out allowing eye to eye viewing of the nest. A vole was being dissected on the cliff behind us and the chicks were being fed over a couple hours one morning. I watched until one of the adults settled in after the feeding session.

Technical: Tight shots were recorded using a 600 mm lens and 1.4 tele-extender on a Canon 7D with an effective focal length of about 1350 mm. Shots are uncropped.

Winter Wind

 

I usually think of the winter wind and how it will limit my outdoor time. Walking in the windswept prairie I think of its direction and how to keep it from watering my eyes,burning my face, and taking my breath away. There is a rhythm to it and watching prairie grass move with it can be mesmerizing, if you are dressed for it.

First Snow

The first snow of the season has a different meaning to each of us. For me it is the beginning of a season of simplicity. The jangle of grass stems and twisted leaves will soon be covered leaving a clean palette of white and contrasting lines on the prairie. There is also a peace and tranquility with only sounds of the snow hitting the blades of grass and wildflowers. 

November Transition

We may soon get back to a normal November. The blue sky has been beautiful and believe me I'm not complaining. This pond reflection at Richardson Nature Center reminds me of the impending change of seasons. 

Sunrise Over Lake Sakatah

I was roaming southern Minnesota lake country and stopped to watch the sunrise.  The tranquil scene was taken from a conveniently located boat landing.

Technical: cropping to 16X9 to emphasize the tree line. WB@6k

Clouds over Crex Meadows

Earlier this week I spent an afternoon and morning  at Crex with Gary L. While waiting for cranes to come in at sunset these clouds caught my attention. 

Autumn Detail

While photographing fall colors this single leaf caught my attention. I was drawn to the simplicity of the contrasting colors. To me the leaf says "autumn" as much as a brilliant maple tree draped in autumn leaves. Photographed at Minneopa State Park, Blue Earth Co., MN.

Dawn's Early Light

The quiet of the Lamar Valley at this time of day is only occasionally broken by vehicles heading out to wolf watching sites. The light and quiet make it worth getting up early and arriving ahead of the crowd.

Technical: HDR capture, blending in Lightroom 6. 

An August Night

I was shooting the prairie sunset and early night sky last night. From my location the lights of 5 different towns were visible on the horizon. Despite city lights the Milky Way was brilliant in the southern sky. This month's Outdoor Photographer ties its brightness to Sagitarrius, I'll need to look that up. Choosing the white balance for the color of the sky is perplexing since it is black. A good explanation of this can be found at: Can the night sky be "authentic?"

Frozen Falls

I hiked into Wolf Cr. Falls to use a slider for the first time in the field. After practicing at home I thought it was time to give it a try outdoors. There is a learning curve for smooth movement and some planning is needed to put a series of clips together.  It has opened a new world of video by creating movement in an otherwise static scene. 

Sea Caves Closed

Lake Superior's sea caves have been closed, at least for now, due to high winds and potential ice instability. While out there I didn't think about being on ice over 30-40 feet of water. I was always looking up in awe.

Prairie Curves

I was out in the prairie a few days ago on a windblown, overcast afternoon. I thought I  saw birds in flight when looking at these curved blades of grass. Is this a sign of cabin fever?

Lines and Space

Sometimes simple lines and space represent the state of mind which occurred as I was looking over the south unit of Namekagon Barrens. Space, distance, curiosity, dreaming, wonder, peace are words that come to mind looking at this image

Technical: Red leaves anchor the front of the image with curved lines gently leading into the distance. 

Moonlight at Dusk

We see snow as white in almost all light conditions just because that is what our brain is telling us the color should be, then we take a shot and see the color as the camera does. Sometimes that color works to create the mood we have envisioned, other times it doesn't. This night shot was taken recently and blue snow bothered me. Using the split filter in Lightroom I desaturated the snow making it white. 

Morning Fire

Have you ever seen a sunrise that is beyond the ordinary? One that dances with color, like flames of light moving as the sun rises. Sometimes simple documentation isn't enough to record what you are seeing.

Winter Textures

I went to Flandrau State Park to look for winter prairie images.The textures in the flower and snow caught my attention on the background of white and blue.

Cold and Stormy

Those are the words that describe January, 2014. Photography was tough due to the cold and I didn't get out much. the highlight of the month was the sea caves that have been in recent posts. Last Sunday I shot my first video of the year. It was a blizzard but what better opportunity for some action video. After all how many photographers, or any sane people, go out into a blizzard to get some pictures? After talking to my daughter she asked if the shots were taken with the weatherproof, waterproof GoPro. My response was " I wish I had thought of that instead of using the expensive 7D."

Technical: manual exposure, 2 second interval for about 10 minutes

Ice Burst

Ice comes in many forms: icicles, black ice, pancake ice, icebergs, and the list goes on. However, an ice burst does not exist in nature, only through a wide angle lens. The diagonal lines form the illusion of depth creating a "bursting" impression. 

Cathedral Ceiling

I have seen a few cathedrals with their intricate designs and architecture that are a testament of man's creativity. However nothing I have seen compares to the fascinating patterns of ice and sandstone seeping through the roof of an ice cave. 

Technical: wide angle lens, image rotated of produce symmetry, shade WB (7500k)