Sunflower at Sunrise

A week ago it felt like summer with a warm, bright morning in eastern North Dakota.  This morning's 35 degrees in western Wisconsin felt more like autumn. This was last Friday's sunrise in north of Medina in Stutsman Co. last week.

A challenge

This image had multiple challenges, not just the extreme range of light that could only be managed with HDR technique.  The challenge you do not see is the open space below the wall that opens into the basement.  What was lurking in the basement?  My biggest fear was wakening a skunk.  Nothing was disturbed and the shots were taken.  Taken in Stutsman County, North Dakota.

Where Antelope Play

I'm continuing to look through North Dakota images taken earlier this month.  This pair mated shortly after we drove off.  If you look closely you can see the swollen neck on the buck.  The female was scent marking the sage and the buck was raking its horns on the scent. Taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Lost Dreams

I'm posting shots from my wanderings around North Dakota this month.  I've seen so much more than I had imagined possible and developed a love for the place, especially Stutsman County.  The prairie light at dawn is magical.

Pelicans, pelicans, pelicans

I recently returned from Chase Lake NWR in North Dakota where there are over 30,000 pelicans.  The challenge is getting an intimate image since the nesting colony is off limits and on an island.  The adults return from feeding late morning so that is the best time to get flight shots.  Perhaps I could have gotten them leaving if I had stayed another day.  Refuge staff and Rick Bohn were helpful but it is a big area.  The first day was spent exploring and the second morning was devoted to intense photography that was amply rewarded with several good images, ranging from landscape to pelican flight shots. the website: chaselakefoundation.org has helpful information and Rick's email address.  I'm already planning my next visit.