MINNESOTA NORTHWOODS - #9

Sunrise over Lake Shumway, Savanna Portage State Park, Minnesota

I climbed out of the sleeping bag before sunrise and walked over to the lake. A band of clouds covered the rising sun and it became clear I wouldn’t get the light on the lake as I was hoping for. It was very quiet, no noise from any traffic, neither cars nor airplanes, just a deep silence. When the sun came up above the tree line a few gaps in the clouds started to open and suddenly sun spots were reflected on the lake. I knew I had my photo, carrying the mood from this gorgeous and quiet morning.

MINNESOTA NORTHWOODS - #3

The light tells the story, Lake Shumway, Savanna Portage State Park, Minnesota

Nikon Z6II, Nikkor Z 24-70, f/4 S,    @ 56 mm, 1/50 s, f/22, ISO 1600

If you had an interest in my photography before you know already that I’m not looking much for the ”postcard view” in my landscape work. But when the light unfolds in front of me, the smallest detail of a landscape will draw my interest immediately.

I walked on a trail along Lake Shumway in Savanna Portage State Park, Minnesota late in the day and watched the light the low sun created in the woods along the lake. Closing down the aperture to f/22 creates the star burst around the setting sun between the woods. That part was easy and would have made a picture somehow. But as a bonus the lake right behind me bounced back some of the light onto the leaves in the foreground, and that made me push the shutter release. Lovely light, lovely light…! 😊