SMOKE AND LIGHT

Nikon D750, Nikkor 70-200mm / f4, @ 72mm, 1/160s, f/5.6, ISO400, matrix metering, underexposed by -1 stop

I trust you all had a nice Independence Day here in the United States. We spent this sunny and very warm weekend tent camping with the grandkids and their parents and had an enjoyable kayak trip with them. Of course, eating a good dinner is important after such exercise! Shortly after the fire in the grill got started we watched how the smoke made the sun beams visible that came through the canopy of the trees. Oh, I can’t bypass such a photo opportunity… 😊

Nikon D750, Nikkor 70-200mm / f4, @ 95mm, 1/200s, f/4, ISO400, matrix metering, underexposed by -1.3 EV

AUTUMN IN MINNESOTA #7

Tamarack River, Big Bog State Recreation Area, Minnesota

The most memorable morning during our tour through the Northwoods of Minnesota was in the Big Bog State Recreation Area. Big Bog has been called Minnesota’s last true wilderness. The 500-square-mile peat bog is the largest in the lower 48 states. We had pitched our tent right at the Tamarack River, not far from where the river enters the Red Lake. Winter can come early in this part of the country and on October 12 we had our first snow fall of the season. It wasn’t really cold, the light was just gorgeous, and we enjoyed the transition between autumn and winter very much. A few hours later it all melted away…

The “queen” leaves the “snow palace”

All images: Nikon D750, Nikkor 24-120mm / f4

 

LIFTING FOG

Rabbit Blanket Lake, Ontario Canada

If an area of rain-laden clouds moves out of the area overnight and the weather forecast promises nothing but sunshine for the next day, you better get out of your sleeping bag early and put the legs of your tripod in the sand wherever you have spotted a good photo opportunity ahead of time.

At Rabbit Blanket Lake in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario we camped right next to the lake. When the fog lifted in the morning the clicks were made quickly, while the gorgeous light of the raising sun was present. You can’t start better into a new day…

 

OPENED THE TENT CAMPING SEASON

Paint Creek, Yellow River State Forest, Eastern Iowa

Despite temperatures slightly above freezing at night, Joan and I couldn’t resist to go out and open the tent camping season this weekend. We did a lot of bird watching along the Mississippi River and spent Saturday night in the Little Paint campground at Yellow River State Forest in northeast Iowa. We live in the drift-less area of Iowa, land that has not been flattened by the glaciers. As a result we have deep valleys, streams, rocks, bluffs, and large areas covered by forest. Yep, Iowa is not just corn and soybeans!!

One of the reasons I like it here so much is the fact that the landscape reminds me of the Sächsische Schweiz (Saxon Switzerland), an area not far from my hometown in the southeast corner of Germany. The sandstone bluffs and rocks in this part of Germany are very similar to what we have here in eastern Iowa. The Sächsische Schweiz is also a National Park in the state of Saxony.

There are many reasons to safe money in the endless world of “modern” consumption if you try to make a living by going to work five days a week. However, when it comes to camping and outdoor equipment we only buy the best of the best. There is nothing worse than freezing or being uncomfortable during a time when you are supposed to have fun. First class sleeping bags, good insulating mattresses, and the best tent in the world (Swedish Bo Hilleberg NALLO3!!!…, ours is almost 19 years old, and has still not let any water in) are the ingredients for trouble free camping! Even with the best equipment, a nice campfire works wonders. As you can see, Joan makes sure we have enough firewood on site before the night starts. Will talk about wildlife later, … so please stay tuned! 😊