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Sampling of Fall Color in Northern Minnesota | Matthew Moses

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:42:50 +0000

Back in early October I enjoyed a day along the north shore of Lake Superior visiting Lutsen and Gooseberry Falls State Park. The Fall colors were a bit past peak but still splendid to photograph and enjoy. Just wish there had been a few wispy clouds in the otherwise clear blue sky.

Out photographing the night sky…

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:35:21 +0000

In between the cloud and fog banks, last night turned into good night for seeing and photographing the night sky. With a lot of attention focused on where the NASA UARS satellite would come crashing down had sort of hoped to see it streak across the sky but alas Northern Minnesota didn’t see anything. Did get to see a nice showing of the Milky Way, played around with a few star trail photos, and was working on photographing the Andromeda galaxy before the last batch of clouds rolled in at Midnight. A few photos from last night, two different shots of the Milky Way and one 15 minute star trail photo.

August 5th Aurora Borealis over Lake Superior

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:52:30 +0000

Wow, the August 5th Aurora display was simply breath taking. Through out the day I kept getting the space weather alerts courtesy of Spaceweather.com. The last one I got that day said the Planetary K-index had hit an 8. I can’t even remember ever getting an alert beyond 5 or 6. I was hoping for clear skies but as I headed into Duluth to join others for a night photography shoot it was raining on the northern horizon. We spent time inside at the DPI with a presentation by Bob King (“Astro Bob”) from the Duluth News Tribune. After the presentation we headed to our first location Brighton Beach on the shore of Lake Superior. The evening started out photographing the nearly 2nd quarter moon but as the clouds started breaking up a small glow to the north started around 2145. From there the aurora faded in and out for a while until the really brilliant pillars and pulsing glow kicking in round 2245. Near midnight the green aurora display went from the horizon to completely overhead. Finally, around 0130 the show was fading and the camera get got put away. It was an amazing display to watch laying there on the beach watching the sky shimmer and pulse. Unlike my first experience photographing the Aurora back in November of 2004, this time I was better prepared. Below is a gallery sampling some of the many views of the aurora that were seen Friday night. In most cases my exposures where ISO800 at F2.8 and focused at infinity on my camera lens.

Birds that started visiting this Spring in Cloquet, MN

admin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:55:25 +0000

A few photos of some of the various bird species visiting our neighborhood, in the last few weeks we’ve seen Robins, Gold Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Cowbird, Grackle, Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, Chickadee, Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Downy and Hoary wood peckers, Northern Flicker, Red Wing Blackbirds, along with occasional Eagle, Mallard, and Canadian Geese doing flybys.

Female Gold Finch

Male Gold Finch

Chipping Sparrow

Pine Grosbeak

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

A Saturday morning in Sax Zim Bog

admin — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:41:14 +0000

Saturday, the day before the official start of a spring, was a great day to be out in Sax Zim Bog. The morning started off with low level fog that burned off to leave a very short period of hoar frost followed by clear skies. Some of the many birds that I saw: Rough Legged Hawk, Magpies, Northern Hawk Owl, Black Backed Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Redpolls, Nuthatch, Black Capped Chickadee, American Crow, Raven, Canadian Geese, and Gray Jays. In addition to all the birds, got to meet a few of the local bird guides (Kim Risen, Erik Bruhnke) and ran into the Duluth Photography Institute field workshop group.

Out in Sax Zim Bog

admin — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 05:10:44 +0000

A few highlights from the afternoon field session out photographing birds in the Sax Zim Bog. The morning started with an indoor slideshow and discussion as part of the Sax Zim Bog Festival taking place Saturday and Sunday.

Runner Up – Chasing the Light

admin — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 20:49:35 +0000

My photo titled “Breakfast” was selected as a runner up in the Chasing the Light: Birds – The Avian Persona contest. Thanks to the jury for the acknowledgement.

Amazing storm cloud display in Cannon Falls

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:27:55 +0000

After having sent photos for the day and finished dinner we were treated to amazing storm cloud displays as the sun was setting!

'Intense Beauty – Plants up Close' a Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Juried Show

Matthew — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:56:06 +0000

One of my photographs is included in the show starting Friday January 8th and running through February 7th as part of ‘Intense Beauty – Plants up Close’ an annual juried photography exhibit. Members of the Arboretum Photographers Society were invited to submit photos for possible inclusion in the show.

Show information at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum website

A few photos from July at Jessie Lake

Matthew — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:33:40 +0000

The July vacation was up past Grand Rapids at a cabin on Jessie Lake. Here’s a small sample of the photos from that weekend.

Great Blue Heron

Female Yellow-Headed Blackbird

Something a little more abstract…