The Como conservatory has always kicked ass

Half had already flown away too

…how many times does it get compressed or down-sampled?

Hurry before it freezes

The huntin’ time has arrived…

Wide range of weather at The Wilderness

Last weekend we did a very quick jaunt up to Grand Marais to shoot senior pictures for kid two. Sites included Jay Cooke State Park, Grand Portage National Monument, Naniboujou Lodge, Croftville Road, Grand Marais lighthouse and Gooseberry State Park. Not the greatest weather (and light), but we ended up with a bunch of good ones (full gallery after the jump).

Side note: a photographer friend of ours recommended West Photo in Minneapolis for gear rental. I priced out renting a Nikon D750 with a nice portrait lens for the weekend and found the $150 fee to be reasonable, but then they asked for a “first-time renter” deposit of $4200. Ah, nope.

So we ended up with my trusty old (like really old – 2004?) Nikon D70 and my iPhone X with portrait mode. Surprisingly, I was happiest with the majority of the iPhone shots and only a handful of the Nikon shots. Anxious to get my new silver iPhone Xs later this week, since Gruber wrote a ton about the upgraded camera features on that model. Still not taking the D850 off my wish list, but it’s surprising how the world of photography is changing.

Just like Chan Poling saw

Wonder how much longer I’ll get to ride home…

Flotsam belongs to the original owner; jetsam may be claimed by whoever discovers it…

I’m never prepared for the first day with a hint of fall, but I love it ?

Bet there are bluff snakes out there too

The water skiing squirrel @ X Games

This one was outside the candy store

Nice recovery, Saint Paul

A little hot in the coop

Lilac season seems to get shorter and shorter every year

Glad I stayed in the pavilion

Very late lilac bloom season this year

First time I’ve seen them this year

SK ❤️ seashells

Mandalay Bay presentation was really cool

MK @ the Secret Garden

The outside pigeon game is strong

The giant acorns are out in Jordan

That time of the year

Closed last year because of the outbreak

My hometown rocks

Daisies, loons and eagles on Vermilion

The smell of lilacs is one of my all-time favorites (along with vanilla and Hawaiian leis)

Mears Park flora, Lowertown 

Minnehaha Creek after Get in Gear

That’s his tree – the best is way up high

Breaktime between Saturday shifts

I assume that’s why they paint the tree trunks white, but I don’t really know

These plants are also not very happy

Bet they aren’t very happy

Just like the North Shore (but with saltwater)

Getting ready for winter @ Edinburgh USA

Not sure how I feel about iPhone 7 portrait mode 

On the way to Duluth

Some of my favorites @ Minnesota Zoo

Near the pool, Eagan, Minnesota

Lilacs in spring are so wonderful 

Plus lots of rain and temperature swings

I knew there would be more – yesterday was a fluke

Almost hit 60F on 2/27/2016 – crazy

Seagulls love donuts (and Alcatraz)

I have no idea where this is – anybody know?

Lots of great stuff around Empire Lake

So peaceful (and warm)

Bear on the deck, Birch Point, Lake Vermilion

So said another golfer, anyway

Seriously, how’d I get so slow?

Crab apples in Le Sueur

The leaves are OK with meteorological fall up here

Eagle Valley Golf Course, Woodbury

Ninth tee box box @ Brookview, Golden Valley

SK on the Brule River trail

A couple new Birch Point residents

These little buggers are still everywhere

Birch Point Road, Lake Vermilion

No filter, Dwan tee boxes

Big Bay @ Lake Vermilion

Fortune Bay Marina, Lake Vermilion

Another one came around this year

Plane taking off from MSP

Flowers popping at The Wilderness

Thirteenth hole, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay

First round of 2015 in Jordan (third overall)