Best of 2019

My Best Photos of 2019

This is my 7th year that I am doing this blog and picking my favorite photos of the year. I had less opportunities this year to travel and take photos in general. Most of the images are from my area (Blue Hills, northern Wisconsin) and Lake Superior.

Here they are in chronological order. Click on the photos for a larger view.

Enjoy and a Happy New Year.

Susanne

A very colorful and intense January sunset at Audie Lake, in the Blue Hills, WI.

End of February I was able to spend 2 days along the north shore of Lake Superior. I marvel every year at the winter scenes and the ice on the lake. Sunset at Split Rock Lighthouse State park (Minnesota). I liked how the ice was lit up by the warmth of the sunlight.

At Hollow Rock, near Grand Portage (Minnesota). Lake Superior was frozen and I was able to explore this interesting rock from all sides. I like the mood, colors and softness of this sunset.

At Tettegouche State Park (Minnesota). I included the pattern of the ice and blue winter sky in this landscape image of the "Sea Stack". This favorite and beloved feature unfortunately is no more - it collapsed in a storm in Dec. of 2019.

Early spring at Audie Lake in the Blue Hills (mid April). We had a long winter and it took some time for the ice to melt.
As I was watching the rising sun lighting up the trees two canada geese flew by.

Sunrise at Split Rock Lighthouse, Minnesota. A beautiful morning in early May. 

Incredible sunset colors and reflections at Audie Lake, Blue Hills, Wisconsin. There are several floating bogs on this lake that have moved around and changed the landscape. (End of June)

Blue Hour at Lake Superior. This short window after the sunset is my favorite time to take photos.
A long exposure created this "otherworldly" scene. One of the Apostle Islands is visible at the horizon. (Mid July)

Sometimes I get lucky. I happen to have my camera with me when I drove by this sunflower field near Spooner, Wisconsin. The flowers were perfect and all smiling (!!) and the amazing clouds added some drama. (Mid August) 

Another favorite location of mine is Little Falls at the Flambeau River.  I went with friends to show them the place and I almost left my camera at home. The perfect summer day! This place is so energizing and this image captures that feeling very well. (August) 

All spring and summer I tried to get a photo of the Milky Way but either it was cloudy or I had to go to work. Finally by the end of August I managed to get this image of the Milky Way over the Chippewa River and it lined up perfect.

The fall colors started very late, maybe due to the wet summer and no frost until mid October. I found this magical scene on a foggy evening at a creek in the Blue Hills, Wisconsin. (Late September)

"Sweet colors of dawn" - at Audie Lake, Blue Hills, WI. We had a lot of windy days so I came early one morning hoping to find a calm lake to capture reflections of the fall colors. That was not the case so I used a ND filter to get this 8 second exposure and was able to capture some reflections. This is my personal favorite of the year. (Early October)

"A scene out of a fairy tale". The first snowfall came early (October 13). It is always magical especially as there were so many leaves on the trees yet. I liked the way the snowy trees frame this image. This magic didn't last very long as the snow fell off the trees quickly.  

Another place I like to visit in the fall is the Ice Age Center near New Auburn, Wisconsin. There are several small lakes that are perfect for capturing reflections of the colorful trees. I had noticed this bent tree at another visit but was never able to get a good photo. On this day the light was just perfect and the water was calm. (October)

Foggy mornings/days are a photographers dream!! As I was taking the photo of these oak trees a single leaf quietly fell down. (Late October)

At Cascade River State Park, along the north shore of Lake Superior, Minnesota.  This is a very popular composition of The Cascades. There is only one spot where you can get this view. I was glad to see some ice and still enough water to get this image I have been wanting to take for a long time. This was my most viewed image on facebook with many comments. (November)

Best of 2018

My BEST PHOTOS OF 2018

Another year has passed. I had intended to do a few more posts throughout the year but it didn't happen.  Following is the collection for 2018 and there are quite a few again. It was too difficult to choose and limit myself to 12 

- so here they are in chronological order. Click on the photos for a larger view.

Enjoy and a happy New Year.

Susanne

Dramatic sunset clouds over Christie Mountain, a ski resort near Bruce, Wisconsin - where I happen to work in the wintertime. I was driving home and almost didn't stop to take the photo. Sure glad I did. (January) 

Dawn at the Tombolo along the north shore of Lake Superior.  There is a sliver of the moon to the right of the little island.  It was a very cold February morning. But so worth it!

Ice shards piling up along the north shore of Lake Superior. It is a spectacular sight and sound as they move and get pushed around. I caught the very last sunlight reflecting off the ice. (February)

What an incredible morning driving to Eau Claire. I was able to pull over near Tilden, WI to capture the setting March full moon over this rural Wisconsin landscape. 

The Milky Way arching across the Chippewa River, Wisconsin in late March. I had to get up very early to get this shot.

It was a gorgeous April spring day and I had to see Lake Superior. The campgrounds weren't open yet so I was able to explore the camp sites at Split Rock Lighthouse state park (Minnesota). I finally found the spot with this view that I had seen before on photos but never knew where it was. 

Buddha boy (one of my kitties) basking in the warm evening light.  I was practicing for my Pet Photography business. (May)

You know spring has arrived in northern Wisconsin when you walk through the woodlands covered with Trilliums.  This one was very large and a beauty! (May)

A calm spring evening at the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward, WI. The perfect cloud reflections. So peaceful and serene. (May)

Water, waterfalls and trees are my favorite subjects to photograph.  This family of cedar trees stands at the edge of the Upper Falls at Gooseberry Falls State park (Minnesota). The rain made the tree trunks and roots look dark and shiny. (June)

On my birthday (July) I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise on top of the Blue Hills (near Exeland, WI)

I have been wanting to capture the Milky Way with Mars (on left) all summer and finally in August I was able to. It was a foggy evening/night at the Chippewa River (Wisconsin) and added this dreamy mood to the scene. I will never forget this summer night with it's sounds and then this view! 

After a short night I went back to the same location at the Chippewa River (WI) . The fog didn't burn off for a few hours and of all the photos I took that morning this arching Maple Tree is my favorite. (August)

Sunset reds at Split Rock Lighthouse State park (Minnesota). It wasn't a very spectacular sunset until the very end when all of a sudden the sky turned red for a few fleeting moments. Trying to find an interesting composition quickly I saw the tree tops reflecting in this water puddle. (September)

Autumn - my favorite time of the year! We had gorgeous colors but almost no sunshine.  Heavy rains took down the leaves far too soon. This view is from the popular Oberg Mountain hike near Lutsen, MN.  I have taken many photos of Oberg Lake like other photographers but this wetland close to the lake had more to offer on that day. 

The most magical fall hike I have ever done happened on this foggy October morning at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center near Finland, MN. I had intended to write a separate blog on this but here are 2 photos of the trail.

Steps leading down into a valley under a canopy of maple trees.  At Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center near Finland, MN.

An abandoned farmstead in the Blue Hills, northern Wisconsin - surrounded by beautiful and colorful Maple trees (October)

I had to add one more late fall photo with sunshine!! Hiking on the trail above the Apostle Islands Sea Caves along the south shore of Lake Superior (Wisconsin)

Hoarfrost with a touch of sunlight at the top of the hill, Blue Hills, northern Wisconsin. We had several days with beautiful frost turning everything into a winter wonderland. (December)

Sun Dogs - never seen them quite like this. After the fog lifted this scene appeared. In the Blue Hills, northern Wisconsin. A fitting image to end the year! (December)

Best of 2017

My BEST PHOTOS OF 2017

There is quite a collection this year. It was too difficult to choose and limit myself to 12 

- so here they are in chronological order.

Enjoy and a happy New Year.

Susanne

Winter sunset at the Chippewa Flowage, northern Wisconsin.
The large root added an interesting element to the composition.

End of February much of the snow melted in northern Wisconsin. Little Falls at the Flambeau River is a favorite place to visit.

Early March at the north shore of Lake Superior. Warm sunset colors at Black Beach near Silver Bay, Minnesota

April sunrise in the Blue Hills, northern Wisconsin. 

Blue Hour (Dawn) at Split Rock lighthouse, north shore of Lake Superior. Some of the warm colors are reflected off the rocks.

Lady Aurora was dancing on May 27th and I was lucky to be home, Blue Hills, Wisconsin

We had a lot of rain in June and enjoyed a good flow of water at Echo Dells near Washburn, Wisconsin.
A magical place to visit!!

4th of July at Split Rock Lighthouse. It was lit and to our surprise we were the only people at the beach to watch the light beams go across Lake Superior.

Audie Lake in the Blue Hills is probably the place I go to the most to take photos.  The morning fog on this late July morning added a mysterious mood. Now I have a 4 season collection (plus some) of this little spruce island.

Lost Creek Falls near Cornucopia, WI was a little known waterfall but since the new trail was built a lot of people are taking advantage of it. I had to wait for people to leave to get this image (on Labor Day, September). 

We had never camped at Split Rock Lighthouse campground and were able to spend a night in mid September.  Sunrise beams behind Ellingsen Island, Lake Superior with the lighthouse on the left.

We had some amazing sunrises in September and this is one of them.  Maybe it was due to wildfires out west.

Bond Falls in the UP Michigan is a popular destination especially in the fall. We finally made it there !  A close up of the upper cascades with some of the fall colors reflecting in the water.

Bond Falls, upper falls or cascades - simply stunning!!

After Bond Falls we visited the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park, Michigan.  It started to rain and almost everyone left so we had the place to ourselves. The rainy, misty weather was perfect for waterfall photos. I was fascinated with the swirling water.

A long exposure of the water swirl or spiral.  It was fun to experiment.

Old Growth forest at Porcupine Mountain State Park. It was getting dark and I didn't want to leave.  It seemed the trees had many secrets to tell.

Early October at Audie Lake, Blue Hills. The fog was lifting and the colorful trees appeared.

Perfect fall color reflections at Audie Lake, Blue Hills. It can't get much better than this!

Lost Creek Falls (near Cornucopia, WI) in mid October. The scattered leaves on the rock added a special touch to this composition.

Winter came early in November and many lakes froze solid. Another foggy morning at Audie Lake, Blue Hills.

End of November warmer temps arrived and the surface of the ice melted and created some interesting patterns and reflections. At Audie Lake, Blue Hills

Winter is here to stay (December). A moody scene at the Couderay River, Wisconsin

Sunrise splish splash, Lake Superior north shore. At Split Rock lighthouse, Minnesota

A group of Cedar trees flooded with the last light of the day. At Cascade River state park, Minnesota