January 2020

An early January sunset just east of Dell Rapids, SD

Typically January is a hard month to find time and good weather for outdoor photography enthusiasts. This year, however, the weather seemed to cooperate on my free weekends so I had plenty of photos to choose from when picking my favorite 12 of the month. From colorful sunsets to peaceful snowfall days to frigid sun dogs at the end of a good, old-fashioned ground blizzard, the first month of 2020 was all over the place... And that was OK. All I needed was a good pair of long johns, warm winter gear and a long lens to let the deep winter fun commence. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Same sunset clouds as above but about five minutes later into the evening.

An American Tree Sparrow in the tall grass at Good Earth State Park

Snowfall at Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon

Snow on a Downy Woodpecker at Big Sioux Rec Area

Snowfall on tall grass at Big Sioux Rec Area

The Arc of Dreams lit blue and red for the SD Showdown series (SDSU at USD Basketball games)

Jack Frost's handiwork during an all-day blizzard

Sun Dogs west of Sioux Falls as the blizzard waned

Sun Dog sunset west of Wall Lake

A January thaw produced this water droplet melted from an overnight frost at Good Earth State Park

Late January sunset over frosted and iced grass

February 2019

Sun dogs with drifting snow west of Hartford, SD

February of 2019 was cold, colder and then bitter cold more than a couple of times. Add a lot of fresh snow plus wind and it all equals a pretty rough month in terms of weather and getting around.  A couple things that the frigid weather conditions did bring was an abundance of sun dogs in the sky as well as light pillars above city lights at night. Here are my 12 best of the month for you. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Prairie windmill with a sun dog sunset

Light pillars above Dell Rapids, SD

A cold day at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

Winter sunset near Ellis, SD

Sunset reflected off of thousands of fresh snowflakes

Sun dog with West Nidaros Lutheran near Crooks, SD

Sun dogs with an icicle and the steeple of Old Nidaros Replica

Sun Dog sunset at Eminja Burial Mounds near Brandon, SD

Light pillars over Sioux Falls

Light pillars over Sioux Falls

Light pillars over Sioux Falls

January 2019

Winter evening with a bright, red barn in Southeastern, SD

 January of 2019 was a tough month. It seemed like there was more work than ever that needed to be done and like the fleeting winter daylight that accompanies this time of year, there just wasn't enough time to do it all plus go photo hunting. As I entered the last full week of the month, I thought that maybe my practice of posting twelve "best" photos of the month was in jeopardy.  Since January of 2013, I have been able to shoot and share enough photos each month to choose a dozen photos here on this blog. Up until a few weeks ago, I had only been able to get out to shoot a couple times in January and the prospects weren't great work-wise nor weather-wise to change that. After shaking myself from the winter doldrums, I decided that despite the cold and snowy weather, I shouldn't give up so easily. I dusted off the old coveralls and went for a couple cold season hikes to get started... One at Good Earth State Park and the other at Palisades State Park during a snow event.  Then a polar vortex hit the last few days of the month offering dramatic sun dog opportunities. Just like that, I had more than enough photos to choose from for the month. Here is the selection representing my favorite twelve for you. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for stopping by.

New Year's Day sunset

Pleasant Hill Chapel sunset - Union County, SD

Red-bellied woodpecker at Good Earth State Park

Looking straight up while on a hike at Good Earth State Park

Black-capped Chickadee at Good Earth State Park

January sunset in Southeastern SD

Snowmelt icefall at Palisades State Park

Snow falling at Palisades State Park

Snow falling amongst a Sumac stand at Palisades State Park

Sundog Dawn over Falls Park in Sioux Falls

Incredible sundog with a full sphere of morning sunlight refraction just west of Sioux Falls

January 2018

Sun dogs at sunset in rural Minnehaha County, SD

 Hard to believe we are over month into 2018 already. It was a typical January with bitter cold, soundings, a January thaw, and a couple foggy days giving the landscape a temporary hoar frost covering.  Here are my favorite 12 photos of the month.  Feel free to click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Sun dog rainbow over St. Joseph's Cathedral of Sioux Falls, SD

Rabbit hiding in brush.  There was a hungry snowy owl patrolling nearby.

Snowy owl in flight

Overhead jet and contrails

Snowy owl in flight

Northern cardinal on a snow day

Snow day at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

Frosty morning in rural Minnehaha County

Frosty morning in rural Minnehaha County

Sunset over the grain elevator in Ellis, SD

New snow over an old cemetery - Wood Lake Lutheran of rural Deuel County, SD

January 2016

Snow dogs at Trinity Lutheran of rural Lincoln County, SD

Hard to believe it is the start to another year.  I wasn't able to get out and about as much as I would have liked due to fighting some illnesses, being busy with work and life and the general shortness of the days.  Even so, I was able to witness some pretty incredible sun dogs on a Saturday that I had free just before mid-month.  Four of those photos start off my favorite twelve of the overall month.  Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in.

Romsdal Lutheran with sun dogs

A prairie windmill with rather strong sun dogs.  I crossed a small waterway to get this shot lined up and didn't realize that the ice wasn't as thick as I assumed.  Before it was all over I was drenched up to my knees.  That's a kind of cold that will jar your senses!

Sundogs at sunset.

Goldfinch at Good Earth State Park

Winter sunset - rural Minnehaha County

Winter sunset with fence line

Colors changing as the evening deepens

Ten steps from my front door

Frost and Red Barn in rural Moody County

Snowy Owl at Fort Pierre National Grasslands

Snowy Owl take-off