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| Late afternoon at Palisades State Park |
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| Golden-crowned Kinglet |
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| Nashville Warbler |
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| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
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| Autumn farm along the Big Sioux River near Baltic, SD |
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| Backlit leaves at Palisades State Park |
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| Leaf detail at Palisades State Park |
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| Autumn afternoon at Palisades State Park |
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| Sunset over Zion Lutheran church and cemetery south of Hartford, SD |
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| Macro of Autumn leaf - Family Park - West Sioux Falls |
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| Sunset reflection at the fishing pond at Family Park |
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| Sunset reflection at the fishing pond at Family Park |
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| Sage Creek Wilderness - Badlands National Park |
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| Sage Creek Wilderness - Badlands National Park |
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| Painted Lady Butterfly |
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| Orange - harvest haze at sunset |
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| Yellow - Aspen leaves |
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| Blue - Downy gentian wildflower |
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| White - Great Plains Ladies-tresses orchid |
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| Red - Common serviceberry leaf |
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| Northern Black Hills highlands in late September |
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| Northern Black Hills highlands in late September |
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| Vanocker's Canyon Road |
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| Mirrored September sunset |
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| Autumn arch along the Big Sioux River near Newton Hills State Park in SE South Dakota |
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| The south fork of the Moreau River with Deers Ears Buttes |
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| Yours truly at the Cave Hills of Harding County |
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| Early morning fog near the Mighty Missouri north of Bismarck, ND |
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| Leaf detail found at Palisades State Park |
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| Leaf detail found at Palisades State Park |
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| Early evening at Palisades State Park |
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| Early evening at Palisades State Park |
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| Queen rock at Palisades State Park |
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| Autumn hues at Palisades State Park |
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| Autumn leaf along the Big Sioux River |
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| October sunset |
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| Traffic at dusk on the Spearfish Canyon scenic byway |
September is a month of transition here on the northern great plains. Early in the month, the last of the summer wildflowers bloom and by the end of the month the high country is ablaze with Autumn colors. Thankfully I was able to get out and enjoy a little of both flavors this month. Here are a dozen of my favorites from those excursions. Click on an image for a larger file to view and enjoy!
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| Northern plains ladies-tresses in bloom |
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| Friday night football with a spectacular sunset in Selby, SD |
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| The nearly full harvest moon rising with mule deer in Perkins County, SD |
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| Sica Hollow State Park canopy in late September |
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| An abandoned house along the base of the Coteau des Prairies of northeastern SoDak |
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| Late summer Milky Way over Pioneer Concordia Lutheran of Roberts County |
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| Headlights and taillights along the Big Foot Pass at Badlands National Park |
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| White-tailed buck at Custer State Park |
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| Autumn in the high country of Lawrence County, SD |
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| Mountain Bluebird standing out against the Autumn-hued background |
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| Little Spearfish Canyon fall colors near Savoy, SD |
I started out October on a crisp and breezy morning in Campell County driving the Missouri River hills along mighty Lake Oahe. As the first light of the day began to kiss the golden leaved trees and rolling prairie, it reminded my why I do this photography thing. Scenes that take your breath away and remind you of the beauties of life are priceless. Later on I spent quality time in Corson County at the old stone church not all that far from where I grew up. Then later in the month I got to spend a nearly perfect autumn day roaming in and around Sioux Falls finding interesting scenes accented by the season's color. All in all, it was quite a month and I'm a little sad to see it go. As per usual, here are twelve photos from the month that are favorites. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for stopping by!
