Northern Light Show

Northern Lights over the standing remains of Concordia Pioneer Lutheran Church

A major solar geomagnetic storm struck the earth's magnetic field the night of May 10th, 2024. The storm started in the afternoon which gave time to plan on where best to try to capture the resulting Aurora Borealis. I chose a favorite structure in rural Roberts County, SD not far from Sisseton. Pioneer Concordia Lutheran church originally stood about two thirds of a mile east of its current location. The cemetery is still there. According to another photographer met while taking in the light show, three brothers decided to purchase the building and move it to one of their fields rather than see it knocked down. This church meant a lot to them as their parents were both married as well as their respective funerals were held in the church. So in a way, this is one of South Dakota's grandest memorials to loved ones now passed on.

On my way home I also stopped at Zion Evangelical Lutheran just to the east of the Brandt exit off Interstate 29. The light show had shifted to a dancing ribbon of pale green directly overhead that stretched across the sky from the eastern to western horizon. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for stopping by.

Looking southeast over my Suburu

Zion Evangelical Lutheran of rural Deuel County, SD

Spring of 2023 (March - May)

Pasqueflower fuzz in the evening light

Northern lights over Belleview Lutheran Church

Northern lights over Esmond, SD

Plum brush with butterfly

Yellow warbler

Pasqueflower

Pasqueflower in the rain

Raindrops on pasqueflower

Duckings

Pincushion cactus in bloom

Double rainbow over the yellow mounds area of Badlands National Park

Rainbow over Badlands National Park

After the rain in Eastern Pennington County, SD

Storm building over Wind Cave National Park

A winter of frost and snow

Frosted tree branch in front of a red barn

Red, white and blue along the Big Sioux River near Baltic, SD

Frost on weeds with Sioux Valley Baptist country church in the background

Bald Eagles along the Big Sioux River near Trent, SD

The beginning of a heavy snow event at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

American Tree Sparrow in tall grass

Snowfall at Terrace Park in Sioux Falls

White-tailed deer near Oldham, SD

Lake Whitewood Church (eastern Kingsbury County) on a frosted morning

Trinity Lutheran in rural Kingsbury County

American Goldfinch at the Dells of the Big Sioux near Dell Rapids, SD

A red barn after a foggy morning east of Dell Rapids, SD

June 2022

Bear Butte after a prairie thunderstorm

West River sunset

Prairiesmoke wildflower

Milky Way over Cave Hills Lutheran Church

Yellow Lady's slipper orchid

Wildflower deluxe

Full rainbow after the storm

Abandoned house with rainbow

Clouds after the storm over Highland Lutheran

Spotted coral root orchid

Prickly Pear Cactus blooms

Sunset clouds over the Falls of the Big Sioux

December 2021

December sunset beyond St. Ann's Catholic Church near Badus Lake (Lake County, SD)

The last month of 2021 proved to be a grand flourish of photography that included many colorful sunsets, a 10-inch first snow event and then a particularly wonderful trip West River to close out the year. Picking a dozen photos from these events proved difficult, which is good problem to have. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Last of the day's sunlight striking St. Paul Lutheran of Union County, SD and the Loess Hills of Plymouth County, IA in the distance

Northern Cardinal in heavy snow

Phillips Avenue - Sioux Falls, SD

Sculpture with snow - Downtown Sioux Falls, SD

Dawn's first light on Skresfrud Lutheran of rural Lincoln County, SD

Single snowflake

Christmas morning Snowy Owl in southern Sioux Falls, SD

Badlands mule deer in snow

Badlands black and white in winter

Bighorn ram at Badlands National Park

Snowfall through sunlight at Badlands National Park