March 2019

A late March sunset reflecting gold on meltwater

March had me indoors for the majority of the month capturing basketball action in Sioux Falls. Which was probably OK as the weather outside was chaotic at best.  The last thrashes of winter which arrived with rain, wet snow, ice dams and floodwaters as well as something called a bomb cyclone all affected the area throughout the month. Finding eye pleasing nature scenes to photograph therefore became a bit difficult.  So, there is a handful of my favorite sports photos from the month mixed in the 12 this time around.  Hope you don't mind.  There is a reason they call it March Madness (and CBS copyrighted the term).  As always, click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in! 

A multi-image panoramic of the Sanford Pentagon during the men's NSIC championship game

A genuine buzzer beater in the semi-finals as the tourney MVP,  passes the ball to a freshman off the Northern State University bench who then proceeds to put a floater up in the lane for the win... and the NSU heavy crowd went nuts.

South Dakota State University's women's basketball team won the Summit League Tournament and here is a reflection looking into the trophy as it was handed over to the team to be hoisted in victory.

This photo is memorable as it captures the moment of celebration immediately after Macy Miller surpassed the all-time Summit League scoring mark... And it happened during a huge run that brought the Jacks from 10 down to up 10.  The Premiere Center crowd made of mostly SDSU fans was deafening. Hairs stood up on the back of my neck.

An early spring robin at Newton Hills State Park

Eastern Bluebird at Newton Hills State Park

Meltwater on top of Lake Vermillion catching the gold of the late winter sunset.

American Tree Sparrow in the evening light at Palisades State Park

A squirrel's front door at Palisades State Park

A sunset view from the hotel room deck where I stayed for the last few days of March and the first few days of April in Orange Beach, Alabama.  It was a much needed vacation.

While in Alabama, I saw three "new to me" warblers including this Pine Warbler at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.

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

December 2018

Frost on the Farm - rural Lake County, SD

December was pretty photogenic this time around. We had snow at the beginning of the month, then a (relative) warm spell with a couple of foggy mornings that provided beautiful frosted landscapes. Thankfully I was able to get out and explore those landscapes due to the weekend or vacation timing. Because of this, you'll see plenty of frost photos in this month's collection. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Madison, SD's United Methodist church with outdoor Christmas tree

Downtown Garretson, SD 

Frost and red barn in rural Minnehaha County, SD

Frost on a branch of the tree outside my front door

Frosted leaves at Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon, SD

Frosted leaves at Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon, SD

Frost on red berries

Frost on black berries

Cardinal on frosted branches at Lake Herman State Park near Madison, SD

Sunset in eastern Hutchinson County, SD

Late December sunset in rural McCook County, SD

November 2018

St. Helena Chapel and Cemetery in northeastern NE in the early evening

It was a cold and wintry November here in the northern Great Plains.  I was able to break away during the daylight to find some photos however.  Primarily on weekends and over the long Thanksgiving break.  Here are my favorite twelve of the month for you.  Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Ice art found at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

November sunset with new building

German iron wrought cross with hoarfrost south of Lowry, SD

Buck easily clearing a frosted fence north of Lowry, SD

Hoarfrost scene along US Highway 12 near the turnoff to Java, SD

Lake Oahe sunset - from Mobridge, SD

Badlands Bighorn ram

Custer State Park buck in light snowfall

Snow with a buck in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota

A nice 4X5 white-tail buck in Custer State Park

Snowfall abstract at the Custer State Park State Game Lodge area