February 2016

St Peter's Lutheran at sunset (rural Douglas County, South Dakota)

Even with an extra day this leap year, the month of February seems to have flown by.  I was able to get out and chase a few sunsets even so.  I also did a lot of "city" work getting beauty shots of Sioux Falls and Grand Forks for my work at Midco.  I've added a couple of shots from those trips this month mostly because those projects consisted of the bulk of my photography taking in February.  Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

The remaining structure of Fort Randall's old church building near Pickstown, SD

The road to West Nidaros Lutheran at sunset

I was able to experience a one of a kind sunset at Falls Park of Sioux Falls... The sky was so colorful it even bled into the southeast horizon as evidenced by this photo of the old Queen Bee Mill structure

The Falls at sunset

A little later in the evening

Long exposures plus a few cars and a tour bus helped create this image of traffic on the Red River Bridge (Sorlie) between Grand Forks and East Grand Forks on the North Dakota/Minnesota state line

Sorlie Bridge

Downtown Sioux Falls looking southwest

The Old Courthouse Museum of downtown Sioux Falls

The Old Courthouse clocktower

The snow geese migration started in late February this year

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

December 2015

An early December sunset above the reeds of the Missouri River

I was only able to get out and about with my camera a handful of times this month.  The holiday season and work were particularly busy this time around.  The times I did get out, however, provided frost and wildlife as well as other great winter scenes here in South Dakota.  Here are 12 of my favorites of the month.  Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Frost on tall prairie grass in Brookings County

Cold and twisted with frost

Old barn west of Lake Thompson

Horse and frost near Forestburg, SD

Winter sunset at North Preston Church

Down the road less traveled

Grouse in the winter sunshine

The Mule brothers at Foster Bay in Stanley County

Flurries advancing over Cherry Creek

Moreau River Breaks on Christmas Day

Faint Northern Lights on New Year's Eve

November 2015

An early November sunset at Family Park in Sioux Falls, SD

November was a busy one and I didn't get as much time out looking for photos as I would normally like.  I was able to find beauty in and around Sioux Falls though.  From the last remnants of Autumn to the first heavy snowfall at the Outdoor Campus, the month turned out to be fairly photogenic after all!  Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for stopping by!

Sunset over the Oahe Reservoir at Swan Creek Recreation Area

Northern lights above a fallen outbuilding and prairie windmill in Minnehaha County.

A mid-November Clay County sunset

Some last remnants of Autumn at Covel Lake in Sioux Falls

Some last remnants of Autumn at Covel Lake in Sioux Falls

Mallards at sunset on Covel Lake

White on red at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

Blizzard birds at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

Northern Cardinal in the snowstorm

House Finch enduring the cold

Thanksgiving sunset over the Oahe Chapel near Pierre, SD

October 2015

Low hanging fog at dawn over Badlands National Park.

On the first day of October, I watched the sun come up over Badlands National Park.  Not a bad start to the month!  I was also able to spend a little time in the northeastern portion of South Dakota chasing sunrises and fall colors.  Here are twelve of my favorites photos of the month.  Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

The first sunlight on the land.  The dots on the ridge are bighorn sheep.

A bighorn ram on the edge of the Sage Creek Wilderness of Badlands National Park.

Savo Lutheran of rural Frederick, SD just before dawn.

Fall colors at Sica Hollow State Park in Roberts County, SD.

The road through Sica Hollow.

A stream bed at Sica Hollow.

October sunset in western Minnehaha County.

Sunset over the fishing pier at Lake Alvin Recreation Area, east of Harrisburg, SD

Later the clouds turned into what looked like a dragon chasing the sunset.

Late light after a rainy day at Dewey Gevik Outdoor Conservation Learning Area near Wall Lake (south of Hartford, SD).

Halloween sunset over a rural cemetery in southeastern ND.