Category Archives: Background

Day 116: Smelt for Breakfast Anyone?

Background,

One of the goals of a 365 day photography project is by working with the requirement to take a photograph every day, it forces the photographer beyond their comfort zone. Before this project, I would never have been able to capture this picture of two seagulls eating breakfast. While on the surface this photograph may not seem too amazing, it was actually taken 15 minutes before dawn with clouds on the horizon (i.e. meant even less light for photography). Without hesitation, I scaled up my ISO such that I could increase the shutter speed of my camera. Thus, I was able to “stop action” this moment. Pretty cool! Oh yeah, I also just like the photograph taken during the “blue hour“.

Eventually the sun came out, and around 8 am I had a fun time watching these fox kits and their mom. It was a great morning! The fox kits were rambunctious, perhaps a bit to crazy for Mrs. Fox!

Smelt for Breakfast (blue hour before dawn)
116-Birds-365-Smelt-Breakfast

———-

Morning at the Fox Den
116-Birds-365Fox-Den-3 116-Birds-365Fox-Den-4 116-Birds-365Fox-Den-2 116-Birds-365Fox-Den-1

Lighthouse Bird Photography

Background

Without intending to create a sub-theme for this project, one has evolved on its own … lighthouse bird photography! The combination of birds, lighthouses and Lake Superior appears to be something I can not resist!

My wife and I hiked out to the Superior Entry Breakwater (six mile hike) today. Of course this meant a new lighthouse photographic opportunity. Even though the calendar says we are now well into the month of May, Lake Superior said otherwise! Between the ever present lake ice which has not yet melted, 30mph winds and a +37F temperature it was COLD while I took these picture. It was worth every freezing moment. Hope you enjoy today’s lighthouse photographs. The first picture has a bird! In addition, you may use this link to review all my lighthouse photographs and blog entries made during this project (gets updated)

As of today, I now have photographs of birds with the following lighthouses: Duluth Canal Park (all three lighthouses), Superior Entry Lighthouse, and the Two Harbors Breakwater Lighthouse!

Superior Entry Breakwater Lighthouse and Ship Traffic
Superior-Entry-Lighthouse-1 Superior-Entry-Lighthouse-2-Ship Superior-Entry-Lighthouse-3-Ship Superior-Entry-Lighthouse-4-Ship Superior-Entry-Lighthouse-5-Ship

 

Amity: A Winter Wonderland Photographic Tour (free book)

Background, , , , ,

This past Winter has the most number of sub-zero degree days in history (fahrenheit). With Friday’s snow we are over 130 inches for the season, and have moved into the third snowiest winter in history for northern Minnesota. Thus, it’s time to publish my first book which will take you on a magical tour of this winter wonder which I call “Amity”.

Amity, will be published and available via Amazon in approximately seven days. However, I am giving away a pdf version of my book via NorthStarNerd.Org (my other web site). Here is the book’s description:

The Lake Superior wilderness of northern Minnesota is rustically beautiful. Amity invites you to explore this region’s winter wonderland through the eyes of landscape and nature photographer Rich Hoeg. The word “Amity” comes from a small stream that roars down the hill to Lake Superior near Duluth, Minnesota.

This winter I was flattered to see organizations such as Fox News and the Weather Channel pick up and use my ice cave photographs in national news articles on the Apostle Islands Sea Caves. In addition, being one of the few finalists in the Lake Superior Magazine annual photo contest was an honor.

I hope you enjoy Amity.

Here is just one photo from Amity. This photo of Split Rock Lighthouse was taken shortly before dawn on April 18, 2014. Winter is finally starting to give up here grip on the Northland. (click to view photo at full resolution)

Split-Rock-Dawn-2