Category Archives: Year 6

Caution! Photographer Playing in the Snow!

Year 6
  1.  We are in the midst of a snow storm.
  2. Schools are cancelled.
  3. Shoveling round #1 is complete.
  4. This photographer has a new toy (Go Pro Hero 7 Black).
  5. What does this all mean?

Playtime on my local Nordic ski trails!!!

You are seeing my very first efforts with my new GoPro. Years and years ago I was a GoPro pioneer. When I wore the camera everyone thought it was a weird headlamp. No more! Last week GoPro had a great discount on the Hero 7 which was further enhanced by another $100 off if one traded in an old GoPro camera. Jackpot! I have entered the new action camera era. Aside from enhanced image quality, the improvement I love is the ability to issue commands all by voice (really nice in a cold winter climate).

Thus … two videos and a time lapse (one bird also!). The two videos are 100% unedited, and I did learn how to tweak the time lapse a bit in post processing. The videos are all very short.

The Skier (wearing a GoPro chest mount … all my old mounts work!)

Walk to the Lester Amity Ski Trail (300 yards from my house)

Skiing in Fresh Snow (enjoy the mittens perspective … you will see some snow flake smudges in the upper right corner of the video … sorry about the up and down … Nordic striding forces me to move my body a lot, and thus the camera)

Time Lapse: Skiing Home on 7 Bridges Road (176 images)

Snow Junco!

Ice Scenes from the Arctic Riviera! Long-Tailed Ducks

Year 6

Yes, Lake Superior and its North Shore are often referred to as the Arctic Riviera. This morning I walked out to the end of the Two Harbors breakwater and was blasted by the north wind. Open water is disappearing fast, and soon our end of the lake will be locked in from Minnesota across to Wisconsin. When you see the ice flows and small bergs you’ll understand our nickname, and why Arctic birds like the Long-Tailed Duck consider our environs a good place to hang out for the winter. They feel at home!

Two Harbors Light … I stood there to take photographs. The ducks were restricted to the open water leads. The breakwater is coated with thick ice. If the wind had been stronger, I would not have felt safe being out at the light.

Long-Tailed Ducks

Long Tails

Super B-Owl Sunday Snowy Owl

Year 6

Approximately one hour prior to kickoff I found this Snowy Owl hunting in the Duluth area. I think I watched the better game. Snowy 1, Vole 0! The owl was actually perched on a grandstand lights power pole at a small outdoor stadium not used in the winter. I’ll take my location over the Atlanta stadium any day.