Amity: A Winter Wonderland Photographic Tour (free book)

April 27, 2014BackgroundMN North: Amity, MN North: Brighton Beach, MN North: Canal Park, MN North: Sax-Zim Bog, MN North: Split Rock State Park, MN North: Stony Pointrichardhoeg@gmail.com

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.

Download a free pdf version of my book “Amity” via this link
View my photos via Flickr (available with attribution via Creative Commons)

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)

Day 095: Riding the Lake Superior Wind!

April 27, 2014Year 1MN North: Stony Pointrichardhoeg@gmail.com

The Lake Superior forecast over the next few days includes steady winds at 30+ mph, with gusts often into the mid 40’s. Shortly after dawn this morning I photographed this seagull riding and gliding on the wind near Stoney Point. You are looking to the northeast as the last remaining clear sky escapes before the rain, sleet and snow close in upon us for the next five days.

View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon image to view at full size)

Day 094: Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge

April 26, 2014Year 1MN North: Brighton Beach, WI North: Crex Meadowsrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Although Spring has not arrived on the shores of Lake Superior (see first photograph taken at dawn this morning), a short drive 70 miles to the south yielded a glimpse of some of the birds waiting to invade northern Minnesota in a week or two when snows and ice melt a bit more. Crux Meadows is a 30,000 acre+ wildlife refuge with over 250 species of birds. The rare sedge marsh and brush prairie habitats make the area a utopia for wildlife, These photographs represent just a few of the birds we saw today.

Some nice comments about today’s birding … we saw lots of Trumpeter Swans. When I was young, they were almost extinct with only 40 breeding pairs in North America. In addition, I saw my first Common Loon of the season. This is a favorite bird of mine, and also the State Bird of Minnesota.