I live in Flyover Land! Back in March of 1976, the New Yorker Magazine’s cover was a cartoon of a New Yorker’s view of America. You’ll note in the image below … that cover from 1976, Minnesota is no where to be seen. In fact once one goes beyond the Hudson River, the next stop is California.

Very briefly this morning we had sunshine in Flyover Land, otherwise known as Floodwood, Minnesota.

I was driving through this town on my way to Aitkin County Road #18 where rumor had it a Northern Hawk Owl had been spotted. Well, other than 15 Bald Eagles and one Rough-Legged Hawk, the Hawk Owl was a no show. Such is the life a birder in Flyover Land. Here is one pic from this morning. I doubt many citizens of New York City know that Bald Eagles do not have white heads and tails for the first three years of their lives. Here then is … almost an adult!

Advance Planning! Do you plan your photographs “in advance”? Hopefully the answer is yes. During a prior drive down to Minneapolis I noticed a field of sunflowers in the distance which were almost ready to bloom. My brain immediately starting taking virtual pictures. Wouldn’t it be cool to photograph the sunflowers shortly after dawn?

Thus, four days ago I got up at 4 am and left early for the Twin Cities. My early departure was to arrive at my desired farm fields in the dawn’s early light. The night before I had researched farm roads on Google Maps which I thought would bring me to the sunflower  fields with the correct point of view relative to the sunrise. In addition I downloaded an offline version of central Minnesota from Google Maps on my smartphone.  Never trust you will have a cell signal when in remote areas!

This photograph was the end result … a sunflower field a few minutes after sunrise … in a location I had never visited in my life. Even when birding, I pick my locations and hikes to hopefully arrive at a desired area with the proper lighting / photographic conditions.

Do you advance plan your photographs?

Summer Sunflower Sunrise