This past summer my family took a camping trip to Custer State Park, South Dakota. We absolutely loved it! There were a lot of days with moody rain clouds like above, which were fun to photograph. There was so much to see and do we were always busy. What a beautiful area. I look forward to going back again sometime.

Winter here in Minnesota can be long and dreary. I often struggle with finding a reason to pickup the camera during these cold months. Even though it can be beautiful, I find it difficult to get excited about going out into the cold, wet weather. I try to brainstorm a list of subjects I can still photograph through this long season to keep my creative juices flowing, and thought I would share some in case you struggle with this as well.

• Atmosphere
  • fog
  • snow
• Abstract ice formations
• Waterfalls/rapids
  • before they freeze or after partially frozen
• Flowers Indoors
  • conservatory
  • makeshift studio in home
• Macro indoors
• Family fun outdoors or holidays
• Macro snowflakes/ice
• Animals in the snowy landscape
  • use your car as a blind to stay warm
  • some birds stay for the winter (such as cardinals) and you can easily photograph them in your backyard. Again you can use your car/blind to stay warmer.

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Remember to keep yourself warm and dry, as well as your camera. Several layers of clothes, hand/feet warmers, and thin gloves with touchscreen tips for shooting (with a warmer pair over to keep your fingers warm when not using your camera) will help you stay comfortable. For your camera use a rain cover to keep it dry, carry extra batteries close to your body since they will drain quickly, and stow your camera in a sealable plastic bag or camera bag before taking it indoors (including a warm vehicle) to avoid condensation, and give it time to warm to room temperature before removing it.

Fall color along the Kettle River. Don't feel you need to photograph wide angle for fall color. put on your telephoto and get an intimate shot of the landscape. This was shot with a focal length of 232mm.