Category Archives: Photography

Drone, Panorama, Photography, River-scapes

SUNSET, COVILL PARK – Red Wing, MN #exploremn #prettyredwing

Image September 21, 2020 Dan Traun 2 Comments

SUNSET, COVILL PARK

Red Wing Photography Club September meeting was at Covill Park in Red Wing, MN this evening. Perfect weather – mid 70s. Hazy skies no doubt from the massive amounts of forest fires out West.

I shot several series of frames from the Mavic Mini drone for panorama and HDR compositions as well as a few single frame images.

Single Frame Images

HDR Images

The dynamic range on the Mavic Mini is not great; bracketing does the trick to make up for its shortcomings.

DCIM@MEDIADJI_0074.JPG — Covill Bay | River Valley Marina

Panorama Images

DCIM@MEDIADJI_0051.JPG — Covill Bay | River Valley Marina

DCIM@MEDIADJI_0055.JPG — Looking out over barges towards Wisconsin

Towboat with barge downriver

DCIM@MEDIADJI_0096.JPG — Covill Park, River Valley Marina and Covill Bay Sunset

Drone, Panorama, Photography

SUNSET, BEHIND THE FRONT – Red Wing, MN #exploremn

Image August 10, 2020 Dan Traun 2 Comments

SUNSET, BEHIND THE FRONT

Off in the distance, a front was drifting by Red Wing Sunday evening as the sun was setting. The sun was still shinning brightly behind the clouds; shooting rays into the sky. [click on images to enlarge]

A bit later I shot two more panoramas to capture the full length of the cloud bank (21 frames each).

2020-08-09 DF088 RW Sunset-000z-Left — 21 Frames (left)

2020-08-09 DF088 RW Sunset-000z-Right — 21 Frames (right)

I then combined them both together into a 42 frame panorama

2020-08-09 DF088 RW Sunset-000z-42 Shot Pano — 42 frames

Photography

Meat Rub

Image April 18, 2020 Dan Traun

Drone, Nature, Panorama, Photography

SEASONAL HUES | BROWNS & BLUES – Pine Creek, Maiden Rock, WI

Image March 14, 2020 Dan Traun 4 Comments

SEASONAL HUES | BROWNS & BLUES

Pine Creek, view from Lake Pepin

Ice breaking up

Railroad Trestle from above

Pine Creek, Valley View

Lake Pepin view from Pine Creek valley

Destination, Nature, Photography

FLOODED FOLIAGE, FALL COLOR – Fort Snelling State Park #exploremn

Image November 2, 2019 Dan Traun

FLOODED FOLIAGE, FALL COLOR

The Minnesota and Mississippi rivers are running high this time of year. Lot of lowland areas around Fort Snelling State Park are filled with flooded foliage. The two access points to Picnic and Pike island are also flooded.

The seasonal color has almost faded completely out. If you look hard enough though you can still spy some #notreadyforwinteryet.

Destination, Nature, Panorama, Photography, Travel

LAKE BAILEY, EAGLE HARBOR, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

Image November 1, 2019 Dan Traun

LAKE BAILEY, EAGLE HARBOR, MI

Lake Bailey, in Keweenaw County, is a 204 acre lake with an average depth of 3 to 6 feet known for big, fat perch and northern pike.

Along M-26 east of Eagle Harbor, there is a boat launch that gives you a nice vantage point of the lake.

Lake Map

Destination, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography, River-scapes, Travel

MINNEOPA FALLS – Minneopa State Park #exploremn

Image October 26, 2019 Dan Traun

MINNEOPA FALLS

Minneopa State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was established in 1905 to preserve Minneopa Falls, a large waterfall for southern Minnesota, and was expanded in the 1960s to include the lower reaches of Minneopa Creek and a large tract of prairie. Minneopa is Minnesota’s third oldest state park, after Itasca and Interstate. Two park resources are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the 1862 Seppman Mill and a district of seven Rustic Style structures built by the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s. The park is located almost entirely on the south side of the Minnesota River, 3 miles west of Mankato. In 2015 the state reintroduced American bison to the park in a 330-acre (130 ha) fenced enclosure, through which visitors can drive in their vehicles. ~wikipedia

It has taken quite a while to get out this way to visit Minneopa State Park. It certainly did not disappoint. Views of the falls are easily accessible by concrete sidewalks in very close proximity of the parking lot.

If you are feeling a wee bit more adventurous, you can descend the stone staircase to river level and make your way around to the base of the falls. The trail is sketchy for a ways after to cross the foot bridge, but levels out nicely closer to the falls. The views are worth the extra effort.

2019-10-25 D700 Waterfalls - Nerstrand, Caron, Mankato-4812

Views of the Minneopa Creek and Falls from below.

2019-10-25 D700 Waterfalls - Nerstrand, Caron, Mankato-4808

2019-10-25 D700 Waterfalls - Nerstrand, Caron, Mankato-4809

2019-10-25 D700 Waterfalls - Nerstrand, Caron, Mankato-4826

Destination, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography, Steam-scapes, Travel

CARON FALLS – Caron Park #exploremn

Image October 26, 2019 Dan Traun

CARON FALLS

This 60 acre park is located north of County Road Number 88 (170th Street) and three miles from Nerstrand Woods State Park in the eastern part of the County. Caron Park became reality in 1990 and development continued through 1997. A cor-ten steel footbridge and 1.5 miles of trail have been established at Caron Park. The park is a remnant of the Big Woods Forest Community and serves as an excellent environmental study area. Caron Park features are as follows: Picnic area complete with a shelter, Biking trail, Hiking trail and Nature study. ~Rice County

A nice little park in Rice County; only a few miles from Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Hidden Falls. To my surprise, there were actually two falls there. Caron is the larger of the two. I see on Google Maps that the other falls is identified as Wellstone Falls. I don’t know if that is accurate or not, but having visited it on the anniversary of the death of Paul Wellstone, I’ll go with that.

The path to the falls is along a slight grade; it’s most steep at the top – you won’t notice it until the return trip. The uneven ground, due to a bit of erosion, meanders its way to a valley where the river flows. The beautiful mature woods opens up to where both falls are located. There is a large metal bridge that will get you to the other side without getting your feet wet.

iPhone photos

DSLR Shots of Caron Falls with 10 stop ND filter

2019-10-25 D700 Waterfalls - Nerstrand, Caron, Mankato-4737

2019-10-25 D700 Waterfalls - Nerstrand, Caron, Mankato-4757

2019-10-25 D700 Waterfalls - Nerstrand, Caron, Mankato-4761

Top of Caron Falls

I did not get any usable photos of Wellstone Falls, the sun was not in an optimal position and the light was a bit too bright.

Destination, iPhoneography, Panorama, Photography, Steam-scapes, Travel

NERSTRAND BIG WOODS – State Park #exploremn

Image October 26, 2019 Dan Traun

NERSTRAND BIG WOODS

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, northeast of Faribault near the small town of Nerstrand. The park derives its name from the Big Woods, a large, contiguous forested area covering much of central Minnesota prior to the arrival of European settlers. The park and its forest were an outlying ‘woods’ typical and similar to the Big Woods proper, which were historically found on the more recent glacier deposits located west of the Cannon River 10 miles to the west. Aside from a small waterfall, the outstanding natural feature of the park is the forest itself. ~ wikipedia

It was a beautiful Autumn morning to take a walk out to Hidden Falls in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Out and about with two other photog-friends, Jeff & Robert chasing waterfalls and capturing the Autumn palette.

Albeit past prime with many leaves on the ground, there was still a fair amount of color. The trail out to Hidden Falls is .5 miles on dirt/gravel and wooden boardwalk trails with some stairs.

There was a nice flow when we arrived at the falls. We even had the whole place to ourselves for a little bit. A nice day brought out several people that we passed on our way out. Since you are in the area, be sure to stop at Nerstrand Meats & Catering for a snack or picnic supplies. Their smoked meat products are phenomenal. Cheddar Stix and Cajun Jerky are two of my must have favorites whenever I pass through the area.

iPhone shots of the Hidden Falls

DSLR shots with 10 stop ND filter

Drone, Panorama, Photography, River-scapes

BAY CITY, WI – Sunrise #aerialphotography

Image October 25, 2019 Dan Traun

BAY CITY, WI – Sunrise 2019-10-20

Witnessed and capture a beautiful Bay City, WI sunrise.

2019-10-20 DF076 Bay City Sunrise-0001-2-Edit — At Dawn Glow

2019-10-20 DF076 Bay City Sunrise-0001-6-Edit — Sunrise – Opposing Horizon

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Category Archives: Photography

SUNSET, COVILL PARK – Red Wing, MN #exploremn #prettyredwing