The Things I Wish I Had Known “What is that thing?” “Oh, that? It’s just a little sea otter, nothing too crazy.” “Wow, I had no idea. I’m from Pennsylvania, we don’t have those there.” “That’s ok, I’m from Minnesota,…
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Moose Country
The Story Behind The Photo All my research had pointed to the Gunflint Trail. “There is no mileage in photographing a bear with a long lens—it has been done before—it is hackneyed pulp.” David Yarrow After meeting David in Chicago,…
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Your Dreams May Take Longer Than You Think
But They’re Worth Holding On To I have always been a dreamer. A big picture, can-do person who yearns for adventure and unique conversation starters. “Oh, I see you have a castle?” Yup, building a castle is on that list.…
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The Photography “This or That” Challenge
Recently, a group of photographers I follow began sharing some photography preferences through a quick writing challenge. With a few simple this-or-that style questions, I learned a lot about them. And myself. Here are my thoughts… 1. Prime or Zoom…
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The 2023 Tanzania Photography Wall Calendar
The Calendar I would like to introduce you to the 2023 Tanzania Photography Wall Calendar. This is The Spur Trail’s third annual art calendar. Within its pages you will find adventures from Serengeti safari, living with the Maasai, climbing mountains…
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When Can A Person Truly Call Themselves An Artist?
I’m about to order new business cards and I’m curious. Do you become an artist the moment you believe yourself to be one? Is it a title offered to you after you have completed a degree or other institutional process that includes fancy paperwork and back pats?…
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I Wasn’t the Hero or Mother They Wanted, but I Was the One They Needed
The story, behind the photo. “This is not what we trained for.” Mornings consisted of a.m. Ballet or Western Civilization classes. Afternoons were voice lessons, show choir, and nights of rehearsals or work-study shifts in the theatre. Rounding out the…
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The Street Kitties of Lebanon
A tale of kings and queens, cushions and streets. When the rush of day and traffic fades away, the raucous sound of traffic jams and near misses transitions into a new auditory treat. Sweet Night Sounds To Sleep To Shadows emerge…
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Dead in the Mountains
Nobody talked. It had been this way for a couple of hours. Occasionally there might be a murmur, or accidental nervous laugh. Some couple trying to keep their spirits up. Useless It is impossible to know what we were all…
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Your Photos Will Outlive You, But Not The Way You Want
How Too Much of a Good Thing, Isn’t So Good Photography is Everywhere I wanted to start this article by describing to you the power of photography. Through an experiment. Check this out. “Take a break from your screen. Look around…
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The Minnesota State Parks Passport and Hiking Club Programs Project
Gotta Catch ‘Em All What Am I Doing? I have a photography/adventure project involving all of the Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas. Let’s catch you up. Lake Louise State Park played host to large groups of rambunctious pre-teens for…
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A Speedlight Recommendation
Truth in advertising, this post contains affiliate links. If you would like to support this blog and future posts/photography, you can do so by making your purchase though one of the following links. You have met enough people and read…
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SHT ‘Part Three’ – Hiking A Fall Section
Alternate Titles The Secret Loves Of Color She had just left me, parting ways to make our miles and heading in opposite directions. Instead of making an early, timely start, we conspired with sunrise for a photoshoot. Stepping out of…
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Ten Ways To Improve Your Wildlife Photography
Trust Me On This…It Can Get Better What it boils down to here is knowing what you hope to achieve and what your intention is. If you simply want to prove that you saw a certain type of wildlife and…
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9 Days of SHT ‘Part Two’
‘Part Two’ (We’re picking up where we left off, our adventurer trekking not only through the northern wilderness but also his troubled past. Ok not that troubled but it sounds dramatic right?) Four years ago the first .2 miles tuckered…
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9 Days of SHT ‘Part One’
A Harrowing Tale of Walking “So this is how it’s gonna be?!?” I thought to myself. I was no more than a few blocks from my starting point and had picked up what I thought was an auspicious find. That…
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99 Spur Trail Solutions For Everything
There can be many, varied roadblocks when you start to think about yourself and traveling in the same context. Some walls are put up by others. Some you’ve put up yourself without realizing it. At the end of the…
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Bike Tour – Part 4 “Wet Washington”
Remember that awesome mushroom book I bought on Day Two of the trip?
Yeah, after the night of infinite terror…
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Bike Tour – Part 3 “Washington In”
Alternate Titles “Washington is a Waste of Time” The two days that best described our time in Washington were the first day in, and the last day out. Advice given to us by a former Highway 101 bike rider suggested,…
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Bike Tour – Part Two
A Canadian Start Talking about big ideas is easy. I do that a lot. Getting started is the tough part. I began this bike tour slowly, attending an evening workshop on bike touring, researched gear, took a couple of longer…
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It’s ok; I can tell you’re a little bit skeptical about this claim. Alas, I have a feeling that it’s true. Just give me a second; I’ll do my best to prove this outrageous claim to you. It’s coming, in…
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