Mike Houge

The Joy Of Photography:

The image above is not the one I was hoping to show you this week. I went out this morning with a prop and had hoped to capture some of the local song birds sitting on the pine branch I had cut off one of our many pine trees. I had that perfect image in mind and was sure I'd come home with it. After all- how hard can it be-you see those perfect images all the time of the black-caped chickadee turning around and almost smiling at the photographer and saying look at me- here I am.

Well I didn't get that perfect image, in fact all the images I brought home- I deleted. Now some folks would be upset and have all kind of reasons to be mad or why it went wrong but you know-I really had fun. It was quiet and the birds actually put on quite a show for me. There were flickers ,goldfinches , chickadees , downy woodpeckers ,of course sparrows and a noisy squirrel.

I was reminded of a friend of mine that just recently purchased a new camera and is just having a ball taking shots of everything she can. Fern helped put things in perspective for me- we sometimes have to remember why many of us started capturing images to begin with "it's fun" to capture what we enjoy . So Fern- if you're reading this- keep having fun capturing those things you enjoy-your excitement has been addictive.

In regards to the above image- it's from Amnicon State Park in Wisconsin and the bridge in the background is a 100 year old bow bridge. The image was processed to look like an oil painting and had a border added.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great week.

 

Gooseberry Falls State Park:

I've been dreaming about a trip up north, so to fill those needs I've been revisiting some images from past trips that I haven't found time to process.These two images are fromm Gooseberry Falls State Parkwhich is about an hour north of Duluth, Minnesota and is one of the most popular state parks in the state. My family has fallen in love with Gooseberry and over the years I've taken enough images of this area to make a good sized book. There are five falls in this park and the above image is of the fourth falls

The above image is an angle of the middle falls that I've never taken until this fall when for some reason the angle of the trees really hit me. As I mature as a photographer, I'm learning to see more shapes and textures in nature that four years ago would have been oblivious to me. I give my friend Dan Ruf some of the credit for this, as we often spend hours discussing the ins and outs of photography techniques.

Both of these images were processed to resemble oil paintings and given a border to set them off. If you haven't been to Lake Superior or the northshore drive and you like to spend time enjoying nature- I highly recommend this area. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Brighton Beach revisited:

This is an image from several years back that few folks have seen that I captured at Brighton Beach, one of my favorite places images along Lake Superior. It was one of those below zero mornings that just called out my name as I drove by. Most winters there is ice along the shore but the lake is usually open but this time the weather was calm and cold so ice formed over night.

Unlike the lakes in northern Iowa, Lake Superior seldom freezes over so it's an odd feeling to be in the middle of winter and be along the shore line listening to waves. I think that's one of the many reasons we're drawn to the area in the winter. If you're a winter person and haven't taken a trip north, I think you'd like it. Unlike northern Iowa- the wind is much calmer, which makes being outdoors more enjoyable and mentally having open water it seem less like winter.

We've always enjoyed snowshoeing on the trails and it's not uncommon to find folks camping in the state parks. The Brighton Beach area is a very popular rocky stretch and always bustling with folks hiking or just enjoying the outdoors and is just a short jaunt north of Duluth.

Well as you can tell, I can't wait to make a trip north- thanks for stopping by and have a great week. 

Fall beauties:

Occasionally when you're out shooting an image looks so good in the view finder that you find yourself saying- WOW- out loud and you can't help smiling to yourself. That doesn't happen to me often but this last trip to Minnesota it happened twice, and the two images this week are the wow shots for me. The above image is of a mountain ash tree using an attachment called a lens baby. The following is just a nice image of a birch tree with maple leaves in front. I want to thank you for stopping by this week and I hope you've been able to get out and enjoy fall in your area.
 

Time for play

Having a little extra time to work on some my images, I've been working on a few favorite images I've taken with the idea in mind to add textures and work towards a water color effect.  I was raised with a ink pen and a brush in my hands- going as far back as I can remember - along with a needle and thread (although I don't tell many people that story), so playing with colors seems more natural to me than one might expect.

The images on this weeks blog represent some fun time just playing with the possibilities and seeing where they lead. My trip up north this fall allowed me some time to branch out into the macro area and I have to admit- it was fun.

I hope you have as much time viewing these- as I had creating them. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

2011 fall colors

This September I was able to make my annual fall pilgrimage to northern Minnestoa and after the poor fall color in Iowa this year, I'm sure glad I did. As it worked out I met my friend Dan Ruf at Gooseberry Falls State Park, which we used as our base camp. The farther north we went- the better the colors were.

The above image was captured at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. I was on my way back to the truck when I was struck by the beauty of this scene. There wasn't another person close and all I could hear was the rustle of the wind through the leaves and the smell of fall was definitely in the air.

                    
 
This image was captured at Banning State Park, just north of Hinkley, Mn.Thanks to Dan, this is now a regular stop for me on my way north. My internet is working better now so I hope I can share some more fall images for you soon. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Playing Inside:

 
The weather in NW Iowa today is nasty-icy and windy with the power going on and off- so it was a good day to play inside. If you've been following my blog, you know I've been learning how to use textures with my images. The above image is from Chester Park in Duluth, MN and one of my regular haunts.It has it all, water, bridges and trees- you can't get better than that.

 
This shed is on Stoney  Point north of Duluth and I've photographed this poor shed over a dozen times, trying to capture what my minds eye sees. This is the closest I've come to that image yet.

 
This image is from Gooseberry Falls State Park just north of Two Harbors and is one I visit often. I seldom get any winter images from here as it's very slippery and dangerous to get around and it often has a dirty look. This bridge and the steps behind it looked like a good opportunity and I'm glad it turned out. Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.

A Sweet Gift:

 
For several years now my wife and I have given each other for Valentines Day- a trip to northern Minnesota. We usually stay at a cabin where we can cook our own meals and one that is centrally located to an area I wish to photograph. This year we stayed near Knife River at Island View Resort and even though it was bitter cold at times, we had a nice relaxing time. The image above was taken at Canal Park in Duluth and the -14 degree weather made for some awesome fog. The sunrise was beautiful that morning and the fog rolled in for hours.

 
This image was taken at Leif Erickson Park just a mile or so north of Canal Park. I had been down at the lake taking ice shard images and as I was crossing a walkway to leave -I did a double take- this scene could be in the 1930's as well as today, truly timeless.

 
This final image was taken at Amnicon Falls State Park in Wisconsin. I've captured this bridge from several angles over the years and I'm still trying to get it just right. Amnicon Falls is a lovely smaller park with lots of trees and running water- my kind of place. I hope you all had a great Valentines Day and thanks again for stopping by. Have a great week.

Fall, a little longer:

I had a small window of opportunity yesterday morning to spend some time at Fort Defiance. It was really peaceful along the creek that meanders through the park like a long snake. I was afraid the water level would be to low to enjoy ands that there'd be nothing to capture but I was wrong on both accounts. I was able to find one last flowering plant along the creek that somehow the frost and wind had missed, one last goodbye to summer.

 
I took the time to walk through the valley enjoying the peacefulness and the beauty of the leaves carpeting the floor and I have to confess I lost myself in the moment. I couldn't help but wonder if this would be my last chance this year to enjoy what was left of fall. I hope you've found an opportunity to enjoy this nice long season and thanks for stopping by.

 

Fall colors to remember:

I know that fall isn't over yet and we could still have some great weather the next few weeks, but as far as the fall color is concerned I think it's safe to say the end is here. Although the leaf color around here this year was disappointing, I feel fortunate to have witnessed some truly beautiful fall moments in other locations. It's hard for me to describe the feelings that pulse through me when I witness the beauty mother nature provides us so I hope that my photography will in some small part, capture that moment for others to experience.

 
This weeks photo-blog pertains to last weeks trip to Potawatomi State Park along Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin's Door County. As usual the leaf color was better the week before but there was still some leaves left on the oaks and a few maples to provide hours of fun chasing the light and colors. It was also entertaining watching the squirrels chasing each other through the thick layers of leaves on the ground and the forest was thick with deer watching your every move.

I would also like to take a moment to thank my wife and family for understanding this passion I have for photography. It has at time taken me on some long trips, gotten me up at some ungodly hours and Ive traveled on some roads and trails that I probably shouldn't have been on but as my family knows " it's the journey- not the destination". So thanks again for your patience and understanding!

 
Thanks again for stopping by and try to find time for your own journey.