Tag Archives: Backroads

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The Big Purge


It has been a long time coming now.  Backing up to the cloud takes time even with plenty of bandwidth.  My recent back up revelations have led to incessant purging of files.  It is a very long process.  2011, not a complete year (Aug – Dec), has been reduced to approximately 1000 shots retained; I am sure that could even be reduced further if I really had to.  I will leave some for a likely future last round of digital cleansing.  I guess when I first started to dig into photography I kept everything.  For the most part I am glad that I did.  When I look back it is very clear to me what worked and what didn’t.  I know a few more tricks in salvaging an image that was less than perfectly exposed, but that isn’t the ultimate goal.  Shoot and learn; shoot more and learn even more.

I am hoping with further review of subsequent years to see a style emerging; your style isn’t so readily apparent to you – at least it isn’t to me.  I have spent the last few years experimenting with many different things photographically.  It is interesting to look back at what you have shot. Remembering why you shot something is my biggest challenge (thankfully the memories are still fresh).  These are a few photos from 2011 that caught my eye while sifting through the nearly 4000 shots.

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Sailors, piggies, and round bail walls – oh my!


A recent drive about yield a few interesting shots of a diverse and varied subject matter.  Sailors, piggies, round bail walls, eagles, photographer and one very nice coupla.  I haven’t encountered a coupla to-date that has glass panels.  The rest of the design is as common as others I have seen in the area.  There were lots of eagle watchers/photographers out along the river.  The area between Maple Springs and Reads Landing is always a hot spots.

Wind surfing over a frozen Lake Pepin will likely never be my cup of tea, but it was interesting to watch for a few moment…until the warm car called us back.

The furry piggies where just a bonus we encountered while on back roads.  We crested a hill and could see something in the distance; not big enough to be cattle or horses.  Little furry piggies they were.

The wall of round bails were masterfully position to block the shrill and chilling winds of winter.  It appeared to be quick the fortress of sorts; the only thing missing was a draw bridge.

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Porcupine Valley


It seems like an eternity since I was out last shooting up the countryside.  The forecast for today provided the little push to drop everything, plan nothing and just get out there.  The area selected to tour today is what is referred to as Porcupine Valley – my definition encompasses Porcupine with a bit of an expanded border which includes a few more valleys and streams.  Today a former co-worker, mushroom hunting buddy and always good friend [Doug] joined me for this trek.  Seven hours of back-roading the WI countryside yielded many shots.  I spotted a roster pheasant in the tall grass along side a road; I played dog and went in to flush it, did so, but didn’t get a good shot unfortunately.  I was just happy to see one.  We saw lots of eagles, eagle nests, hawks, funny pigs, friendly dogs, streams, ice, valleys, barns, old trucks and a whole bunch more.   We also stumbled upon an abandoned farmstead [separate post coming] – it was a gem. It was a grand day – which we concluded at Mike’s Bay Town in Bay City.  1/3 lb. burgers – oh yeah.  Doug apparently chews his food; I inhaled.

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Turkey Day Travel – Part Three


With an extremely full belly and a load of left-overs in tow, I departed Rice Lake and headed for home.  I made my way home slowly; still sleepy from that last few days of excess.  Another very fair-weather day…still comfortable driving around with the heat on and windows down.  Lots of eagles in creek valleys and I spied a little deer – no doubt running for hunters, out in the open field as she was.