Minnesota State Fair

Ahh, the Great Minnesota Get Together. 100,000 people pushing around, trying to get to the next food stand.  It is food on a stick. Everything you can think of... on-a-stick. Pickles, on-a-stick. Shrimp, on-a-stick. Even Summit Beer, on-a-stick. It is ALL about food, food and then some more food.

Yep, more food. It seems there is a pronto pup stand on every single corner.

If you are able to pull yourself away from the hundreds of food stands, there are a couple of rides you can check out.

And when you can't find the food you want or the ride you like, you sit down in the middle of the road and pout. 

This one I don't understand. I kept asking my gal what makes grown people wear these ridiculous hats during the state fair. I mean, really!

Another beautiful hat. Its like Minnesotas version of the Kentucky Derby. Ridiculous. Yes, that is a walleye on his head.  

I took this photo with my iPhone on the tracks behind work in St. Louis Park. I first made some adjustments to it in the App, Dynamic Light. I then uploaded it to Instagram and put the "Early Bird" effect on it. 

Independence Day

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My gal and I sat up by the Smith Bridge on Monday night to view the 4th of July fireworks over the Mississippi River in St. Paul. This was my first attempt at fireworks photos. Overall, I think I am pretty happy with the way most of them turned out. Although, next time I will work harder to NOT sit right behind a bush. Here are ten of my favorites. All of these were taken with a Canon 28-135mm lens set at f/8, ISO-100, focal length 47mm and the shutter was open for 6 seconds. 

Nine Mile fishing

My gal and I were walking along Nine Mile Creek yesterday when I saw these two boys fishing. It reminded me of when I was younger and how my friends and I could spend whole days down by the creek fishing. There is nothing better to a young boy than summer vacation!

Downtown St. Paul I94/35E

I know, I know, another photo from my balcony. This was taken last summer when I was just starting to play around with shutter speeds. I really like the look of the clouds and the lights. Also, I must have caught a plane in the upper right hand corner as it comes into Holman Field here in St. Paul.

Lily pad

Last 4th of July, my gal and I spent the weekend at a friends cabin in northern Minnesota. I was taking pictures of their dog jumping off the dock when I looked down and saw this lily pad. I liked how the water droplets were just sitting on the pad. After a few adjustments in Photoshop, this is what is left.

Body - Canon 50D
Lens - 28-135mm 3.5-5.6
Aperture - f/5.6
Exposure - 1/1600 secs
ISO - 3200
Focal length - 112mm

Minnetonka

 

This photo keeps randomly popping up on my screen saver and I like looking at it. It was taken in a park in Minnetonka that I would drive by while delivering out there. I am not sure of the parks name but it is located on Victoria St just south of Day Place. 

Body - Canon 50D

Lens - 28-135mm 3.5-5.6

Aperture - f/5.6

Exposure - 1/200 secs

ISO - 100

Focal length - 28mm

Basilica of St. Mary

I was asked to take photos of a party in downtown Minneapolis. The party was on top of the Eitel Building on Willow Street. The view from the roof had amazing views of Loring Park and the Basilica of St. Mary. As the sun went down this photo presented itself.

Body - Canon 50D
Lens - 28-135mm 3.5-5.6
Aperture - f/5.6
Exposure - 1/50 secs
ISO - 3200
Focal length - 85mm

Buddies

A friend from work asked a bunch of us up to his cabin on Big Kandiyohi Lake in Minnesota for a relaxing weekend. After a full day of boating, skiing and drinking beer, a storm moved into the area. A couple of buddies, Kevin and Theron, wanted to watch the incoming storm from the end of the dock. I shot this photo as they took in the show.

Body - Canon EOS 50D
Lens - Canon 28-135mm 3.5-5.6
f-stop - f/5.6
exposure - 1/30 seconds
ISO - 1600
focal length - 122mm

Memorial Day

This is the headstone of my Uncle Fred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. This is one of two stops I make every Memorial Day. The other is to Cavalry Cemetery in St. Paul to say thanks to Josias King, the first man to enlist for the Union in defense of our country in the Civil War.
Please take some time on this day to remember the brave men and women who have given up everything so the rest of us can have our freedom.