Midgard
The middle world, stretched between sea and sky.
Trumpeter Swan
Through a cathedral of cattails and the warm haze of distant fires, a trumpeter swan lifted its wings to greet the day. From my floating hide—half engineering project, half folly—it felt like being granted front-row seats to the secrets of the swamp.
Hooded Merganser
I thought the floating blind in the rain could be fun… it was. I thought I packed enough towels to keep my gear dry… I didn’t. 💦
Wood Duck
Every spring, the wood duck returns to these quiet puddles of half-melted ice and cattails, looking improbably tropical—like someone who missed their flight to the Bahamas but decided to make the best of Minnesota anyway.
Barred Owl
Barred owls never migrate—they simply materialize, as if conjured by moonlight and the faint sound of mice. This one appeared in my backyard, looking both wise and slightly disappointed by my lack of field mice.
Black-capped Chickadee
The black-capped chickadee—an ounce of feathers and optimism—flared into my frame after a hundred empty shots. Two flashes, a fistful of seed, and a bit of luck turned backyard chaos into this moment of improbable grace.
Red Dog
In spring, the prairies of Theodore Roosevelt National Park fill with cinnamon colored bison calves ~ nicknamed “red dogs” ~ doing their best to keep up with the thundering adults.
Black Bear
At the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, black bears wander into the meadow much as neighbors might drop by for supper. This one paused long enough to inspect me, then resumed bear business.