At Bond Falls ....... Jerry Mercier

Bond Falls is located in Michigan's Upper Penninsula near Paulding.

The Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River plunges 50 feet over the falls.

It's a great place to photograph, as a large boardwalk near the base of the falls and trails on either side of the river provide easy access.

Fall is a super time to visit, though I think it will be another week before there's good color at the base of the falls or along the river up above.

At sunrise ..... Jerry Mercier

 I got to a small lake in northern Wisconsin half an hour before sunrise.

The weather report called for 40% cloud cover and 3mph winds.

Lucky for me, they were right.

I quicky set up the tripod and got to work. 

I was hoping for more dramatic sunrise colors but was happy with the reflections and clouds that I got.

Only 25 minutes after I arrived, shortly after I made this image most of the clouds disappeared.

I stayed for half an hour more and captured these reflections on the other side of the lake.

A sunflower ...... Jerry Mercier

 I found one very good-looking sunflower in northern Wisconsin a few days ago.

It was evening and already in shadow when I first saw it, so I thought I'd photograph it the next afternoon. I didn't. 

It was rainy, windy and overcast for the next two days. Finally, on the third day the sun was out, so I gave it a try.

Lucky for me the flower was no worse for wear and still looked great.

It was one of eight plants and the only one with good color and attractive petals.

(Though several bumble bees visited while I made these photos and they seemed to find them all attractive.)

The temperature was 83 degrees and felt hot.

I wanted to ensure I created some decent images, as it would likely be my only chance to photograph sunflowers this year.

So I stayed at it. Trying different angles and compositions.

Shooting in full sunlight as well as in shade.

Occasionally the wind was pretty brisk and a moving flower doesn't make for sharp images.

So, I pressed on. 

Waiting for the sun to reappear and the wind to stop, if only for a minute.

And I'm glad that I did.

In the end I made several hundred photos of the sunflower that will take a bit of time to edit, but I already know I like eleven of them. 

Wisconsin forest fire ..... Jerry Mercier

I was in northern Wisconsin near Ino in May 2018, saw smoke in the distance and thought I should check it out.

I took gravel roads for several miles following the smoke in the sky and came to this. 

The forest service and other agencies were having a pretty substantial controlled burn.

I pulled up to the person holding a sign to stop traffic (not that there was any. We were the only car) and asked if it'd be alright for me to park out of the way and make some photos.

They called to check with their supervisor who drove over and visited briefly.

After assuring him I'd stay in the limited area he had indicated on the gravel road and that I wouldn't move any closer, I was given the OK.

I'd tried to make fire photos in the past but never had any luck. 

The fact they didn't kick me out and it was such a big fire made this my best opportunity by far.

They were burning several hundred acres of pretty dense forest right at sunset.

I was on the south boundary of the burn they had just started with the fire moving north.

It was burning quicky so I did my best to compose some cool looking images and keep everything sharp.

After about two hours I had to go, but stopped about a mile away and captured the scene above before leaving.

Lake Superior sunrise ..... Jerry Mercier

Waiting on sunrise along the shore of Lake Superior near Washburn Wisconsin.

After a short wait a bit of color started to show.

As the sun tried to make it through the clouds the water turned silver with touches of hot pink on the horizon.

Just a few minutes later, dark clouds and fiery reds.

And then it was gone.

Leaving simple patterns and pastels.

And finally, a lone cloud along the shoreline.

Yellowstone sunset.... Jerry Mercier

I was back in Yellowstone at sunset. Waiting on Great Fountain Geyser.

Every time I'm in the park near the Lower Geyser Basin around sunset, I check on Great Fountain Geyser hoping it will erupt.

Over the years I've waited for lots of eruptions that never came. 

And eruptions that started long after dark.

But tonight, I was right on time.

As the terraced pools filled and then overran with water, the geyser started erupting.

Steam rose and blocked the sun creating a golden pinkish hue.

A visitor walked the road near Great Fountain Geyser.

As the sun moved toward the horizon.

The eruption lasted nearly an hour. With long pauses between huge bursts of water and steam.

I did my best to make some cool images and take it all in.

I was in no hurry.

And there was no place I'd rather have been.

So I stayed until the very end. 

Once the sun had set and all the color was gone, I packed up my gear and just sat there.

And waited. 

After a while the first stars became visible, then several coyotes started howling in the distance

A bat flew low overhead, and a breeze carried the scent of lodgepole pines.

 

Just another beautiful night in Yellowstone.