Photos of the Week – November 20 2020

Seeking beauty is a good way to remember how much there is.

Those words popped into my head this morning as I simultaneously looked through photos for today’s post and watched the clouds outside my window erupted into pink fire. Despite anything and everything going on in the world, it’s always possible to find splendor at both small and large scales. Photography is a major vehicle for my efforts to find beauty in the world, but you don’t have to be a photographer to go on your own expedition

Good grief, I’m feeling sappy today.

As promised last Thursday, here are photos from the second day of photographing the aftermath of an ice storm that came through our area last week. These were all taken at Lincoln Creek Prairie as the sun rose. The opportunity for a second day of photography felt like an incredible gift, since I had assumed much of the ice would melt the afternoon before. Instead, the brief moments of sun I’d taken advantage of the previous day had given way to clouds, and the temperature stayed low enough to preserve the ice overnight. Bonus ice day!

Switchgrass and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/22 at 1/500 sec.
Rosinweed and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/9 at 1/500 sec.
Stiff sunflower and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/7 at 1/640 sec.
Grass loop and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/22 at 1/640 sec.
Switchgrass and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/13 at 1/500 sec.
Switchgrass and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/14 at 1/400 sec.
Switchgrass and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/22 at 1/250 sec.
Prairie stalactites. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/14 at 1/320 sec.
Big bluestem and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/11 at 1/250 sec.
Stiff sunflower. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/8 at 1/500 sec.
Switchgrass and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/11 at 1/500 sec.
Canada wild rye and ice. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon 105mm macro lens, ISO 320, f/22 at 1/250 sec.

By the time the sun finally got bright enough to make photography difficult, it also started to thaw the ice. As I walked back to my truck, most of the plants in direct sunlight were more wet than glazed. The ice kingdom was melting around me, but I was grateful for the time I’d been granted to explore it.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized by Chris Helzer. Bookmark the permalink.

About Chris Helzer

Chris Helzer is the Director of Science for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska. His main role is to evaluate and capture lessons from the Conservancy’s land management and restoration work and then share those lessons with other landowners – both private and public. In addition, Chris works to raise awareness about the importance of prairies and their conservation through his writing, photography, and presentations to various groups. Chris is also the author of "The Ecology and Management of Prairies in the Central United States", published by the University of Iowa Press. He lives in Aurora, Nebraska with his wife Kim and their children.

13 thoughts on “Photos of the Week – November 20 2020

  1. Oh my goodness, these are beautiful. I absolutely adore the teardrops of ice with the plant bud inside. Thank you for sharing.

  2. So beautiful! You’ve made my day!

    On Fri, Nov 20, 2020 at 9:23 AM The Prairie Ecologist wrote:

    > Chris Helzer posted: ” Seeking beauty is a good way to remember how much > there is. Those words popped into my head this morning as I simultaneously > looked through photos for today’s post and watched the clouds outside my > window erupted into pink fire. Despite anything and ” >

  3. Wow, Chris…your film speed (ISO) seems low for the high apertures you’re using in these photos.

    Maybe it is brighter out than it appears.

    Amazing photos, thanks for noticing the “little” things.

    Peace on

    Laurie

    Laurie Schneider

    Professional Photographer

    Executive Director, Pollinator Friendly Alliance

    Cell: 651-503-9904

    http://www.lschneider.com | http://www.pollinatorfriendly.org | facebook | linkedin

    From: The Prairie Ecologist Reply-To: The Prairie Ecologist Date: Friday, November 20, 2020 at 8:25 AM To: laurie schneider Subject: [New post] Photos of the Week – November 20 2020

    Chris Helzer posted: ” Seeking beauty is a good way to remember how much there is. Those words popped into my head this morning as I simultaneously looked through photos for today’s post and watched the clouds outside my window erupted into pink fire. Despite anything and “

  4. Beautiful! Thankful for many things this holiday, one of which is your sharing these incredible images! Thank You and Happy Thanksgiving, Chris

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