prior lake

2019

July 4 in Prior Lake, Minnesota

Break out the sparklers, it’s the last day of the last year of the decade, and it’s time for a whole lot of us photographers to pull out our best and favorite shots of the year to stick on the refrigerator. If you’ll indulge me, I’ll keep it brief: what a year. I didn’t post as much on here because I wanted to focus on good opportunities, and I think I found them. In fact, I think I pushed my photography the furthest it’s ever gone — in nature, on the street and at work. I’ve gotten to know Minnesota in all of its seasons. I got married and visited three national parks. I made plans and hopes for the next year and the next decade. What a year!

A rally for and protest against President Donald Trump during his visit to Burnsville, Minnesota
A restored prairie in southern Scott County, Minnesota
Wacipi with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Minnesota
Minneapolis Open Streets on Lyndale Avenue (same for the next photo)
Crown-tipped coral fungus, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Grizzly Falls, Kings Canyon National Park
Sequoia National Park

Thanks, as always, for looking. A happy new year to you.

On the clock

_MG_9726For the first time in five years, I consistently get to take photos for my job. It feels great.

I started more than six weeks ago leading two weekly newspapers in the Twin Cities suburbs: the Prior Lake American and Savage Pacer. It’s a relatively small operation that nonetheless takes a lot of work. I oversee two reporters and help get their work into the best shape possible, I work with other editors and reporters at six other weeklies that are part of the same company, I edit everything that goes in mine and work with designers to decide where it all goes in my papers. And I also get to report and photograph on my own. Above, for example, I watched a little CLIMB Theatre skit about nature and conservation at a Prior Lake elementary school last week. To understate, this is not a bad gig. Here’s a sample of some other things I’ve been up to.

A social and work skills day program for young adults with autism started up in Shakopee last month:

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Prior Lake High School is performing “Sister Act” as its fall musical this weekend:

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Local veterans spent all day Thursday sharing their stories and thoughts on their service with Prior Lake High School students (happy Veterans Day, by the way):

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A Shakopee establishment called Pablo’s was voted the best Mexican restaurant and restaurant overall in our coverage area, the southwest metro. I can’t say I’d mind taking a lot more food photos:

And I wrote a little outdoor feature all about the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which stretches over several miles of wetlands, streams and forests along the metro’s south. Look for that one, with some of these photos attached, this weekend:

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_MG_9989Stay warm out there, and thanks for looking.
Dan