Elevated

Elevated, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Grand Canyon Miniature

Grand Canyon Miniature , originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Oak Encampment

Oak Encampment, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Open grown oaks standing tall atop the Pheasant Branch Encampment.

Gibraltar Rock Panorama

Gibraltar Rock Panorama, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

A roughly 180-degree panoramic, with myself on the far-right cliff for scale!

Bokeh Variations

Bokeh Variations, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Grand Teton: Cascade Canyon

Grand Teton: Cascade Canyon, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Livelihood

Livelihood, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Gibraltar Rock SNA, Columbia County, WI

Character

Character, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Sunset Clearing

Sunset Clearing, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Shot within the Olson Oak Woods State Natural Area, Southern Wisconsin.

South Bluff State Natural Area Pano

South Bluff Panorama 2, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Natural Oscillations

Natural Oscillations, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Natural Highlights

Natural Highlights, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Pewits Nest State Natural Area

Pewits Nest State Natural Area, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

"The dominant feature at Pewits Nest is a 30- to 40-foot deep gorge formed during the retreat of the last glacier. Associated with it are Skillet Creek, shaded cliffs, and a northern dry-mesic forest. When Glacial Lake Baraboo drained, Skillet Creek cut a narrow canyon through the Cambrian sandstone, forming a series of potholes and waterfalls. The layers of Cambrian sandstone show that a finer-grained sediment was laid down by the Cambrian seas "inside" the syncline, a process different from that at Parfrey's Glen where coarser Cambrian conglomerates and sandstones are found in layers. Skillet Creek has a gradient of 38 feet/mile and an average flow of 0.8 cfs. Forest cover includes red cedar, white pine, hemlock, and yellow birch." -Wisc. DNR

Autumnal Sunset

Autumnal Sunset, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

360-degree Forest Panorama

360-degree Forest Panorama, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

This one turned out really cool. It's a series of eight or ten HDR shots in the Gotham pine forest. When viewed full-size (about 60 megapixles) this is especially cool, or in an interactive Quicktime VR file. Shoot me a message or email if you want to check this out, and I'll send over the 2MB Quicktime file.

Gotham Jack Pine Barrens State Natural Area; Gotham, WI

Saggy Orchard

Saggy Orchard, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

The Ski-Hi apple orchard and distant Wisconsin topography of Sauk County, Wisconsin.

Pleasant Valley Sunset

Sundown Atop The Bluff, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Located in the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin, Pleasant Valley Conservancy sits on a long narrow ridge that runs almost due east/west, with steep hillsides facing both north and south. The site contains a nearly complete range of southern Wisconsin natural community types including oak woodland, oak savanna, dry and wet prairie, sedge meadow, shrub-carr, open marsh, and spring complex. The steep south-facing ridge supports several prairie remnants, which are now thriving after intensive management began in 1995. The oak savannas, primarily on the ridge top, contain numerous large, open-grown bur and white oaks with many being over 150 years old. The savanna supports numerous grass, sedge, and forb species including the state-endangered purple milkweed, which re-appeared after restoration and prescribed burning began. The cooler north-facing slope is predominantly oak woodland with red oak, basswood, hackberry, butternut, yellowbud hickory, and red maple. The savanna and oak woodland support a diversity of bird species which include the red-headed woodpecker, a declining bird species of conservation concern. Other birds include blue-gray gnatcatcher, eastern wood pewee, tufted titmouse, eastern bluebird, yellow-throated vireo, scarlet tanager, black-billed cuckoo, and yellow-billed cuckoo. Also present is the spring-fed Pleasant Valley Creek, which flows through the wetland and into East Blue Mounds Creek. Pleasant Valley Conservancy is owned in part by The Prairie Enthusiasts and by Tom and Kathie Brock with management support from the Savanna Oak Foundation, Inc.. It was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.

Derived from dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/sna/sna551.htm

Spurt!

Spurt!, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

On The Edge

On The Edge, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Ready for Launch

Ready for Launch, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Devil's Doorway Spectrum

Devil's Doorway Spectrum, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Devil's Doorway, Devil's Lake State Park.

The colors of autumn.

Shoreline Islands

Shoreline Islands, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

A dynamic sky looms above a shoreline island of Lake Superior.

The North Woods

Bass Lake - Cable, WI, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Superior Shore Grass

Shore Grass, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

A lone boulder sits on the edge of this billion year-old basalt cliff - deposited here by glaciers during the last ice-age. Robust grasses grow alone so close to the waters edge, as this particular area lacks soil and nutrients to support larger plants. Any soil which does accumulate is lost to the effects of water and ice during harsh periods of storm and wave action along the shore.

Superior Shoreline

Purple Skies, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

One-billion year old lava flows from the expansion of the Superior basin still reside in their basaltic form along the northern shore of Lake Superior.

Taken at Gooseberry Fall's State Park in Minnesota over Labor Day 2008.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

"Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is a Minnesota state park on the north shore of Lake Superior. It is best known for the picturesque Split Rock Lighthouse, which was built by the United States Lighthouse Service in 1910. The lighthouse and some adjacent buildings have been restored and the Minnesota Historical Society operates them as a museum. The park also offers scenic hiking, cross-country skiing, and bike trails. There is also a small campground with 22 cart-in tent sites (no vehicle access)." - Wikipedia

Golden Pines

Golden Pines, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

The August sun breaks through a thick stand of pine tree's along the shoreline of this dried up post-glacial lake - Steinke Basin.

Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower National Monument, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

"Geologists agree that the igneous material intruded and then cooled as phonolite porphyry, a light to dark-gray or greenish-gray igneous trachyte rock with conspicuous crystals of white feldspar. As the lava cooled, hexagonal (and sometimes 4-, 5-, and 7-sided) columns formed. As the rock continued to cool, the vertical columns shrank horizontally in volume and cracks began to occur at 120 degree angles, generally forming compact 6-sided columns. Superficially similar, but with typically 2 feet (0.61 m) diameter columns, Devils Postpile National Monument and Giant's Causeway are columnar basalt." -Wikipedia

Death Canyon: Teton National Park

Death Canyon: Teton National Park, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Following the trail into Death Canyon on a cold and sleeting afternoon. Massive U-shaped valleys such as this one (and most others in the Tetons) were carved by glaciers during past ice-ages.

Moss Covered Canyon Walls

Moss Covered Canyon Walls, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Taken at the flood damaged canyon of Parfrey's Glen.
Full set: http://flickr.com/photos/crisp_air/sets/72157606728548586/

Portrait Amongst The Corn

Portrait Amongst The Corn, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Your's truly at Indian Lake County Park, Dane County, Wisconsin.

Mammatus Lake Cover

Mammatus Lake Cover v.2, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

A spectacular view across Yellowstone Lake under cover of thick mammatus clouds. Mount Chittenden is visible miles away under the rainbow and cast in the suns final light.

Jenny Lake: Inspiration Point

Jenny Lake: Inspiration Point, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon

Jenny Lake: Grand Teton National Park

Jenny Lake: Grand Teton National Park, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Badlands National Park: South Dakota

Day 2: Fire-Orange Sunset, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Please visit this set at the link below, which covers a road trip and camping in and through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Devil's Tower National Monument, Cascade and Death Canyons, Big Horn Mountains, and more!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crisp_air/sets/72157606036642501/

Northwoods Reflections

Northwoods Reflections, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Shot at sundown on a spring fed lake in northern Wisconsin.

Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

"The canyon below the Lower Yellowstone Falls was at one time the site of a geyser basin that was the result of rhyolite lava flows, extensive faulting, and heat beneath the surface (related to the hot spot). No one is sure exactly when the geyser basin was formed in the area, although it was probably present at the time of the last glaciation. The chemical and heat action of the geyser basin caused the rhyolite rock to become hydrothermally altered, making it very soft and brittle and more easily erodible (sometimes likened to baking a potato). Evidence of this thermal activity still exists in the canyon in the form of geysers and hot springs that are still active and visible. The Clear Lake area, which is fed by hot springs, south of the canyon is probably also a remnant of this activity. According to Ken Pierce, U.S. Geological Survey geologist, at the end of the last glacial period, about 14,000 to 18,000 years ago, ice dams formed at the mouth of Yellowstone Lake. When the ice dams melted, a great volume of water was released downstream causing massive flash floods and immediate and catastrophic erosion of the present-day canyon. These flash floods probably happened more than once. The canyon is a classic V-shaped valley, indicative of river-type erosion rather than glaciation. Today the canyon is still being eroded by the Yellowstone River." -Wikipedia

Pheasant Branch Nature Conservancy

Pheasant Branch Nature Conservancy, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

A quick snap on a bike ride around the Pheasant Branch Nature Conservancy on May 28, 2008

After the Rain

After the Rain, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

A blanket of fog rolled in following a surprise bout of afternoon rain showers.
-Chequamegon National Forest Region; Northwoods Wisconsin

Slim Pickin's

Slim Pickin's, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Two Canadian geese feeding on a breakwater pier in Milwaukee harbor.

Grand View

Grand View, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Looking West towards Devil's Lake on a perfect day from the The Ice Age Trail National Scenic Trail on the Eastern part of the Baraboo Range.

Countryside Rays

Countryside Rays, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Taken enroute to Governor Dodge State Park in the driftless zone of southern Wisconsin. Note the stands of three different tree species along the bottom of this shot.

This sunny Friday was particularly humid due to warm temperatures and excessive snow meltoff, which produced well contrasted rays of light beneath the clouds.

Stephens Falls

Stephens Falls, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Stephens Falls is one of the few natural waterfalls in Southern Wisconsin.

-Governor Dodge State Park

Helena Unit Lower Wisconsin State Riverway

Helena Unit Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Helena Unit Lower Wisconsin State Riverway viewed from the Shot Tower and Smelter House at Tower Hill State Park.

The Spring Green water tower is visible on the opposite side of the Wisconsin River on the left-hand side of this photo.

The hills visible in the distance mark the edge of the flat, ancient Wisconsin River floodplain which cut through the hills of the Driftless Zone over the span of several ice ages.

Light of Doom

Light of Doom, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

As the early-summer storm passed, the sky filled with an erie light.

Natures Cycle

Natures Cycle, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

We noticed this perfectly dead mouse after pausing on an overlook for water and to catch a breath. This is one of several different angles I took of the critter, trying to capture the depth of the bluffs beyond and the brilliant blue sky... I'm sure this guy became quick lunch for a crow, vulture, hawk or land carnivore.

Winter Tones

Winter Tones, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

The Baraboo Range

The Baraboo Range, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

The Baraboo Range consists of highly eroded precambrian metamorphic rock; and is about 25 miles long and varies from 5 to 10 miles in width.

The range is an example of a buried mountain range exposed through erosion, to once again undergo the forces of surface erosion. The rocks are as much as 1.6 billion years old, among the oldest exposed rocks in North America consisting mainly of pink Baraboo quartzite and red rhyolite.

The Wisconsin River, previously travelling in a north to south direction, turns to the east behind it before making its turn to the west towards the Upper Mississippi River. The eastern end of the range was glaciated during the Wisconsinian glaciation, while the western half was not, and consequently, marks the eastern boundary of Wisconsin's Driftless Area.

Positive Contrast

Quartzite Pillar, originally uploaded by jw_creations.

Bright fall foliage nicely contrasts this otherwise muted and foggy afternoon at Devil's Lake. A pilar of Baraboo purple quartzite towers nearly 500 feet above the lake's surface.