Robin,

This was a great shoot.  Thanks for your help with settings.  Here are is a before and after pictures regarding help with settings on my camera.  I have learned so much going on these shoots with Robin. 

Thank you. 
Danny



before help



after help

Notice that the background is busier and the vine isn't the focus like I wanted.  After Robin suggested some setting changes the picture on the right is the outcome. 


Springbrook Nature Center - Initial Peek

Danny and I headed out again today.  Our destination: Springbrook Nature Center.  This 127 acre park is located in the north part of Fridley, MN.  We had a time crunch and couldn't stay too long.  We DID have enough time to determine this park needs a deeper look.  Many of the paths are still covered with snow.  High temperatures forecast over the next few days will resolve that issue.  The recent snow melted and refroze, clinging to trees and dried weeds as ice. 

This park has several hiking trails that cover a variety of habitats.  

Some of the trails have floating bridges.  We saw some smaller woodpeckers, crows, and some type of hawk while walking the Prairie Hiking Trail.  

Have fun exploring!

Danny and Robin

Swede Hallow Park

Saturday, December 28, 2013 we started photo-investigating the first park on our list.  Swede Hollow park is located in St. Paul. (Click on link to see map.)

                                    

Phalen creek runs through the middle of the park area we explored.  To the north the old Hamm's Brewery buildings can be seen.  

Many of the buildings are abandoned now and disrepair.  It it believed that sometimes in the desperate cold, homeless may take shelter there.  Danny warned me not walk the park alone.

The valley is well below street level.  At 11:00 a.m. there were still shadows in the valley.  

Some of the dried weeds untouched by the sun still had frost.


We didn't see a lot of traffic in the park.  There were a few runners and a couple walking their dog.  We found a number of birds and Danny spotted a hawk.

This park wasn't always a park.  It was originally home for a Swedish immigrant community.  The terrain with its natural isolation from the rest of the world felt like home to many who lived there.

Up the eastern side of the ravine, is one of the park entrances.  It once was the site of the Hamm mansion.  I would discourage taking the steps from there to get to the bottom.  The steps are quit icy right now.

This pillar is the what remains of that mansion.

Though the mansion and factory are diminished, the Hamm spirit in the neighborhood remains.  

Have fun exploring!

Robin and Danny





Informational links:
History
Friends of Swede Hallow
Art in the Hallow
MINNPOST article
Wikipedia

Introductions

Hi, I'm Robin Clifton and together with my friend Danny Britts-Osterlund we've started photo-exploring some of the lesser known public park treasures in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

<insert photo of the two of us here>

Danny is more of the Sherlock - she has already scouted ahead and discovered many of these gems.  And, I'm more of the Watson - documenting finds in this diary.

Thanks for joining in our adventures!

Robin Clifton