coaxing clouds

Image captured hand-held 9/17/11, 4:28pm • Canon 5D, Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM • 24mm, ISO 100, 1/160sec at f/14 • minor adjustments in Adobe Lightroom 2, photomerge of 7 images in Photoshop CS4

Image captured hand-held 9/17/11, 6:49pm • Canon 5D, Canon EF28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM • 32mm, ISO 100, 1/200sec at f/9 • adjustments in Adobe Lightroom 2

Last weekend, Chad and I got to spend an extended weekend up in Chippewa Falls (northern Wisconsin) with a couple of our best friends and their family. We make a point to visit at least once a year to take in the festivals, scenery, and delicious food. It's always a wonderful getaway and feels like a mini-vacation. 

This year was no exception. It was relaxing. It was gorgeous. Fall was in the air. The leaves hadn't quite started to change color yet, but there were areas where the tips of leaves were leaning that way.

After the boys returned from fishing on Saturday morning, we all decided to head out to the gun range in the afternoon. (I do enjoy shooting with more than just cameras...)

Although it was a bit chilly, the sun was shining and the clouds were picturesque. They were just hanging there in the sky all puffy-like, coaxing us to reach out and grab them.

Later in the evening, the early effects of the setting sun were captivating as well. Oh, beautiful nature, how I have missed you...