Aura

from flickr user lg06909
A stark and dark stage illuminated with a single, bright light would make for an odd photo but when you add in a piano player it's a very impressive photo. Taken in Excelsior, MN. I'd be interested in knowing who the performer is.

Honey queen

from flickr user moncrief speaks
The 2009 American Honey Queen at the Minnesota State Fair does not look too happy in this candid photo. Maybe she is bored already by the fourth day of the fair or maybe she has been listening to the gentleman in the photo drone on about the science behind honey bees for about five minutes too long. Whatever the case, this photo is a great candid capture.

3 (of 4) Sisters of the Sahara

from flickr user bwcabob1
Taken at the 2009 Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Sheep in a Truck

from flickr user smcgee
The photographer, shocked by the 3 PM closing time of the livestock barns at the Minnesota State Fair, still captures some rather unique photos of people moving their animals about the grounds including this sheep taking a ride in a truck and accidentally looking like a dog!

Schmidt brewery

from flickr user Mike Willaford
Sometimes the most weathered scenes make the best photos and this shot of the former Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul is fantastic and deserving of a historically-accurate makeover.

Wind farm

from flickr user imagination overdrive
An impressive wide-angle photo of an expansive wind farm in south-central Minnesota. Would love to know a more specific location and check it out next time I visit the area.

Check out my big hog

from flickr user katiebug455
Livestock is a constant at the Minnesota State Fair and this happy hog is soaking up all kinds of attention during the 2009 Minnesota State Fair.

A cow stomach

from flickr user peppercam
Yesterday was the first day of the Minnesota State Fair. It's the largest 12-day state fair in the country with average daily attendance of over 140,000. But back to this photo. A cow stomach. It looks to be well-preserved but there has to be an interesting story behind the photo because it's not every day you see a young lady strolling about the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair dutifully carrying a cow stomach.

White Hat, Shirt, Pants

from flickr user photo.klick
The Strange Players actors in Shakespear's "As You Like It" performed in Boom Island Park, Minneapolis, MN

Red Wave Challenge

from flickr user epmd
From the second edition of the Red Wave Challenge presented by Familia Skateshop. This event was held at the Red Stag Supper Club's Block Party.

Abandoned combine

from flickr user huskyhauler
The tree growing in the cab of this abandoned combine says it all. This piece of farm equipment has been parked here for quite some time. The machine's green paint would cause many to say that it has to be a John Deere but an expert like my dad could probably tell me the make, model, horsepower and year of manufacture. I can say that it has an aftermarket cab. Any guesses?

Shocking Lack of Undead at Zombie Den

from flickr user Bjorn1101
Aside from screen-printed blood-spatters on the bouncer's kitchen shirts, Donny Dirk's Zombie Den didn't have much zombie action. People were relatively calm, well-behaved, and uninfected. The only thing that harkens back to this place's legacy as Stand-up Frank's is the sign above the bar: "Undead Frank Lives Here." At this themed bar assembled by the proprietor of Saint Sabrina's and Psyhco Suzi's Motor Lounge, you pay for the ambience—in higher drink prices, and, at least for us, waiting outside in line for a spell. The beer list is pretty solid, and the handful of powerful specialty drinks includes one labeled on the menu as "not recommended." The limited capacity means there is room for everyone to sit, plus or minus a few. There isn't much for food except for delivery from the kitchen at Psycho Suzi's, which can take a while.

Breathing fire

from flickr user bwcabob1
If it's late-summer in the Twin Cities area, it means that it's Minnesota Renaissance Festival time. The 2009 edition, taking place just south of Shakopee, opened this weekend and continues through the first weekend of October and I imagine that this fire breathing mad man will be there for the full six weekend run.

Kiss my grass

from flickr user Matt Alms
A very soothing silhouette photograph of two spears of foxtail (or some other sort of grass) as the sun sets on another summer weekend in Minnesota.

Travelers Sunset

from flickr user imagination overdrive
Westbound look of interstate 90 in southern MN during a July sunset

Some parts missing

from flickr user huskyhauler
In real estate-speak, this adandoned home would be classified as a fixer-upper, in need of TLC or a handyman's special. I'm sure there's an interesting story behind every adandoned house and this one is no exception. If you're feeling creative, write a brief history of this home in the comments.

Insects with attitude

from flickr user MJIphotos
If any insect had a personality, I would say it is the male leafcutter bee. Not only do they look unusual with green eyes and furry heads and front legs, but they are aggressive little bugs too. He will pick a group of flowers he likes and chase off all other bees. If a female lands in his spot, then he tries to drop down on her ungracefully...

Twin Cities tornado damage

from flickr user reslbear1
I like a good midwestern storm but on the flip side there's the damage they cause. That's the part I hate. And apparently with this afternoon's rather unexpected wave of severe storms and even tornadoes rolling through the Twin Cities there is plenty of damage to be had. This photo has little to no indication of its location but for argument's sake I'll say that it is Minneapolis and the photographer billed the damage as being caused by a "mini-tornado".

See a full set of storm photos here

And a photo of the actual tornado crossing I-35W here

Cow barn

from flickr user Shotbox
You know it's fair time when a photographer captures a 4-H'er snoozing in the same stall as their prize-winning Holstein. This comes from the Goodhue County fair in Zumbrota, MN.

Country roads...

from flickr user imagination overloard
I am totally digging the rural scenery people have been photographing lately. This is another one from the Albert Lea, MN area and I think it's a frontage road along Interstate 35 (north of the city?). If anyone can say for sure, let me know.

Albert Lea Lake reflections

from flickr user imagination overdrive
A cool photo of Albert Lea Lake (east of Albert Lea proper) with the Interstate 35 bridge (I believe) in the distance. If my memory isn't too terrible, this seems like it was taken from the lake's eastern shore.

Tunnel of gold

from flickr user Sri Dhanush
This is the light rail station at the MSP airport Lindbergh terminal. I love the lighting at this place and finally got a chance to take some shots at around 11 in the night when i was returning from a trip.

Goodyear Blimp over Chaska

from flickr user trypnotic
The Goodyear blimp flies over Chaska, MN during the 91st PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. I saw this blim from a bit of a distance on U.S> Hwy. 169 last night and saw a cool story on WCCO-TV last night featuring the Met Life blimp. Does that mean that there are two blimps over Chaska this week?

Farming in the heartland

from flickr user dan mueller20
The photographer says: Barb wire fences to protect the fields, barn red and wheat growing in northern Minnesota.

Sun Flower

from flickr user -Chad Johnson
This photo of a wildflower in full bloom, when combined with the sunset, makes me realize just how close we are to autumn in Minnesota.

PGA Championship - Garcia & Goosen

from flickr user Diario El TIEMPO
PGA players Sergio Garcia and Retief Goosen sign autographs during Wednesday's practice round at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, MN during the 91st PGA Championship. TV Coverage runs through Sunday with weekend coverage on CBS.

PGA Championship - Davis Love III

from flickr user Diario EL TIEMPO
PGA golfer Davis Love III hits out of a bunker on the 8th hole at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, MN during Wednesday, August 12th's practice round for the 91st PGA Championship. The first round of play is happening today with the final round wrapping up Sunday with coverage locally on WCCO-TV.

PGA Championship - Chaska

from flickr user Ben and Laura
Big crowds in the stands on the 18th hole during Monday, August 10th's practice rounds at Hazeltine Golf Club in Chaska, MN.

Wheat Field At Sunset

from flickr user glness
A wheat field reveals its color and texture to the last rays of a setting sun. Rural Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Jul 20, 2009.

Summer Food

from flickr user sfPhotocraft
The look on this sweet corn lover's face is priceless. He looks a little like Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry as he glares through his squinted eyes peering over a nicely seasoned ear of sweet corn.

Birds of a feather

from flickr user bsorenson
A goose and a gull attempt to co-exist as they take a dip in Excelsior Bay on Lake Minnetonka.

Just skating by

from flickr user Jaron Roberts
A perfect silhouette of a skateboarder at the Albert Lea, MN skate park which is located (correct me if I'm wrong) to the south of the former location of the Farmstead Foods plant. This photo is how a silhouette should be done.

Take Me To The Clouds Above

from flickr user DigitalObserver
A striking sunset photo taken in Rochester, MN along the shores of the Zumbro River.

Number four takes an early lead

from flickr user theDancingLlama
Number four takes an early lead during the first race of the Aug. 8th races at Canterbury Park. Taken during the Canterbury Photowalk

Saturday's storm front

from flickr user William Van der Hagen
About to roll over the lake (Lake Minnetonka?) - very neat cloud form. This is another perspective of Saturday's line of storms which spawned a tornado near Independence, MN.

Tornadic thunderstorm

from flickr user harpomarx1
A photo of the towering thunderstorm near Independence, MN (western Hennepin County) which spawned a small yet destructive tornado early Saturday evening. The line of storms stayed in the greater Twin Cities area until close to midnight as it caused yet more destruction in eastern Wisconsin.

Central Ave bridge

from flickr user Sri Dhanush
You can see the central Ave bridge to the right of the frame.

Fireworks at Annandale

from flickr user Broken Sparrow
Fireworks. 'Nuff said. Nice work capturing the rocket's red glare. Reminds me that I need to work on my fireworks photography as this year's batch was rather disappointing.

Docked again

from flickr user sopheava
The perspective of this boat on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis makes the photo truly great.

Harness Horse Racing

from flickr user onesecondtoolate
Wow. I can't figure out if it's the color, the subject or the photographer's admission that this was the first attempt at panning but something about this photo just blows me away.

Candid with a Canon

from flickr user lg06909
The photographer says: My friend just got her new canon. She loves it, so I just snapped a few of her messing around with it.

The sun pouring on to the subject just works for this photo. Nicely composed candid photograph.

Schmidt's Brewery, St. Paul, Minnesota

from flickr user eleatherberry
The castle like portion of the brewery, replete with crenelated battlement and round arch windows, was built in 1881. Such a design was used to present an image of strength and standing in the community.

Lightning Storm in the Clouds

from flickr user Broken Sparrow
An awesome photo from Sunday night's rather unexpected storms which swept across the southern half of Minnesota leaving baseball sized hail in Renville County and puddles in the Twin Cities metro. I was in bed when the storms rolled through my neighborhood but I wish I could have seen the sky filled with lightning.

Redwood County Fair

from flickr user Willian Van der Hagen
Again with Redwood Falls but this photo is from the Redwood County Fair. A perfect night photo of the rides of the midway. The streaks of light definitely make up for the shadiness of the carnies and the creaking and groaning of the rides.

Ramsey Falls

from flickr user William Van der Hagen
This spectacular photo was taken outside of Redwood Falls, MN. The subject is the majestic Ramsey Falls at sunset. The rural are of Redwood Falls welcomes Farmfest 2009 to the Gilfillan Estate tomorrow through Thursday. I will 'fess up to attending once during its run in Lake Crystal, MN and twice when it called Austin, MN home.

S'mores cupcakes

from flickr user massdistraction
Yes, these are s'mores cupcakes and they look delicious. The marshmallows are toasted with the aid of a tiny blowtorch. Unfortunately, they may also be fit to be featured on thisiswhyyourefat.com because the tastiest things are also usually the least healthy.