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Paul Lindquist Photography
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Synchronized Skating
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Paul Lindquist Photography
Home
About
Performance
Synchronized Skating
Nature Fine Art Prints
Blog
Contact
Home
About
Performance
Synchronized Skating
Nature Fine Art Prints
Blog
Contact
Close-up of a bald eagle with white head and yellow beak, partially visible with focus on the head and eye, against a blurred green background. View fullsize
A hummingbird with gray and white feathers feeding from a tubular orange flower on a green plant with multiple blossoms, against a blurred green background. View fullsize
Who Me copy 13.jpg View fullsize
A bird of prey, likely a hawk or similar species, flying in a clear blue sky. View fullsize
A small yellow bird with black markings on its wings, perched among green foliage, looking upwards. View fullsize
DSC06671 copy 2.jpg View fullsize
Bald Eagle 3~2 copy.jpg View fullsize
A bird with speckled white and brown feathers, singing or calling with its beak open while perched on a dark tree branch against a blurred green background. View fullsize
A heron standing in water with a fish in its beak. View fullsize
A pelican standing on rocks in the water with two smaller seagulls nearby, against a blurred background of water and sky. View fullsize
Close-up of a gosling sitting among green grass and clovers with yellow flowers, with a blurred green background. View fullsize
A colorful bird with blue and brown feathers is perched on a branch, with its wings partially extended against a blurred yellow background. View fullsize
A bright blue bird perched on a thin branch with green leaves, set against a blurred green background. View fullsize
A young deer with large ears and a graceful neck standing amidst tall grass and autumn foliage. View fullsize
A small bird with brown and white feathers and dark streaks on its chest, perched among bright yellow flowers, singing with its mouth open in a natural outdoor setting. View fullsize
A bird with black and white feathers perched on a leafy branch against a green background. View fullsize
A duck swimming on water, with its reflection visible. View fullsize
A group of white pelicans gathered on a nest near water, with some feeding or preening. View fullsize
A woodpecker with black, yellow, and red feathers on a tree trunk with a blurred green background. View fullsize
An osprey flying with a fish in its talons against a dark green, bokeh background. View fullsize
A colorful bird with blue head, orange chest, and white underside perched on a tree branch with a blurred green background. View fullsize
Close-up of a dragonfly perched on a thin plant stem with a blurred dark background. View fullsize
A bald eagle perched on a tree branch against a blue sky with white clouds. View fullsize
A woodpecker with black and white barred feathers, a white face, and a red patch on the back of its head, clinging to the bark of a tree. View fullsize
A vivid blue bird perched on a branch among green leaves in a natural setting. View fullsize
A colorful bird with dark brown and blue feathers perched on a tree branch in a lush green forest. View fullsize
Close-up of a bald eagle sitting in a nest among tree branches with green leaves and a blue sky in the background. View fullsize
A hummingbird flying with its wings spread wide, set against a blurred green background. View fullsize
A bird with a long, curved beak standing on a log near water with green foliage in the background. View fullsize
A Belted Kingfisher perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves. View fullsize
Close-up of a blue bird perched on a branch with green leaves, green blurred background. View fullsize
A bird perched on a branch with its wings partially spread against a blurred natural background. View fullsize
A hummingbird with green and white feathers drinking nectar from purple flowers against a blurred green background. View fullsize
A close-up side profile of a heron bird with a blue sky background. View fullsize
A red-headed woodpecker perched on a tree branch against a blurred green background. View fullsize
Close-up of a squirrel with brown and gray fur, perched on a green leaf and holding a small yellow object. View fullsize
American bald eagle perched on a branch amidst green foliage. View fullsize
A pelican standing on a rocky surface near water, with a blurred background of water and sky. View fullsize
A group of herons, including juvenile and adult, standing among green grass and plants in a wetland area. View fullsize
A blue bird perched on beige grass-like plants with a green background. View fullsize
A group of five white pelicans with long orange beaks and yellow eyes standing on rocks near water, with some green plants in the background and reflections in the water. View fullsize
A woodpecker with red head, black and white barred body, is perched on a tree branch with small clusters of berries, against a blurred blue sky background. View fullsize
A close-up of a duck with an fluffy orange crest on its head, yellow eyes, and brown and black feathers, swimming in water. View fullsize
A bird perched on a branch holding a fish in its beak, with green leaves in the background. View fullsize
A bird perched on a tree branch surrounded by green foliage with a blurred green background. View fullsize
A white bird with a black head and orange bill flying against a pale blue sky, holding a fish in its beak. View fullsize
Two bald eagles perched on a gnarled tree branch, with a blurred forest background. View fullsize
A small yellow-green bird perched on a thin, horizontal tree branch in a blurred green background. View fullsize
A white heron with a long yellow beak perched on a twisted tree branch against a blurred background of green and blue foliage. View fullsize
A small bird with blue and orange feathers perched on a thin branch against a clear blue sky background. View fullsize
DSCN9718 copy.jpg View fullsize
A bird with brown and white plumage perched on a branch in front of a blurred yellow-green background. View fullsize
A bird with a distinctive orange crest on its head and yellow eyes, stretching its wings while floating on water. View fullsize
A bird with a yellow beak and dark feathers perched on a tree branch with green leaves, blurred background of trees and sky. View fullsize
A hawk perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves and white tree trunks in a forest setting. View fullsize
A bird, possibly a tern, perched on a broken tree branch with one wing partially extended, against a blurred blue and green background. View fullsize
A small green and yellow bird perched on a thin branch against a blurred green and yellow background. View fullsize
A white heron standing on a tree branch against a background of a blue sky with clouds. View fullsize
A bird perched on a green leafy branch, with brown and black plumage and a yellow tip on its tail, set against a blurred green background. View fullsize
Close-up of a baby duckling with yellow fluffy feathers, black eyes, and a black beak, surrounded by green grass. View fullsize
A small bird with brown and white streaked feathers is perched on a branch of a plant with developing blue and green seed pods. The background is a soft, out-of-focus green. View fullsize
A hummingbird with green and red feathers hovering near a pink and yellow flower by a body of water. View fullsize
_A1_01911 copy 2.jpg View fullsize
A woodpecker perched on a tree branch with blurred green foliage in the background. View fullsize
Five sandhill cranes flying in formation against a blue sky with some clouds. View fullsize
A brown and white bird standing in shallow water near a muddy shoreline, with its reflection visible in the water. View fullsize
A woodpecker with black and white feathers and a splash of red on its head clings to the side of a tree trunk, peering upward. View fullsize
A woodpecker perched on the side of a tree, pecking at the bark with a nut in its beak. The background is blurred with autumn foliage. View fullsize
Several turtles sunbathing and climbing on a submerged fallen tree branch in a body of water. View fullsize
A colorful hummingbird with a green head, red throat, and black and white body perched on a thin branch among lush green leaves. View fullsize
_A1_0550 copy.jpg View fullsize
DSC03676 copy.jpg View fullsize
Close-up of a bald eagle with white head and yellow beak, partially visible with focus on the head and eye, against a blurred green background.
A hummingbird with gray and white feathers feeding from a tubular orange flower on a green plant with multiple blossoms, against a blurred green background.
Who Me copy 13.jpg
A bird of prey, likely a hawk or similar species, flying in a clear blue sky.
A small yellow bird with black markings on its wings, perched among green foliage, looking upwards.
DSC06671 copy 2.jpg
Bald Eagle 3~2 copy.jpg
A bird with speckled white and brown feathers, singing or calling with its beak open while perched on a dark tree branch against a blurred green background.
A heron standing in water with a fish in its beak.
A pelican standing on rocks in the water with two smaller seagulls nearby, against a blurred background of water and sky.
Close-up of a gosling sitting among green grass and clovers with yellow flowers, with a blurred green background.
A colorful bird with blue and brown feathers is perched on a branch, with its wings partially extended against a blurred yellow background.
A bright blue bird perched on a thin branch with green leaves, set against a blurred green background.
A young deer with large ears and a graceful neck standing amidst tall grass and autumn foliage.
A small bird with brown and white feathers and dark streaks on its chest, perched among bright yellow flowers, singing with its mouth open in a natural outdoor setting.
A bird with black and white feathers perched on a leafy branch against a green background.
A duck swimming on water, with its reflection visible.
A group of white pelicans gathered on a nest near water, with some feeding or preening.
A woodpecker with black, yellow, and red feathers on a tree trunk with a blurred green background.
An osprey flying with a fish in its talons against a dark green, bokeh background.
A colorful bird with blue head, orange chest, and white underside perched on a tree branch with a blurred green background.
Close-up of a dragonfly perched on a thin plant stem with a blurred dark background.
A bald eagle perched on a tree branch against a blue sky with white clouds.
A woodpecker with black and white barred feathers, a white face, and a red patch on the back of its head, clinging to the bark of a tree.
A vivid blue bird perched on a branch among green leaves in a natural setting.
A colorful bird with dark brown and blue feathers perched on a tree branch in a lush green forest.
Close-up of a bald eagle sitting in a nest among tree branches with green leaves and a blue sky in the background.
A hummingbird flying with its wings spread wide, set against a blurred green background.
A bird with a long, curved beak standing on a log near water with green foliage in the background.
A Belted Kingfisher perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.
Close-up of a blue bird perched on a branch with green leaves, green blurred background.
A bird perched on a branch with its wings partially spread against a blurred natural background.
A hummingbird with green and white feathers drinking nectar from purple flowers against a blurred green background.
A close-up side profile of a heron bird with a blue sky background.
A red-headed woodpecker perched on a tree branch against a blurred green background.
Close-up of a squirrel with brown and gray fur, perched on a green leaf and holding a small yellow object.
American bald eagle perched on a branch amidst green foliage.
A pelican standing on a rocky surface near water, with a blurred background of water and sky.
A group of herons, including juvenile and adult, standing among green grass and plants in a wetland area.
A blue bird perched on beige grass-like plants with a green background.
A group of five white pelicans with long orange beaks and yellow eyes standing on rocks near water, with some green plants in the background and reflections in the water.
A woodpecker with red head, black and white barred body, is perched on a tree branch with small clusters of berries, against a blurred blue sky background.
A close-up of a duck with an fluffy orange crest on its head, yellow eyes, and brown and black feathers, swimming in water.
A bird perched on a branch holding a fish in its beak, with green leaves in the background.
A bird perched on a tree branch surrounded by green foliage with a blurred green background.
A white bird with a black head and orange bill flying against a pale blue sky, holding a fish in its beak.
Two bald eagles perched on a gnarled tree branch, with a blurred forest background.
A small yellow-green bird perched on a thin, horizontal tree branch in a blurred green background.
A white heron with a long yellow beak perched on a twisted tree branch against a blurred background of green and blue foliage.
A small bird with blue and orange feathers perched on a thin branch against a clear blue sky background.
DSCN9718 copy.jpg
A bird with brown and white plumage perched on a branch in front of a blurred yellow-green background.
A bird with a distinctive orange crest on its head and yellow eyes, stretching its wings while floating on water.
A bird with a yellow beak and dark feathers perched on a tree branch with green leaves, blurred background of trees and sky.
A hawk perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves and white tree trunks in a forest setting.
A bird, possibly a tern, perched on a broken tree branch with one wing partially extended, against a blurred blue and green background.
A small green and yellow bird perched on a thin branch against a blurred green and yellow background.
A white heron standing on a tree branch against a background of a blue sky with clouds.
A bird perched on a green leafy branch, with brown and black plumage and a yellow tip on its tail, set against a blurred green background.
Close-up of a baby duckling with yellow fluffy feathers, black eyes, and a black beak, surrounded by green grass.
A small bird with brown and white streaked feathers is perched on a branch of a plant with developing blue and green seed pods. The background is a soft, out-of-focus green.
A hummingbird with green and red feathers hovering near a pink and yellow flower by a body of water.
_A1_01911 copy 2.jpg
A woodpecker perched on a tree branch with blurred green foliage in the background.
Five sandhill cranes flying in formation against a blue sky with some clouds.
A brown and white bird standing in shallow water near a muddy shoreline, with its reflection visible in the water.
A woodpecker with black and white feathers and a splash of red on its head clings to the side of a tree trunk, peering upward.
A woodpecker perched on the side of a tree, pecking at the bark with a nut in its beak. The background is blurred with autumn foliage.
Several turtles sunbathing and climbing on a submerged fallen tree branch in a body of water.
A colorful hummingbird with a green head, red throat, and black and white body perched on a thin branch among lush green leaves.
_A1_0550 copy.jpg
DSC03676 copy.jpg

The lake rarely stays quiet for long on a holiday weekend.

Jet skis carved across the open water, throwing spray into the sunlight and occasionally leaving the surface altogether. From a photographer's perspective, they offered exactly what I look for in action photography: speed, unpredictability and moments that disappear almost as quickly as the shutter can capture them.

Not every moment was quite so intense.

Some were simply about being on the water.

The activity around Minocqua is part of what gives the area its summertime personality. Boats pass in nearly every direction, paddlers work in unison, and people find seemingly endless ways to enjoy the lake.

And apparently, some passengers insist on having the best seat in the boat.

But one of my favorite things about photographing Minocqua is how quickly the character of the lake can change.

Move away from the engines and wakes, slow down, and another world begins to appear.

Sometimes that world is very small.

This little duckling wasn't doing anything particularly dramatic. It was simply paddling along, surrounded by gentle ripples. But through a long lens at water level, the tiny droplets caught in its down, the fine hairs around its head and the expression in its eye turned an ordinary encounter into one of those wonderfully quiet moments that are easy to overlook.

The same is true along the shoreline. Wildlife doesn't always announce itself. Sometimes it is perched on a rope only a few inches long.

Sometimes it is watching you just as carefully as you are watching it.

And sometimes, you hear it before you see it.

Few sounds belong to the Northwoods quite like the call of a loon.

Seeing one is always special. Finding a pair together on calm water is something else entirely.

Whispers on the Water

There was something wonderfully peaceful about watching these two together. Against the warm reflections on the lake, the moment felt almost completely removed from the activity taking place elsewhere on the water.

It became one of my favorite photographs from the trip—not because anything dramatic was happening, but because nothing needed to.

Of course, Minocqua's skies offered a very different kind of wildlife encounter.

Bald eagles were frequent visitors, and photographing them gave me some of the most memorable moments of the weekend.

There is something extraordinary about watching an eagle leave its perch and suddenly become almost effortless in flight.

With its wings lowered and body streamlined against the soft green Northwoods background, this eagle seemed to glide almost silently through the frame.

The slightly open beak and intensely focused eye gave the photograph a personality I didn't fully appreciate until I began working on the image later.

But occasionally, everything comes together—the light, the background, the position of the bird and a fraction of a second that could never be recreated.

Into the Turn

This was one of those moments.

The eagle rolled into its turn with its wings extended, revealing the extraordinary structure of the feathers while maintaining that unmistakable intensity in its eye.

And then came my favorite encounter of the weekend.

Breaking the Surface

This photograph almost didn't become what it eventually became.

When I first looked through the images, I wasn't convinced this frame was particularly special. But the more I worked with it, the more I began to recognize what had happened in that fraction of a second.

The eagle was at the surface of the lake, wings spread nearly from one side of the frame to the other, talons meeting the water as the splash erupted beneath it. Even the broken reflection became part of the composition.

What initially seemed like an image I might pass over eventually became one of my favorite eagle photographs I have ever made.

Photography occasionally gives you that surprise.

The photograph isn't always finished when you press the shutter.

The eagles weren't the only raptors overhead.

This osprey launched from the surrounding pines and passed through a natural opening in the branches. I initially considered removing much of the tree from the photograph, but eventually realized the pines were precisely what gave the image its sense of place.

Without them, it was an osprey against a blue sky.

With them, it was unmistakably the Northwoods.

And perhaps that is what I enjoy most about photographing Minocqua.

The spectacular moments are wonderful. An eagle hitting the water or an osprey launching from a pine tree can make an entire morning worthwhile.

But they aren't the whole story.

The story is also a duckling quietly making ripples across the water. A loon calling somewhere beyond the shoreline. A boat passing in the distance. Kids bouncing across a wake. The sound of a jet ski disappearing around the bend.

And on the Fourth of July, eventually, the sky itself becomes part of the show.

For a few minutes, flashes of light reflected across the lake and the quiet Northwoods sky became something completely different.

Then the fireworks ended.

The reflections disappeared.

And the lake became a lake again.

Until morning.