If you’re in the Cleveland (North Dakota) area and you look north of the Interstate, your keen eye will spot an old brick silo sticking out of the water. I’ve photographed this before when the water is in its liquid state, but I think it’s a lot more photogenic when the water is hard.

During the summer months, those trees in the background are full of myriad species of birds. Some of them don’t care much for visitors. On a day like this one, however, the skies were mine. So I flew over from the edge of the ice and investigated.

This angle showcases the ice as well as the silo itself. I love color and geometry, and it was a thrill to discover both in this shot.

Next thing I know, I’m down by Oakes. Yeah, that Oakes. I drove by The Angry Beaver, grabbed some snacks at the c-store, and checked out some gravel roads in the area. I didn’t expect to come over the hill and find this old barn. Pretty spectacular.

Barn, tree, blue sky, field of ice…it’s got it all. And this was a total surprise. It’s why I love roaming back roads and section lines, something I hope to do much more in 2026. When I do, I’ll share here.

One thing I’m doing now: adding alt tags to my images. It’s something I should have been doing all along, but I’m finally adopting in 2026. I don’t have the time or resources to work backwards, but a guy’s gotta start somewhere! Just like planting a tree, the best time to start captioning your images for the visually impaired is 25 years ago, and the second best time is today.