Bryan Hansel

I do landscape photography professionally, and I teach photography workshops.

I also enjoy:
Freelance writing, urban sketching, haiku, hand-drawn maps, public speaking, kayak, canoe, bike, bikepack, backpack, xc ski & adventure. Slacker. Pro-wild rice.

Grand Marais, Minnesota, USA

Photography and Workshops: https://www.bryanhansel.com/
PaddlingLight: https://www.paddlinglight.com
Newsletter Substack: https://bryanhansel.substack.com/
Gravatar: https://gravatar.com/bryanrhansel

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bryanhansel_at_mstdn.social@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsvve9lpxv8neyv78dl9n3ky6s7ate4m7apymf0w77khwjyujucmvqpzfmhxue69uhk7enxvd5xz6tw9ec82csktfrlk

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Last Notes

2025-10-14 22:50:04 UTC

I laughed out loud when I saw this tent stake bag with a bloody graphic and "Vampire Killing Kit" printed on it. It really struck me in the heart and I couldn't resist its pull. Here's my short review. It was worth it!
https://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/halloween-inspired-tent-stake-bag/

2025-09-14 11:50:45 UTC

This simple lightweight pen hack is perfect for journaling when on lightweight backpacking, camping, canoeing or bikepacking trips. The hacked pen is small enough to fit inside a Moleskine.
https://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/lightweight-pen-hack-for-journaling/

2025-09-07 01:31:20 UTC

I got a chance to do a s24o with the Zpack Pivot Solo tent. It's really roomy inside. It wasn't hard to set up, but I had to fussy around to get a perfect pitch that made the bathtub floors work right. I assume I'll get faster the more I use it. As I expected, it had condensation on the walls (I was camped next to a lake on a moist night), but with the screen on the foot side, my sleeping bag's foot didn't get wet like in other shelters like this.
#camping #bikepacking #backpacking
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/160/412/452/699/927/original/f4d4a9491c3b4763.jpg

2025-09-05 20:00:33 UTC

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thanks!

2025-09-05 17:53:39 UTC

I'm looking for a rear rack for my bike to use for bikepacking. It'll need to use an axle mount. The goal is to carry the majority of my gear in two panniers. I've narrowed it down to either a Tailfin Pannier Rack or an Old Man Mountain Divide. The Tailfin is expensive and the Old Man Mountain one is heavy. So there's a tradeoff to be made.
Are there any racks that mount to axles that I'm missing? Any opinions on either of these racks or others?
#BikeTooter #Bicycle #bikepacking
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/152/955/465/775/737/original/09b9f736bd95a1d0.webp

2025-08-20 18:00:03 UTC

Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than discovering your down sleeping bag has lost all its insulation. Here are some reasons why and what you can do about it.
https://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/how-to-fix-empty-down-sleeping-bag-baffles-and-prevent-down-migration/

2025-08-14 15:52:53 UTC

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I hadn't heard that before. I'll have to listen when I'm using it to see if I have the same complaint. I don't notice any issues with my DCF tarp.
Does it have to do with flapping in the wind? Or what is the noise in relation to?

2025-08-14 15:50:55 UTC

I updated my Cumulus X-LITE 200 Sleeping Bag First Look with details about the down migration that I experienced after washing the sleeping bag.
I wonder if I should have kept the first look the same, and then having written a second blog post about the down migration. That might have been a better approach.
https://www.paddlinglight.com/reviews/cumulus-x-lite-200-sleeping-bag-first-look/

2025-08-06 20:04:07 UTC

After a saga of modern day delivery, I finally have a Cumulus X-LITE 200 Sleeping Bag. This is my first look.
https://www.paddlinglight.com/reviews/cumulus-x-lite-200-sleeping-bag-first-look/

2025-06-09 18:07:05 UTC

Earlier this year, Wild Rye sent over a few pieces from their new "When Wet" Collection for review. The pieces included the Parker Action Dress, Sawyer Sunshirt, and a Camp Towel. While I'm writing this review, it was my wife that tested out the gear. The impressions section will be her thoughts.
https://www.paddlinglight.com/reviews/wild-ryes-new-when-wet-collection-review/

2025-03-17 02:53:02 UTC

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nice project

2025-03-16 03:35:21 UTC

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Thanks. As best as I can figure, these were American Polyconic using a datum that isn't available in any gis program. Maybe something prior to but based on the New England Datum. This is before NAD. I've been using NAD27, but it's usually off. I just fix it in Photoshop after I get it close in QGIS.
With Blender anything seems possible. I like this view and the overhead views the best so far. Here's an example 3d view up Devil Track River Canyon.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/170/008/518/612/823/original/747db8efa3168ed5.jpg

2025-03-16 03:08:34 UTC

Lately, I've been messing around with adding modern 3D elevation relief to historic maps. This is the original GLO survey from 1859-60 of the Grand Marais, Minnesota area.
Learning how to do this has been challenging. I've been using QGIS > Photoshop > Blender > Photoshop as the workflow.
#Minnesota #Cartography
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/114/169/890/363/279/589/original/3c62f89be9e4b185.jpg

2025-03-05 20:21:46 UTC

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I feel like it is also important to write or call your representative. Calling is a better approach. There are also protests happening each weekend in the national park. You just need to find the closest one and look to see when they are meeting.

2025-03-05 19:23:34 UTC

Protect Our Public Lands Workforce
I am, along with many outdoor equipment brands, such as Nemo, and the Outdoor Alliance, concerned by the reduction of workforces at the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. On the Superior National Forest, which is where the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located and where I live, was already short of staff before the future reductions. These reductions put outdoor recreation, our…
https://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/protect-our-public-lands-workforce/

2025-02-14 15:18:35 UTC

Robber barons are a policy failure.

2025-02-06 02:06:16 UTC

This morning's sunrise over Lake Superior was amazing.
#Minnesota #Photography #LakeSuperior #sunrise
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/113/954/486/002/634/747/original/8a4c34d95bc80fce.jpg

2025-01-30 00:38:30 UTC

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I agree. I don't like winter where it's hot

2025-01-29 19:05:25 UTC

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Most of Canada is now called Minnesnowta and the rest is called French Minnesota.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/113/913/197/716/713/620/original/d3e94aab75bfbdab.png

2025-01-29 15:29:46 UTC

Sunset over Lake Superior is so good this time of year. I love winter in northern Minnesota.
#Photography #Minnesota #LakeSuperior
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/113/912/349/622/408/755/original/917ab09391f7b5dc.jpg

2025-01-23 19:23:00 UTC

Lake night's sunset over Lake Superior was sweet.
#Minnesota #LakeSuperior #Photography
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/113/879/292/255/369/772/original/9207f026d7eb4141.jpg

2025-01-20 18:54:30 UTC

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I was out photographing this morning. I thought it was nice. I like these temps.

2025-01-20 18:52:54 UTC

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actual temp near Isabella Lake as recorded by NOAA. It was -22°F actual at my place near Lake Superior.

2025-01-20 18:45:45 UTC

The coldest temps in the US on January 20, 2025.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/113/862/159/758/933/187/original/58cf4b993dbe8022.jpg