I'm not even sure why exactly I did it but I entered a photo of my son into the State Fair Fine Arts Competition. I am not a professional photographer (or even an amateur one really) but I decided to submit it and see what happens.

I am the parent that is constantly taking too many photos and once in a while I end up with a good one. I am too intimidated by professional cameras' price and all the functions to upgrade to anything more high tech than my iPhone.

When I was a kid I sucked at skateboarding so I would always lug around a camera, usually a cheap 35mm or even a disposable one, to be the "photographer" of the group. In high school I took a photography class but my teacher said I wasn't exactly gifted in the medium.

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When I worked for the St. Cloud Rox in 2012 they asked me to take some photos to be used on their baseball cards. After only a few shots they determined "photography isn't my thing."

So, while I have always enjoyed taking pictures and capturing memories, my expectations are low based on past experience.

The photo above was taken in St. Paul, Minnesota in May of 2019. Charlie and I were exploring the neighborhood around the pizza restaurant my family was eating at for my brother's grooms' dinner.

There are a lot of things I personally love about this photo. The lighting, the colors and that one, single flower that seems to have captured his one-year-old imagination.

The 25 Best Places to Live in Minnesota

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Minnesota using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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