Minnesota Pictures: Minnesota Photos that define the northstar state

Moore, Oklahoma tornado photos

2013-05-20T20:23:00.004-05:00

I hesitate to actually post the photos from today's Moore, Oklahoma tornado outbreak because it is always gut wrenching when there is such massive destruction and loss of human life. However, these photos from the middle of tornado alley should serve as a reminder of just how violent summer storm in America's heartland can be and that tornadoes -- especially like those today in Oklahoma -- are serious and warnings are not to be taken lightly. When there is a tornado warning or the sirens are sounding, get to the basement immediately. Things can be replaced but a life cannot.

from flickr user Gavmonster
Storm chasing prior to touchdown of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado.

from flickr user PTCruiser4dogs
Moore, Oklahoma damage after tornado outbreak.

from flickr user MrsM0rris
Extreme tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma.

from flickr user MrsM0rris
The photographer says: I went into Moore Oklahoma today to find my friend. This is right across the street from her house. I can't even begin to describe what I saw. So horrible. Pray for these families who were hit by the tornado.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

History over the Red River - East Grand Forks, MN

2013-05-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

from flickr user MinnKotaRailfan
The BNSF Grand Forks city job, led by a single BN GP30 rebuild, heads over the Red River of the North, with maintenance cars to be used for work out west. Behind the train is the Sorlie Bridge, built in 1929 to connect Grand Forks North Dakota to East Grand Forks Minnesota. Behind the Sorlie Bridge lies the center pier of a swing bridge built in the 1870's for the Great Northern railway. The bridge was removed in 2000 by the Army Corp of Engineers, and the pier stands as a memorial of the importance of railroads in North Dakota and Minnesota.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Interstate 35W Bridge - Same Sex Marriage Legalized

2013-05-15T11:54:00.001-05:00

from flickr user ibikempls
With the approval and subsequent signage of Minnesota legalizing same sex marriage, the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis has been decked out in rainbow lighting the past couple of nights.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Watercraft available - Bemidji, MN

2013-05-14T09:11:00.004-05:00

from flickr user clint mcmahon
Sunset on a half frozen Lake Bemidji on May 9th.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Cathedral Hill - St. Paul, MN

2013-05-10T13:52:00.002-05:00

from flickr user Greg Lundgren Photography
The Cathedral of Saint Paul dwarfs the James J. Hill house in this post sunset image taken from the bluffs across the Mississippi river.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Sleepy Sunday Evening - Mankato, MN

2013-05-09T12:23:00.001-05:00

from flickr user jberg182
An eerily quiet downtown Mankato, MN street with rain falling.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Crystal Sugar - Mason City, IA

2013-05-07T14:16:00.001-05:00

from flickr user ECLeatherberry
Growing up in southern Minnesota, I remember seeing what I remember to be the rather imposing Crystal Sugar plant in nearby Mason City, Iowa. Long abandoned, I recall my dad rattling off a list of our neighbors who had raised sugar beets to be processed at that very same Crystal Sugar plant and became rich doing so. As for what happened to the sugar beet business in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, I have no idea. Apparently, though, it did last into the 1970s before vanishing.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Hard Dance Minnesota dancers

2013-05-06T13:36:00.001-05:00

from flickr user Hoska Photography
As a graphic designer and photographer myself, I am drawn to bright and vibrant colors and I suppose that's what drew me to today's photo. It was taken just over a week ago at a Hard Dance Minnesota event. While electronic music isn't my thing I have to admire anyone who goes to these lengths to bring a visual medium to the music.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Power lines hanging in the streets - Rochester, MN

2013-05-02T11:15:00.000-05:00

from flickr user cursedthing
Following a freak early May snowstorm across southeastern Minnesota, thousands awoke to find themselves without electricity and see trees bent close to breaking or already snapped and on the ground. Owatonna reported a whopping 13" of heavy and wet snow which resulted in closed schools in that corner of Minnesota.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

This flower means SPRING is here!

2013-05-01T13:34:00.002-05:00

from flickr user PuckPack
It's Spring. I don't care what is going on outside today but when there are beautiful, bright and colorful little flowers like this one poking through our previously barren Earth it is officially SPRING!

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Winter Runoff Water Spout

2013-04-30T12:14:00.004-05:00

from flickr user NorthStar Nerd
Near Split Rock River on the North shore of Lake Superior. This waterfall only has water during the Winter runoff, and after a few heavy rains.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Stone Arch Bridge violinist

2013-04-29T14:01:00.001-05:00

from flickr user PrashantKr
The photographer says: She had a very grumpy expression, maybe because no one cared to stop and listen to her. This is the second time I have noticed this with violinists. Is it just that Violinists are grumpy? But yes from now on wards I'll be keeping some cash with me.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Waterford bridge. Northfield, Minnesota

2013-04-24T13:40:00.002-05:00

from flickr user orangedot777
A piece of the past, the Waterford Bridge near Northfield, MN, sits blanketed in fresh snowfall yesterday (yes, April 23rd!). I am always on teh lookout for closed bridges like this which have been left in place for pedestrians and as a piece of history.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Last blast of Winter in Minnesota

2013-04-23T09:45:00.004-05:00

from flickr user Sue.Ann
Three snowstorms in the month of April will even test the patience of a true Minnesotan. The mallard is even confused.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Minnesota Twins Opening Day

2013-04-22T13:12:00.004-05:00

from flickr user buffaloalice
April in Minnesota -- at least in 2013 -- is not the optimal month for baseball. With chilly temperatures, rain-outs and snow-outs, the Minnesota Twins are drawing less than stellar crowds at Target Field as shown by this photo of a brisk 35 degree opening day game at the downtown Minneapolis stadium.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Vacant streets - Boston, MA

2013-04-19T11:30:00.003-05:00

from flickr user BradKellyPhoto
With the city of Boston, Massachusetts on lockdown today as one of two (or three) suspects in the Boston marathon bombings remains at large, the majority of the city's streets and highways are largely vacant as residents were told to stay home. Even public transportation was shut down for a period of time.This scene from Boylston Street, basically ground zero for Monday's Boston marathon bombings, is vacant and while fenced off has become a shrine and a memorial for those who were injured and killed in Monday's attacks.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Puddle Reflection - Gooseberry Falls

2013-04-18T13:05:00.002-05:00

from flickr user Valley Man Photography
Soon enough it will happen. The grass and trees will turn green. The consistently gray skies will break in favor of blue skies dotted with fair weather clouds and the endless winter will end and take with it the snow and puddles like this one will appear -- even in the northern reaches of Minnesota like this photo of Gooseberry Falls.

Prints of this photo are available for purchase at Valley Man Photography.

Northern Lights - Voyageur's National Park

2013-04-16T12:28:00.003-05:00

from flickr user RSBurnsIM
As the photographer stated, he included the tent, lit from the interior, to give some perspective to the photo's surroundings of dark pine trees with the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) dancing in the background. If there's one positive to the abnormally cold and snow-filled April here in Minnesota, it's the fact that the Northern Lights are still visible in the middle of April.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Capitol Complex, St. Paul,. MN

2013-04-15T13:27:00.005-05:00

from flickr user wleif
Entrance to the State Office Building, Capitol Complex, St. Paul,. MN. Normally, I'd say that the trees look very festive when frosted by a covering of freshly-fallen snow but it's April 15th today and this crap is getting old.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

April Snow - Northfield, MN

2013-04-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

from flickr user orangedot777
Ah, the Winter that wouldn't end continues on April 11 in Northfield, MN as captured on this rural, snow-covered road. Maybe the temperature will reach the 60 degree mark by the time the calendar rolls over to May. I think we can call the first half of April a loss.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Let's Go Camping - Mankato photographer's springtime dream

2013-04-10T11:37:00.001-05:00

from flickr user jberg182
The photographer says: While i'm writing this I'm receiving phone notifications about the soon to be winter nightmare that once again will buzzkill spring for us Minnesotans. After a solid couple weeks of thawing temps I felt like shootin' something like this. I shot everyone in my living room and actually fractured my foot shooting the car (Had a $6 piece of foam core attached to a stand that was about to blow over, as I went to grab it I rolled my ankle and foot and heard a super loud snap) limpin' ever since, The background is a mess of outdoor local spots. Everyone around the fire was lit with a LP160 with a full cto fire direction. LP160 in gridded easybox right high for a moon light and another lp160 shoot thru umbrella for fill on the opposite side of the fire slighty off axis. The car was lit naturally except my neighbors in the townhome next door were ordering a pizza so their outside lights were on. So I parked my car sideways in the driveway and the orange glow on the rear panel is from that. Cooler guy and out house gal are lit the same minus the cto.. triggered with radio poppers

My take: Wow, to know that this is a composite work is amazing. Reading, in detail, about the work that went in to creating this photo illustration (?) is truly cool and knowing that the photographer is from the Mankato, MN should be a wake-up call to all Minnesotans that often times the most talented artists aren't in the large metro areas. I'll definitely be checking out more pf this photographer's work.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Downtown Minneapolis at night - Metrodome

2013-04-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

from flickr user Kevin-Horn
View from the 19th Ave. Parking Garage of downtown Minneapolis including the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome / Mall of America Field.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Wells Fargo Center - Minneapolis, MN

2013-04-09T09:28:00.003-05:00

from flicks user mijosc89
The photographer says: The Wells Fargo Center rising from the entryway of the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Capitol Sunset - St. Paul, MN

2013-04-05T10:17:00.004-05:00

from flickr user GregLundgrenPhotography
The photographer says: The top of the Minnesota Capitol building in St. Paul appears to pierce the setting sun

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.

Little red schoolhouse - Cottonwood County, MN

2013-04-04T08:53:00.001-05:00

from flickr user RyanShoots
The snow is mostly melted around this little red schoolhouse in rural Cottonwood County in southwest Minnesota.

If this photo caught your eye, check out the MinnPics Store to purchase equally amazing and beautiful photo prints in varying sizes - they make great gifts for any occasion.