Northern Images Photography

Talls Ship Denis Sullivan Deck Tour

2009-07-06T13:20:00.008-05:00

The Tall Ship Denis Sullivan visited Duluth this weekend for a 4th of July visit.
The ship offered deck tours to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
If you missed the tour, you can take it now by visiting this link

Rainbow on the Harbor

2009-07-01T17:03:00.008-05:00

One of the reasons I love photographing rainbows is that you never know when they will occur. You can anticipate the weather conditions that rainbows are likely to happen, but, you can never be sure that one will appear when and where you expect.

On this particular morning in Grand Marais, MN, the skies were mostly grey and the likelihood of good picture taking weather was diminishing every minute. I walked outside at 6AM after a brief shower to find this rainbow dipping into the Grand Marais Harbor.
The beauty that appeared in the sky so unexpectedly quickly disappeared into a new band of showers, but for a brief moment, I was able to capture a piece of God's glory to show you today.

God creates the elements and than mixes them up to paint us pictures to remind us that He is still here, whether we see Him or not. I think that this is why people enjoy rainbows so much. Rainbows have always been a sign of hope during the storms of life and a promise of better days ahead.

I have placed My rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of My covenant with you and with all the earth.
When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds,
and I will remember My covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwater's destroy all life. Gen 9:13

B17 Flying Fortress

2009-06-24T21:25:00.000-05:00

The Experimental Aircraft Association brought in a restored B-17G Flying Fortress “Aluminum Overcast” to the Superior Airport.
Click on the picture to take a walk through the shiny old "war bird". The aircraft is one of only 14 such airplanes still flying, the “Flying Fortress” is an icon of the Allied strategic bombing effort that helped turn the tide of battle in World War II.
More information on this plan is available at: http://www.b17.org/
View the Virtual Tour by clicking this picture or here. View additional pictures here.

Duluth Skyline Drive

2009-06-01T08:31:00.004-05:00

Click HERE or on the picture to take the tour

Overlooking Duluth, the Skyline Parkway gives you bird’s-eye view of the harbor and the endless shoreline of Lake Superior. Observation points along the scenic drive provide picture-perfect views of the city, the lake and many parks. On the northern end of the parkway is Hawk Ridge an excellent vantage point for watching migratory birds in spring and fall.
Take this virtual tour and stop at 12 different observation points along the 30 mile drive.

Pelicans in Duluth?

2009-05-29T18:01:00.006-05:00

I noticed some large white birds across the lake and assuming they were the occasional Tundra Swans that drop in during migration season, I grabbed my camera and paddled the kayak across Caribou lake to check them out. When I got close enough to identify them, it turned out that they were large white pelicans.

Pelicans hunt in groups and round up small fish where they can easily grab them for a meal. These birds were doing exactly that. They were so busy fishing that they didn't notice me until I had floated up quit close. Once they noticed me they swam a few yards and than took the air.

The pelicans were probably blown off course from their normal migration route by strong upper winds. The birds were several hundred miles from their normal flyway up Minnesota River Valley. They didn't seem to mind the detour and found a good fishing hole right in my back yard.

It is a very large and plump bird; its overall length is about 50–70 inches , courtesy of the huge beak which measures 13–14.4 inches in males and 10.4–13 in. in females. It has a wingspan of about 95–120 in and weighs between 11 and 19 lb.

Breeding on lakes throughout the northern Great Plains and mountain West, the American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America. It winters along the coasts, but breeds only inland.

Duluth Lakewalk Virtual Tour

2009-05-27T09:22:00.004-05:00

This virtual tour will bring you across the Minnes0ta Slip Bridge, under the Aerial lift Bridge, and along the shore of Lake Superior. Click here or the picture to enter tour.

Duluth Seven Bridged Road Virtual Tour!

2009-05-26T20:20:00.007-05:00

I have been playing around lately with 360 degree panoramic photography.
Here is a virtual tour of Seven Bridges Road in Duluth.

You should have a high speed connection for best viewing.

Enjoy!
Dennis

Lightning Reflections

2009-04-24T17:33:00.006-05:00

In a single day, we turned the corner into spring. Ice went off the lake (Caribou), the loons returned, the frogs started croaking, and the first thunderstorm of the season rolled through the area.
The lightning photographed here was the leading edge of a small cell that veered north as soon as it hit the cool air of Lake Superior which was 10 miles further away.

Most lightning strikes average 2 to 3 miles long and carry a current of 10000 Amps at 100 million Volts. Meteorologists know the cloud conditions necessary to produce lightning, but cannot forecast the location or time of the next stroke of lightning from a storm.

The rain pours down from the clouds, and everyone benefits.
Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven?
See how He spreads the lightning around Him and how it lights up the depths of the sea.Job 36:30

View more lightning

New e-Bookshelf

2009-04-12T07:51:00.002-05:00

For those that have requested more e-Books, here are a few more to browse.

Duluth Picture (e-book)

2009-04-08T16:51:00.003-05:00

I have put together an e-book that you might enjoy.
Click on the book to open it or open it from this link

Enjoy!

Sun Pillar

2009-03-30T09:19:00.005-05:00

Early spring is a great time to observe sun pillars during sunrises and sunsets. Sun Pillars appear in the sky when snow or ice crystals reflect light from the sun when it is low on the horizon.

This particular pillar was taken looking out my front door on Caribou Lake.

Only a particular type of snowflake, formed in optimum conditions for a saucer shape, form into billions of tiny mirrors that reflect the sunlight perfectly to our eye. This shape of snowflake tends to float to earth in a horizontal manner, and only the snowflakes that are lined up with the sun reflect the light into our eye. This is what created the colorful pillar of light in line with the sun.

I love how God gets our attention just when things seem to be getting the darkest.

You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness. Psa 18:28

Gooseberry Runoff

2009-03-26T09:37:00.005-05:00

Even though recent ice storms have made springtime seem far off, the rising waters of local rivers tell another story. On this rather cool drizzly morning I made my way around the snow covered trails that surround the waterfall at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The increasing pressure from the rising flow had broken open the icy shell that had encased river for the past several months and the ice was being smashed to pieces as it crashed down the falls.

Groundwater was starting to leak from every seam along the river bank and the root beer colored river water, stained by the tannin of tree roots in the inland bogs, was now rushing its way down the Gooseberry River into Lake Superior. The swamps were warming up and could no longer contain the water that had been locked up since early winter.

Eagles and condors floated overhead in the gray skies as they scanned the ground for lunch. The migration north had begun and all of nature declared the arrival of spring.

I thought for a moment about the birds, and in some way, I think the same instinct that drives them to the same place every year is what makes me keep coming back to this place. Call it instinct or habit it happens every year.

For the next several weeks, local rivers and streams will be swollen with runoff water, thawing the ground and feeding the plants that will soon wake up to a new season, and so the cycle of life will begin once again.

View Video - View High Resolution Here (note: if video appears jerky, pause for awhile to let it buffer)

The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Isa 58:11

Northern Images Home | More Gooseberry Pictures

White Beaches

2009-03-16T18:47:00.006-05:00

The white beaches of the Northland are very similar to the white beaches of the Caribbean (at least in color). A ritual of springtime is to visit the shores of Lake Superior and enjoy the changing seasons without burning your feet in the sand.

Ice Planet - What ever happened to Global Warming

2009-03-13T08:58:00.006-05:00

The cold weather this year has created wonderful photographic opportunities along Lake Superior.
December and January were great months for photographing steam fog along the shoreline and it looks like March will be a banner month for ice formations. There is still plenty of ice on the lake and with the winds of springtime in the air, ice chunks will be banging around the lake for some time to come. We can also expect that it will be "Colder by the Lake".

Northern Images Home | View More Ice Images | View 360 Panoroamic

Fishing on the Edge

2009-03-10T19:40:00.010-05:00

Warm March days attract fishermen to the ice covered shore of Lake Superior as surely as the longer daylight hours attracts the trout swimming under the ice to the mouth of the river. It is a ritual of springtime in the Northland and a sure sign that winter is losing it's grip on the area.

These fishermen set up their portable fish houses near the mouth of the French River and basked in the warm afternoon sunshine. I didn't see any fish caught, but, I don't think anyone really cared. It seems funny how someone can be so relaxed, sitting on a plastic bucket with a fishing rod staring at a hole in the ice, yet, they seemed to have found a secret that works better than any high blood pressure medicine, its called contentment.

Although cars could be heard in the distance speeding along the highway in a seemingly frantic rush, this little cove of fishermen seemed to live in an unhurried world of their own, a special place that only a few could recognize as a medicine for the rush of life on a road less traveled.

In just a few weeks, the river will swell with runoff from the melting snow and the lake ice will back away from the shore, setting the stage for another change of seasons.

Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, told us about contentment long ago: Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecc 6:9

I drove home a bit wiser that day, learning a lesson from a little fishing cove on Lake Superior and some men who find contentment with the simpler things of life.

Winter Caves

2009-02-17T20:56:00.002-06:00

Some of the Great Lakes' most spectacular scenery can be found at the sandstone cliffs and caves of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. With daylight hours increasing and the sun becoming more powerful with each passing day, a February hike to the caves is always an enjoyable endeavor.

The 1.5 mile walk to the caves across the frozen surface of Lake Superior is relatively easy going and makes for a pleasant stroll with the pine and hardwood forest of the south shore on one side and the frozen expanse of Lake Superior on the other.

Once at the caves, the carved out sandstone cliffs stand in stark contrast to the blue February sky and the pure white snow of the surrounding landscape. Although there hadn't been much thawing yet, giant icicles rimmed the cliffs and hung from the cave ceilings like crystal stalactites.

One cave in particular was interesting as a small frozen waterfall formed right in the mouth of the cave. The falling water could be heard splashing inside the ice encrusted waterfall and with springtime fast approaching, it won't be long before it will brake out of its cold tomb. I decided to step into the cave and compose a 360 image in order to show more closely the beauty inside. Here is the interactive panoramic.

I never could understand why northerners flee to the white sand beaches of Mexico this time of year when they have the beauty of the white beaches of Lake Superior to enjoy. Maybe someday, I'll catch on, or at least my wife Debby hopes.

Walking back along the tundra-like landscape, the days when waves would once again be hammering out the caverns and caves of the Apostles seemed a long way off. But, longer days and the water starting to trickle off the cliffs, appeared to whisper that things are changing and I should enjoy the day.

God uses His creation to teach us many things, and one of them is to help us understand the march of time, however imperceptible, our time here is limited, we must spend it wisely.
"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to You; at best, each of us is but a breath."
We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You. Psa 39:4

Fire and Ice

2009-02-08T20:27:00.006-06:00

Ice shards are now decorating much of Lake Superior's North Shore like a crystal necklace.

Walking along the shoreline, the tinkling sound of the ice capped waves pushing against the shore adds a special touch to the winter landscape.

In this picture, a fiery sunrise over Lake Superior floods the scene, making even the ice pieces seem warm.

View More Ice Photos | Lake Superior Gallery

January Chinook

2009-02-03T09:25:00.002-06:00

Chinook Salmon are a popular fish caught in Lake Superior. On this January afternoon another type of Chinook, the Chinook winds from Alberta blew across the Great Plains and swept into the area, warming temperatures by nearly 60 degrees F from a few days before.

In late-winter, the Chinook battles with arctic air triggering dramatic temperature changes and brings in temporary relief from cold winter temperatures. The fast changing climate also creates fantastic weather along Lake Superior.

Driving along the shoreline in Duluth, it's hard to pass up a stroll on the ice when you see dozens of people enjoying the winter break. The longer daylight hours and the increasing intensity of the afternoon sun triggers a reminder that springtime is not far off and that winter activities will soon become history.

The beautiful afternoon weather also enticed me to do a Spherical Panoramic at Jay Cook State Park.

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Website Update: I have been working on a few other web sights during the winter that you might find interesting:

Northern Images 360 - Collections of 360 panoramic images
Duluth Harbor Cam - View the Duluth Harbor and Aerial Lift Bridge from two live webcams
Natures Revelations - an e-book on Nature and God

John Beargrease 2009

2009-01-27T10:45:00.003-06:00

The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon commemorates the life of John Beargrease, the son of a Chippewa chief who delivered mail by dog sled along Lake Superior’s rugged North Shore in the late 19th century. John Beargrease’s weekly deliveries along the North Shore played a pivotal role providing a lifeline for communities and commerce.
This year, 36 teams ran in the sled dog marathon which consisted of two races, a mid distance and the full marathon covering nearly 400 miles of beautiful wilderness.

I photographed the dog teams as they streamed by in the fresh cold 0 deg F air. The silence of the deep woods was broken only by the heavy breathing of the dogs and the swoosh of the sled on the hard packed trail. The dogs seamed happy and determined as they pulled in unison on their harnesses and the mushers politely greeted me with a wave and a thanks. To these folks, winter in the Northland is a season to be enjoyed.

Pound for pound, sled dogs are the most powerful draft animals on earth. They can easily match a team of horses weighing more than twice as much. Due to a sled dogs incredible endurance, a team can average 8-12 MPH over hundreds of miles, a testimony to year around training and quality care and traits bred in over years of experience.

View More Race Pictures

Last Boats In

2009-01-19T10:57:00.003-06:00

The Duluth shipping season came to a end on January 16th when the Coast Guard Cutter Alder assisted two of the largest boats working on Lake Superior into port. The Edwin H. Gott and the Edgar B. Speer, both 1000 ft+ lakers came through the Duluth Ship Canal for winter layup. Both boats where delayed by heavy ice on the eastern end of the lake and struggled through thick ice in the Duluth Harbor.

Extreme winter weather had an icy grip on the lake for the past six weeks and with schools closed for the past two days due to -22F below temperatures and -50F wind chills, there was no arguing that it was time to lay up the boats for a few months.

While I went through three camera batteries in the cold and the tip of my nose got frostbit by holding it against the back of my frozen camera while taking pictures, there was no denying the beauty of a winter day on the lake.

View a slideshow of the arrival

"Perigee Moon" at Split Rock

2009-01-11T20:24:00.002-06:00

One night out of the year the moon rises at an azimuth where it comes up directly behind Split Rock Lighthouse making for a spectacular sight. This was the night and crystal clear skies allowed for a breathtaking view.

This years moonrise was especially significant because it was a "perigee Moon". A "perigee Moon" occurs when the moons elliptical orbit around the earth actually brings it 30,000 miles closer to the earth, making it appear 30% brighter than the other moon rises later in the year.

I arrived at Split Rock State Park about 15 minutes before the moonrise and stuck my tripod into the snow waiting for the first glimpse of the moon. As the sun slowly set in the west, shades of blue and magenta began filling the eastern sky. Waiting for the moon to creep up the back side of the cliff, I chatted with a few other photographers who had arrived a few minutes before me. It wasn't long before the moon slide out from the behind the lighthouse to make its appearance before continuing on its celestial orbit.

The moon made an awesome display of God's glory as it drifted behind the lighthouse. As I watched the event through my camera lens, I couldn't help thinking about the clockwork inside the lighthouse and how the keepers were required to wind the mechanism every few hours to keep the giant lens rotating precisely so that the beam would flash across Lake Superior every 10 seconds.
God wound his universe up when He created the stars, planets, and moons. Tonight's moonrise was a view of the universal clockwork that men have stood in awe and wonder at for thousands of years. It was a good evening to watch the heavens slowly turn and a good evening to be alive.

You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set. Psa 104:19

Winter Green

2009-01-07T10:51:00.002-06:00

Winter in the Northland is a beautiful and peaceful time of year. Most birds fly south to warmer climates, many mammals hibernate, and trees drop their leaves and go dormant for the season. However, there is one special type of tree that thrives in the cold and even keeps its green leaves, the amazing evergreen. The evergreen mixes its multi shades of cool green with the azure blue sky and the white snow, to complete the winter landscape.

Evergreens have special leaves designed to survive winter. We call them needles, but they are like simple leaves rolled up and covered with heavy wax. They have a thick skin with an anti-freeze like fluid inside the leaf cells. Their small surface area slows the natural evaporation process and allows the heavy snow of winter to easily sift through its branches before causing damage to tree limbs. Also, these leaves don't respond to the environmental clues that tell them to go dormant, the trees keep on producing chlorophyll. They use the green pigment to capture the Sun's energy and convert it to chemical energy via photosynthesis. That's why evergreens stay green. Throughout the winter the evergreen also has the ability to turn photosynthesis on and off depending on the temperature.

On cold winter mornings, I wouldn't mind some of that antifreeze sap flowing in my fingers.

What an amazing design, only God could have crafted such a tree, one that defies the cold of winter to declare his glory, even in the cold forests of the Northland.

I will plant the cedar in the wilderness, the acacia tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree. I will set the fir tree in the desert, and the pine, and the box tree together;
so that they may see, and know, and look on, and understand together, that the hand of God has created it. Isa 41:19

Happy New Year

2008-12-29T18:42:00.004-06:00

2008 was a year where most people were given a reminder of how fleeting wealth can be and how quickly our lives can be changed by circumstances beyond our control.

As I look back over the past year and see days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into another passing year, I realize how short life is here on this side of eternity. This time of year reminds me of how seldom I have stopped to give thanks to God for what He has given me, in particular, His Son Jesus Christ.

I hope you have enjoyed the "Northern Images" throughout the year and a special thanks to those who purchased prints. I was able to donate $1765.53 to Child Cry Ministry an outreach of Times Square Church of New York from the profits of the online galleries during 2008.

There are many resolutions I could make, but, there is only one that really matters to me, and that is to live a life that glorifies my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

May the New Year bring you many blessings.

Here is a link to a Seasons Greeting that I hope you enjoy. (Turn up your sound)

With Warm Regards,
Dennis

Beauty in the Mist

2008-12-23T20:06:00.004-06:00

The temperatures over the past several weeks have been below zero most of the time resulting in some of the most beautiful weather phenomenon that we have seen around Lake Superior in recent years.

While the cold weather made it somewhat uncomfortable, and heavy snowfall caused slippery roads; the fog, ice, and snow created a winter wonderland that makes this season one of the most beautiful times of year.
Nearly every morning the rising sun could be seen filtering its way through the steam clouds coming off the chilled waters of Lake Superior. While not everyone cared for the wind chill factors, many people noticed the "Beauty in the Mist" quietly displaying the majesty of a mighty lake, and a Almighty God.

CLICK HERE to view a slide show of other images taking during the past three weeks.

Merry Christmas!

Lake Effect

2008-12-16T15:55:00.002-06:00

Arctic air finally charged across the Canadian Border this week with below zero temperatures and wind chills to match. Once this super chilled air streamed over the relatively warm water of Lake Superior, sea smoke or, ice fog formed in rising columns coming off the water surface like a steamy soup. December sunrises on Lake Superior are fantastic and even better when the -15F degree air stirs up the sea smoke.

Standing on the shoreline, I could hear the clinking of small ice flows as they drifted into the rocky shore and the small electronic fog whistle located on the South Pier Lighthouse make a feeble attempt to sound a chord in the frozen air.

During the next half hour, the atmosphere filled with color from the rising sun while strengthening daylight outlined the ghostly vapors as it danced along water halfway between heaven and earth.

I can't explain why I keep coming back here, especially in rather uncomfortable conditions. I guess it's because it fills my senses and makes me alive. It reminds me of the one who brings the elements together to create this special piece of artwork. A masterpiece crafted like no other, and one that will never be duplicated exactly the same ever again. Each visit, I begin to understand a bit more why God made this beautiful world the way He did, to show us, in part, His Glory, and allow us to rest in the arms of an Almighty God.

Once again, like previous mornings, I unlocked the car door with fingers numbed by the cold, yet, with a heart warmed by the light of knowing who controls the universe and events of our life.
Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good. Then He separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. Gen 1:3-5