Northern Images Photography

The Morning After!

2011-02-24T11:30:00.000-06:00

Lake Superior's North Shore is always a beautiful place to visit, especially after an icy windstorm which we just encountered. The 60+ MPH winds formed icicles on the rocky shoreline and any other object that was exposed to the winds.

The Handiwork of God is apparent in the ice formations and the fact that He stirred up Lake Superior to do it, is even more amazing.

The following 360 panoramas were taken on an icy cliff at Tettegouche State Park.
Pano1
Pano2
Pano3

The lighthouse breakwater had icicles shrouding the railings and the morning sunlight highlighted the heavy buildup.

In Duluth, although the Lakewalk was covered with a two inch coating of ice, people still ventured out to enjoy the experience.

Run for It!

2011-02-21T18:30:00.000-06:00

During a recent wind storm, a couple guys couldn't help venturing out onto the Two Harbors Lighthouse Breakwater. They didn't get to far before waves crushed their plans.

Icicles coated the breakwater framing the lighthouse.

Maple Creek

2011-02-09T16:15:00.000-06:00

A small creek tumbles down a rocky hillside along the Gunflint Trail making a backdrop for this nearby Sugar Maple.
The warm afternoon sun highlights the brilliant colors as the leaves seemed to struggled to hang on in the stiff breeze. Soon, these leaves would be twirling in the water, performing one last dance, before taking their place in a rocky nook downstream.
This performance happens across the Northland every year, with the audience of God looking on as he enjoys His creation.

This image is available as a Wallpaper (Click Here)

Announcement--New Wallpaper Gallery and Format

2011-01-28T13:09:00.000-06:00

Due to the many new types of monitors, iPhones, and iPads that people now use, I have changed my Wallpaper gallery to include just about every screen resolution available.

The new sizes will allow a perfect fit to your screen and will make the image perfectly clear. I believe that these will be some of the best nature wallpaper images on the web.

Northern Images Deluxe Wallpapers Gallery
Northern Images Deluxe Wallpaper Blog

I will be adding more images to this collection on an ongoing basis.
Enjoy the scenery!
Den

Moonshadows on Caribou Lake

2011-01-20T22:34:00.000-06:00

A plunge of polar air cleared out the skies and sent temperatures plummeting below zero today. The clear cold air made the moonlight seem more intense than usual and although the moon has no light source of its own, it is able to reflect about 7% of the sunlight that hits it back into space. This makes for a fairly bright night light as indicated by the moonshadows on Caribou Lake at 10PM this evening.

This photo was taken from my back yard and although I only stepped outside for a few minutes, the cold bit into my face, reminding me that Wind Chills do matter.

I soon stepped back inside and threw a few more logs into the wood stove. Tonight I would be up again to "feed the fire".

Split Rock Full Moon

2011-01-19T20:19:00.004-06:00

Another year has gone by since I was at Split Rock Lighthouse to photograph the January Full Moonrise. One night out of the year, the moon rises at just the right azimuth to come up behind the lighthouse.

It's a time to mark the passage of another year and chat with photographer friends who meet together on this special night to photograph the event.

While clouds covered the sky for most of the day, an incoming cold front pushed them offshore long enough for the moon to make it's appearance.

Prior to the moonrise, the setting sun put a burst of golden light onto the lighthouse just minutes before sunset.

On the way home I thought about the many years that I have been coming up here for this annual event, and how the moon always rises like clockwork, spinning around the earth, the earth spinning around the sun, and the sun spinning through the solar system all held in place by the mighty hand of God.

Some things never change! -- It was a good night to be alive.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers—the moon and the stars You set in place—what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them? Psa 8:3

Ice on the Rocks

2011-01-16T16:45:00.001-06:00

January is a special time on the shores of Lake Superior.

In this picture, a walk along the shore near Split Rock Lighthouse gives you an early feel for springtime. Walking along the open water, you can feel the sun becoming a bit more intense and although the air is still cool, and the days are beginning to get slightly longer.

The temperatures tell you it's still winter, but, somehow, you know we have turned the corner on winter and life will once again return to the landscape.

Ice on the rocks - Split rock Lighthouse

Snowflakes on Ice

2011-01-06T09:31:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was a perfect weather day for collecting a few snow crystals. 10F temperatures, and light winds give the tiny crystals (snowflakes) time to grow before they settle to the ground.

The crystals are photographed through a microscope and each one is a revelation of perfection and beauty as you see it for the first time.

While it will be three more months before this snow melts and waters the springtime vegetation, seeing the little crystals, crafted by the hand of God, is a tour through a frozen gallery of priceless art.

If you would like to take a closer look at snow crystal photographs. please visit my Snowflake Gallery.

Here is a short video of the snowflakes that I photographed throughout the day.

Sea Smoke on Superior!

2010-12-13T15:51:00.000-06:00

It happens every year! A strong cold front comes sweeping into the area from the arctic and streams across the warmer waters of Lake Superior.
The weather phenomenon makes for a beautiful scene and well worth the numb fingers.
Enjoy the cold!

Dennis

Here is a video of the scene!

Here are some images taken this morning!

Bentleyville Virtual Tour!

2010-12-01T10:39:00.002-06:00

You have been seeing glimpses of Bentleyville "Tour of Lights" located at Bayfront Park in Duluth over the past several weeks.

Bentleyville is a wonderful place to visit and get into the Christmas Spirit. If you haven't has a chance to stop by in person, you can take this "Virtual Tour" and enjoy Tour of Lights. Click on the picture or this link
You can also visit the photo gallery.
Enjoy! Dennis

The Morning After

2010-11-17T11:04:00.002-06:00

Winter in the Northland is a beautiful quiet season and with the recent snow, it makes for wonderful landscape photography.

This panoramic image is a composition of five individual pictures and was taken the morning after the surface on a the small lake froze over.

What a blessing to live in this area and be able to step outside into the fresh, cold, clean air of the north.

WOW!

2010-11-16T08:46:00.002-06:00

Once in awhile there is a sunset so spectacular that all you can say is WOW! This particular November sunset over Caribou Lake was one of those moments. You couldn't imagine such a sunset until you see it.

It always amazes me how even in the gray landscapes of November, God, can compose such a wonderful reminder of His glory.

Spirit Mountain Colors

2010-10-26T08:41:00.001-05:00

The flaming colors of autumn are displayed in all their brilliance at Spirit Mountain Ski Hill in Duluth.

The new "Timber Twister" will give you an immersive view as you glide through the colorful forest dropping 600 foot along the 1300 ft rails. Enjoy the view, but, hold onto your hat as you watch the video.
For this video, I stuck a small video camera to a bike helmet and took the plunge.

Jay Cooke Autumn

2010-10-11T10:30:00.001-05:00

The Grand Portage Trail located along the St. Louis River in Jay Cooke State Park has been used for over 300 years. The French Voyageurs portaged their canoes around the upstream rapids along this trail while today, a walk in the park doesn't take as much effort. I wonder if the voyageurs enjoyed the beauty as much as we do today.

Split Rock Autumn

2010-10-01T11:04:00.001-05:00

Split Rock Lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Perched atop a 130 foot cliff with its buff colored bricks and black cast iron lantern room, it is a photographers dream.

For a few days in mid autumn, when the aspen trees reach full color, the combination of blues, greens, golds, reds, and browns, fills the scene a with a brilliant flood of colors. Add to this the sounds slapping waves on the rocky shoreline, and an occasional chickadee chirping its melody on a nearby tree, 60 F temperatures, and the smell of damp cedar, and you have the makings of a perfect afternoon.
For those who missed this years colors, these images are for you!

Welcome to Autumn!

2010-09-26T19:11:00.004-05:00

The beauty of Autumn rolled into the Northland this week at about the same time that the latest Canadian cold front slid across the Lake Superior Region.
Brilliant colored leaves seemed to pop out everywhere, as the shortening daylight hours triggered the trees to stop producing the green chlorophyll that had hidden the true leaf colors all summer.
Bear Head Lake State Park near Ely is one of the many Minnesota State Parks that shows off it's colors throughout the season.

A waterfall located on the Split Rock River near the lighthouse is one of those "secret" spots along the Lake Superior North Shore that is always a pleasure to visit.

Photo tip: Mid-afternoon on bright sunny days such as this makes it difficult to avoid dark shadows due to the high contrast of the intense sunlight. A camera sensor cannot see this wide range of light. One "trick" that I used for this picture was a technique called HDR (High Dynamic Range). HDR uses software to combine multiple images (3 in this case) taken at different exposures. The final picture is an image adjusted to bring in the full range of light that was present into a range that our eye can see.

When God created the universe, He first made light, which is the energy that flows through His creation. What a blessing to be able to "see" and sometimes capture the handiwork of such an awesome creator.

Gen 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Cool Dawn, Warm Light

2010-09-18T14:34:00.002-05:00

The garden is wilting, the wolves are howling on the distant hills, 39 F, still dark at 5:30AM. It must be mid-September. For the first time in months, I noticed a bit of a bite to the crisp morning air.
I suppose it is these same signs that get the geese congregating into practice formations, and the birds and squirrels staying closer to the feeders.
Lake Superior seemed the same, although there are more ocean ships loading grain this year.
Boats, lighthouses, wildlife, water, and the return of cool air, it's not heaven, but it must be close to it.

Tettegouche Arch is now the Tettegouche Sea Stack

2010-08-29T21:52:00.001-05:00

With the collapse of the famous Tettegouche State Park Sea Arch this past week, it was evident that God's hand is still at work crafting and changing the Lake Superior Shore.
Although the formation is now termed a Sea Stack, the beauty is still there, just different.

Much like life, time and gravity eventually takes it toll on everything and everybody. God often uses nature in a dramatic way to remind us that time and life keep moving on. What a awesome way to show us.
I have walked across the arch many times and never gave it a second thought that it would not be there the next time I visited the park. It made me think about the people in my life that I take for granted so often and always assume they will be there the next time I visit. ---- Hmmm! I'm going to call a friend for coffee today!

Moonlight Shipping

2010-08-27T08:28:00.002-05:00

A walk along the Duluth Shipping Canal Piers is always pleasant, especially on a warm August evening during a "Full Moon" rise.
With the Saltie "Stefania I" anchored off the piers, the moon slid up along side of the boat as it rose into the blue and pink horizon.

As the moon rose, the Stefania I weighed anchor and motored into the Duluth Harbor, opening it's hatches and getting ready for a load of grain, bound for somewhere in the world.

This night was another, like so many others on the Duluth Waterfront where the combination of light, sounds, nature, and life brings a joy to the heart and a rest for the soul.

New Tall Ships Video

2010-08-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

The Talls Ships Festival was such an amazing sight to see, I decided to make one last video of the arrives.
I hope you enjoy the movie.

Split Rock Lighthouse Centennial Fireworks

2010-08-04T21:00:00.001-05:00

July 31st was the 100th anniversary of Split Rock Lighthouse. As part of the celebration, a fireworks display was launched before hundreds of visitors.
The fireworks commemorates not only the lighthouse but the keepers, staff, and visitors who consider this remarkably beautiful lighthouse a part of their own heritage.

Tall Ships Virtual Tour

2010-08-03T11:27:00.004-05:00

Watching the Tall Ships enter the Duluth Harbor was a fascinating experience. In case you missed the deck tour of the boats, here is one that you won't have to stand in line for. Click the link below to start the Tall Ships Virtual Tour
Tall Ships Virtual Tour

Duluth Airshow

2010-07-21T15:42:00.001-05:00

Man hasn't been able to come close to the flying capabilities that God built into birds and insects, but, he can build some very nice flying machines and fly them with amazing skill.

I photographed the Duluth Airshow this weekend and it was a nostalgic look that included an F-4 which I flew in the back seat for 20 years.

Where does the time go!

2010 Duluth Airshow Portfolio
2010 Duluth Airshow slide show
2010 Duluth Airshow TORA TORA TORA video

More Fireworks

2010-07-06T06:58:00.000-05:00

Video taken at Canal park

Video taken from Harborcams

Independence Day

2010-07-05T17:34:00.008-05:00

Sometimes we forget that the 4th of July celebrates Independence Day. Independence Day is a holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

As with many other communities, Independence Day is associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.
Duluth Celebrates with one of the largest firework displays in Minnesota, and no one was disappointed.