January was a relatively mild month on Lake Superior’s north shore. Usually, we photographers shiver and bundle up in all our clothing to stand on the shore and wait for the sunrise, but this year I don’t think I even felt that cold once while out there — or maybe I just don’t remember the -15F days. This January, I’ve concentrated on photographing two locations that I haven’t spent much time at. I found one near the end of last winter and didn’t have enough sunsets and sunrises over the lake to photograph it, so I got back out there this January. If you follow my Facebook photography page, then you’ve seen some of the results. Others are included below.

One thing that I love about January in the northland is that the sun rises and sets over Lake Superior, and it’s easy to hit both during a day, because it comes up around 7:30 am and sets around 4:30 pm. The second is that the shoreline looks different every day. Lake Superior is generally choppy in January, so the ice formations constantly change and with slow shutter speeds, you can blur the water to emphasize the scene. One hint that I have: find a great composition and then shoot 30 to 40 different pictures with different waves. Then narrow it down to 3 or 4 pictures when you get back onto the computer. I delete all the images where the waves didn’t do exactly what I wanted and just keep the ones that I liked.

How to Photograph the Northern Lights

Northern lights fill the sky over Northern Lights Lake just outside of Grand Marais, MN. Image used by National Geographic

Photographing the northern lights is pretty easy and I’ve written about it before for the local newspaper. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to photograph the northern lights.

1. Find a dark location with a view to the north.
2. Set your camera on a tripod and compose.
3. Switch to manual focus and focus so that any trees in the distance are in focus. You can also set your camera at infinity if your lens has a distance window.
4. Set your ISO at 400.
5. Set your aperture at f/4 to f/5.6. This gives you a bit of focus leeway.
6. Set your shutter speed at 30 seconds.
7. Take a picture. Use a shutter release cord to help avoid vibrations that make your picture blurry.
8. If it’s too dark: bump your ISO up to 800 or open your aperture to f/2.8 or f/4.
9. If it’s too bright: change your shutter speed to 15 seconds.
10. Repeat steps 7 to 10 until you get tired.

Shameless Self-Promotion – Lake Superior Photography Workshops

This has been an exciting beginning of the year for my Lake Superior Photography Workshops. Both of my Winter Photography Workshops filled up (which happens every year, but I still find it exciting!), and I added a new five-day Fall Photography Workshop — in the past, it was the 2.5-day format as my other workshops.

These are the photography workshops that still have openings:

1. Added session! February 24 to 26, 2012 - Winter on Lake Superior Photography Workshop in Grand Marais (spaces left).
2. April 20 to 22, 2012 – Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop at Lutsen Resort
3. June 15 to 16, 2012 – Minnesota Wildflower Photography Workshop at the North House Folk School.
4. September 26 to 30, 2012 – Fall Color Lake Superior Photography Workshop in Grand Marais.
5. November 9 to 11, 2012 – Lake Superior Gales of November Photography Workshop at Lutsen Resort.

Let me tell you a little about the Fall Color Lake Superior Photography Workshop because I’m really excited to offer a five-day photo workshop during one of the best times of the year to photograph the north shore. I really wanted it to be a great value for participants, so I decided that the best way to give you value is have lots of field time, each day includes field time and to top it off, I decided to add three optional sessions. The workshop “officially” begins at noon on Wednesday, but if you get to Grand Marais on Tuesday, you can join me for a Wednesday sunrise session. The second optional session is a night photography session. I’m going to haul a tent out, lights and lots of goodies so we can mess around with lighting and make star trail images. The third is an optional one-on-one feedback session on Sunday afternoon.

I depend on word-of-mouth for advertisement and appreciate any help that you can give me in getting the word out about my workshops.

Inexpensive Photography Resources

Craft And Vision, a company that offers $5 ebooks — I mentioned them last month — just came out with a book called “Making the Print.” I checked it out and it’s really pretty good. Not many people print photos anymore, but if you’re interested in printing, “Making the Print” is a basic and easy to read primer on getting started with print making.

Photos from Lake Superior’s North Shore

A small sample from January. I tried to pick photos that I didn’t post to Facebook where I’ve been trying to post a new photo every day.

Thanks for all the support and continuing to follow my photography. I really appreciate it.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at February 2012 Newsletter – The Grand Marais Photographer Update.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

During the last week of September, Lake Superior’s north shore explodes into vibrant colors. The maples turn bright red and the birch and aspen turn vibrant yellow. During this Lake Superior photography workshop, we’ll explore the north shore, photograph the fall color and make photos that you’ll proudly hang on your walls.

Photography workshops need to accomplish four things:

1. Teach you how to use your camera better.
2. Teach you how to see and capture photos better.
3. Visit beautiful locations.
4. They must be fun.

By combining these aspects, this Fall photography workshop (limited to 12 people) sets up a fun hands-on learning experience in one of the most beautiful parts of Minnesota. For this workshop, we’ll set up our base in Grand Marais and adventure out to nearby locations. We’ll visit scenic overlooks in the Lutsen area to photograph the maples, we’ll head up the Gunflint Trail to photograph the birch and aspen, and we’ll visit other remote and scenic locations. Along the way, you will learn new techniques, improve on old ones and make great photos.

Day 1 (Wednesday): Noon to sunset (optional: sunrise)

The photography workshop officially begins at noon with a slideshow and lecture about camera control, composition and the recommended filters. For participants arriving Tuesday night, an optional sunrise session on Lake Superior is available and highly recommended. After the slideshow, we’ll head out to photograph the area while practicing using polarizers and neutral density filters.

Day 2 (Thursday): Sunrise to sunset

We start with a sunrise on Lake Superior near Grand Marais. I demonstrate the use of split ND grad filters. I have several demo filters for you to try, but I suggest that you purchase these filters if you don’t already own them. Learn more about split ND grad filters in my December Newsletter. Then we’ll visit nearby streams to photograph intimate landscapes. We end the day after sunset.

Day 3 (Friday): Sunrise to sunset

We spend the day in the Lutsen area after photographing the sunrise at Cascade River State Park, and then heading down to several scenic overlooks. We’ll end the day after sunset.

Day 4 (Saturday): Sunrise to sunset

This is our Gunflint Trail day. After an optional sunrise session on Lake Superior, we head up the Gunflint Trail to photograph the fall color.

Day 5 (Sunday): Sunrise to noon (Optional: Image review)

We start on Lake Superior for the sunrise and after breakfast, we’ll meet up for a demonstration of Adobe Lightroom for photo organization and post-processing. Adobe Lightroom is one tool that no photographer should be without, because it does everything we need and reproduces the black and white darkroom in a computer. For this demonstration, a laptop with Lightroom is recommended, but you can follow along without it. Workshop ends at noon. For those that can stay later, I will do an image review and feedback session during the afternoon.

Note: I will schedule one optional night shoot for anyone that is interested. Cross your fingers for northern lights.

Fall Color Photography Workshop on Lake Superior Cost

The cost of the workshop is $995 per person for the instruction fee for the five days. Food, lodging and transportation is separate and up to you to book. Weekends in the fall fill up early, so book your hotel soon. There are also camping options in the area if you like a more rugged experience. After you register, you’ll get a list of preferred lodging suggestions. About a month before the workshop, you’ll receive the participant packet with a suggestion of clothing and photography gear.

Price: $849 per person
Dates: September 26 to 30, 2012
Max: 12 people

Registration and Cancellation Policies

Fall Color Pictures From Fall 2011

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at Fall Photography Workshop on Lake Superior.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

In April, the winter’s snowpack melts off of the Minnesota highland surrounding Lake Superior and rushes down narrow canyons and over hundreds of waterfalls. The waterfalls thunder, the ground shakes and it feels like life reborn. No other time of the year allow for the dynamic photography of waterfalls along Lake Superior like spring does. Join me at Lutsen Resort for a Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop on Lake Superior. During the workshop, we’ll visit many dramatic waterfalls along the north shore, photograph the sunrise over Lake Superior and you’ll learn how to capture stunning images and improve your photography.

• When: April 20-22, 2012
• Where: Lutsen Resort, Minnesota
• Workshop Fee: $250/person
• Lodging From: $99/night
  Dining: Meals will be available in our Lakeside Dining Room and Poplar River Pub
• For Reservations: Call 218-663-7212 or 1-800-2LUTSEN (258-8736)
• Questions? Email: bryan@bryanhansel.com
• More info: Lutsen Resort
  

Weekend Activity Descriptions

This Lake Superior photography workshop combines classroom time with field-work and a final review. You’ll learn photography techniques for capturing waterfalls.  There’s plenty of time for one-on-one instruction with the small group size.

FRIDAY, APRIL 20
Meet at 7PM for introductions and a classroom presentation that presents techniques for successfully capturing waterfalls.

SATURDAY, APRIL 21
The day starts early with a morning session on the Lake Superior shoreline photographing the sunrise. Then we will break for breakfast which is available at Lutsen Resort’s Main Lodge or on your own.  We’ll assemble after breakfast and then head back out into the field for a full-day adventure.  Box lunches may be ordered at the front desk for an additional fee.  We’ll come back to the resort for dinner before heading out for the sunset.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22
We assemble before sunrise in the Main Lodge lobby to head out for a sunrise photography session and stay in the field until mid-morning.  Breakfast will be available at the main lodge or on your own.  After breakfast we meet up for image review.  The workshop ends at 1PM.

Required Photography Equipment

Camera: A SLR-style digital camera or a point and shoot that allows you to manually set your shutter speed and aperture is highly recommended. A variety of lenses ranging from 18mm to 200mm. Most of the time, you’ll use something in the 18mm to 70mm range, but the other focal lengths are useful.

Filters: A polarizing filter (example) and vari-ND filter (example high-end: Singh-Ray Vari-ND, example entry-level: Opteka Variable Neutral Density) are highly recommended. Two and three step ND grads with a holder and rings for your lenses are optional (See this newsletter for more info about NDs).

Other Suggested Equipment: Bring a tripod, your camera’s manual, a USB thumb drive and a laptop computer.

We’ll send out a full equipment list a month before the workshop.

Example Photos From Last Year’s Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop

Last year’s Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop on Lake Superior surprised us with a late-season snowfall. Combined with the runoff, it made unique photos.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop on Lake Superior.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

This year December seemed more like November, and November seemed more like December. Usually on the north shore, we get waves — lots of waves — in November, but this year it was relatively calm, and then December happened. Constant winds blowing across Lake Superior drove waves to Grand Marais and made for great photography. If you follow my photography on Facebook, you probably saw some of the photos of wave action that I managed to get during the month. If you didn’t I added a new photo gallery on my website for Grand Marais Lighthouse Waves. As I sort back through my images this winter, I’ll add more. Right now I have a few from this year and a few from the Extra-tropical Cyclone of October 2010 and other events as well. All in all December was a great month for photographing waves in the northland!

How Do You Know When There Will Be Big Waves on Lake Superior?

Last month on Facebook, I was asked, “How exactly would a person know what the waves are like up there? I am in the Cities and have been dying to see big waves.”

Here’s my answer:

It’s a black art of weather prediction. The waves get best for us on northeast and southwest blows. Although a really strong wind from directly east, west or south can also give us good waves. North and northwest winds do nothing for us. The shore will be calm on those winds.

Waves are created by wind and their size results from the combination of wind speed, wind duration and the fetch (distance that wind blows over the water). To get bigger waves you need a long fetch (NE & SW), strong winds and the wind blowing for a long time.

With 15 to 20 mph wind from the right directions we’re likely to see between 2 and 6 foot of waves depending on the time the wind is blowing. With winds between 20 and 30, we’ll often see 6 to 8. When winds get above 30 mph is when the big waves hit.

The Grand Marais lighthouse works best on 20+mph days with SW winds. It can also go with south and really big NE winds. The East Bay explodes with NE winds. If it’s raining and the NE winds are blowing often the downtown parking lot in front of the Co-Op will flood, because the water level of the East Bay rises with a storm surge and seiche which prevents the water from draining out of the parking lot.

There are a few tools you can use to help your search for waves. The first is the NOAA Marine Forecast  and the second is NOAA’s Great Lake Forecasting System.  Both have flaws, they often predict waves bigger than we actually get, but they give you good info to go off of.

I use the tools and combine that with NOAA’s weather forecast for Grand Marais (or wherever I’m at). I look back at the weather history for the last few hours, look at the forecast and then make that black art prediction about whether or not we’re going to have the right weather to make big waves.

But the quick and dirty answer is there will be waves if the wind blows from the northeast or southwest at 15+ knots for longer that a couple of hours. For big waves, the wind needs to blow at 20+ knots for four or more hours.

Mogul’s Ice Bar

If you’re in the area this winter, make sure to stop at Caribou Highlands to see the sculpted ice bar. I had the opportunity to photograph the ice bar on the night it opened. You can see a picture to the left. After I photographed it, I stopped in a Mogul’s to chat with a buddy of mine and had Mogul’s hamburger. I’m a big fan of hamburgers and I’d have to say that Mogul’s serves one of the best on the north shore. See more picture Mogul’s Ice Bar website.

Shameless Self-Promotion – Lake Superior Photography Workshop Edition

December brought about some exciting news for me. My Winter Photography Workshop filled up. We added a waiting list. If we get four people to signup before Feb 3-5, I’ll teach another workshop on that weekend. It’s $250 at Lutsen Resort. To sign up call 218-663-7212.

I still have space in my North House Folk School Capturing the Frozen Shore: Photographing Lake Superior in Winter 1.5-day photography workshop March 9 to 10. This is a bargain at $135. Call 888-387-9762 to sign up.

We opened up the Lake Superior Spring Waterfall Photography Workshop for sign ups. This is a fun one. When the winter snow pack melts, it flows 100s of feet off the highlands down to Lake Superior through basalt canyons and over waterfalls. The ground thunders, and it’s one of the most amazing experiences to witness in person. The workshop is hosted by Lutsen Resort, runs from April 20th to the 22nd and costs $250. Call Lutsen Resort at 218-663-7212 to sign up.

Consider an one-on-one Lake Superior Photography Workshop if you want individual instruction.

Winter is a unique and great time to get your family portrait taken in Grand Marais.

Inexpensive Photography Resources

I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive ways that I can learn to improve my photography. Craft And Vision offers many ebooks for just $5 a piece. I have almost every one that they produced and I really enjoy them. Something to check out if improving your photography is a new year’s resolution.

Photos From the Northland

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the northland from December.

Happy New Year!

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at January 2012 Newsletter – The Grand Marais Photography Update.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

I’m trying something a touch different with my blog for the next couple of months. I’m adding a monthly newsletter and updating the blog in the middle of the month, so you’ll see two posts a month. Please, give me feedback if it works for you. I may split the newsletter off from the blog if it gets popular.

Grand Marais Photography in December

December in the northland is the perfect time for doing a little Grand Marais photography. The town is slow until near Christmas, it’s sleepy, we may have snow, we may not and there’s not much else going on. What is going on though is that the sun rises at about 7:30am and sets at 4:15pm, so you can sleep in and still get a picture of the sunrise and you can get home before supper after shooting the sunset. That makes December Grand Marais photography perfect.

December Reflections

December is also a good time for looking back on some of the pictures taken this year. Here are a few that I really enjoyed making this year. Click on the thumbnail to see the full image.

In addition to taking lots of photographs this year, I took a 45 day long kayaking trip. See a picture of what I looked like while taking that kind of trip under the Shameless Self Promotion section.

December Photography Advice

This time of year, Grand Marais photography almost always involves a sunrise or sunset — did I mention that it rises and sets over Lake Superior? To capture it, you need Split Graduated Neutral Density Filters (ND Grads). These even out the brightness between the sky and the ground, which makes a better photo. All of the above sunrise pictures were made with ND Grads and without the ND Grads the pictures would be impossible to take.

Here’s what you need to use ND Grads with your DSLR camera:

1. Cokin P filter ring sized to the filter threads on your lens.
2. Cokin P Holder (saw off two of the slots so you don’t see the extra holders when you use it with a wide angle lens)
3. OR a kit: Cokin Holder plus ring

You then need to buy the actual filters. I recommend getting two ND Grad filters. One soft and one hard. Both in three stops. If you just want to try the filters out without spending a lot pick up number three on the list. I use number two on the list 90% of the time. If you’re going to buy two, buy either both high-end filters or both entry-level filters.

1. High-End Filter 1: Singh-Ray Galen Rowell ND Grad Soft transition in 3 stops: Great for inland lakes and scenes.
2. High-End Filter 2: Singh-Ray Daryl Benson Reverse ND Grand in 3 stops: This is perfect of Lake Superior.
3. Entry-Level Filter 1: Cokin P121: If you just want to buy one filter to try it out. This is the one.
4. Entry-Level Filter 2: Cokin P121S ND Grad: A softer transition. Similar to #1 in the Singh-Ray selection.

To use these filters, you screw the ring into your lens, attach the holder and then put a filter into the slot on the holder. You look through your viewfinder and move the filter up and down and side to side until the transition line (where the filter switches from clear to gray) aligns with the horizon. If the horizon is uneven, you need to align it so it disappears within the unevenness. Setting your aperture at f/8 or f/11 and pressing the depth-of-field preview button on your camera helps you see the transition line more clearly.

Shameless Self Promotion

This is the part of the newsletter where I push my products and services on you. Here’s what I have going on:

• I still do outdoor portraits in December.
• Lake Superior Winter Photography Workshop: This year’s workshop happens on February, 10 to 12, 2012. I love this workshop and it always fills up. At this point, we still have space, but if you’re thinking of joining me this year, you should get signed up soon.
• If the Winter Photography Workshop doesn’t fit your schedule, consider a one-on-one Lake Superior photography instruction or a small group Lake Superior photography workshop. I do these by appointment. We figure out when it works for your schedule and head out to get great pictures and work on what you need to learn.
• Spring Waterfall Workshop and Fall Photography Workshop: I’ll have the dates set soon.
• Gales of November 2012 Photography Workshop is set for November 9 to 11th, 2012.
• With the holidays coming up soon, you should give my 2012 Northern Landscapes calendar away as a Christmas gift or consider giving a print. All my photos are available as a print. If you don’t see the photo online that you want, let me know and I’ll make sure to make it available.

This Newsletter/Blog thingy that I’m doing is available by email. Sign up here. Please, pass this along to your friends (you can email them a copy by pushing the “Share” button below). I appreciate all the support that you have given me over the years.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at Grand Marais Photography – December 2011 Newsletter.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

This photo is from the Kadunce River near Grand Marais, Minnesota.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at A Stream Inside a Circle.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

In February, Lake Superior starts to freeze. Thick sheets of pack ice get pushed up onto the shore making a maze of blue ice to walk through. This ice also makes an interesting subject to photograph — the deep blue of the ice contrasts with the splash of color during the sunrise and sunset, which occurs out over the lake each day. Combine the unique shore ice with all-day-long, golden-hour light, sea fog and open water, and you have the conditions for award winning photography. Join me on Lake Superior for one of my Winter Photography Workshops and capture stunning images of the big lake in a season when most people stay away.

• When: February, 10 to 12, 2012 (full)
• Added session!: February 24 to 26, 2012 (still space left) – Call 218-348-7864 or email me at bryan@bryanhansel.com to register.
• Workshop Fee: $250/person
• Lodging From: $99/night
  Dining: Meals will be available in our Lakeside Dining Room and Poplar River Pub
• For Reservations: Call 218-663-7212 or 1-800-2LUTSEN (258-8736)
• More Info
• Winter Photography Workshop Package
  

Winter Photography Workshop Activity Descriptions

Like my other photography workshops this winter photography workshop in the Lutsen and Grand Marais area combines classroom time with plenty of field-work time and a final review.  You’ll learn photography techniques for landscapes, how to stay warm in February temperatures, and how to keep your camera running in the cold.  There’s plenty of time for one-on-one instruction with the small group size.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Meet at 7PM for introductions and two classroom presentations.  The first discusses how to stay warm.  The second presentation focuses on keeping your camera gear running in the cold temperatures.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
The day starts early with a morning session on the Lake Superior shoreline photographing the sunrise.  Then we will break for breakfast which is available at the main lodge or on your own.  We’ll assemble after breakfast for a brief classroom session and then head back out into the field for a full-day adventure.  Box lunches may be ordered at the front desk.  Depending on the weather, we may hike deep into a canyon of a North Shore river to photograph frozen waterfalls, or we may visit multiple locations warming up in the van before we venture out.  After sunset, we will break for dinner.  After dinner you may use the classroom to sort through the day’s pictures.  Bryan will be around until 9PM to answer questions and give feedback.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
We assemble before sunrise in the Main Lodge lobby to head out for a sunrise photography session. A late breakfast will be available at the main lodge or on your own.  After breakfast we’ll have a slide show.  The workshop ends at 1PM.

Required Photography Equipment

Camera: A SLR style digital camera or a point and shoot that allows you to manually set your shutter speed and aperture is highly recommended, but other cameras will also work.

Filters: A polarizing filter is highly recommended. Two and Three Step ND Grads with Holder and rings for your lenses. Learn more about filters for this workshop.

Other Suggested Equipment: Bring a tripod, your camera’s manual, and a laptop computer. Call for recommendations.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at Lake Superior Winter Photography Workshop 2012.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

Canoeing in the Fog, originally uploaded by Bryan Hansel.

Via Flickr:
Canoeing on Sag in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A dense fog covers everything.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at Canoeing in the Fog.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

Over the past 17 days, I’ve canoed about 250 or so miles from Crane Lake to Lake Superior via the Border Route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I joined Amy and Dave Freeman of Wilderness Classroom. They been out all summer and paddled over 2,300 miles from the Great Slave Lake to Superior. On our last night out we witnessed some of the best Minnesota Northern Lights that I’ve seen. They were as red as blood and bright bright green. The Minnesota northern lights were the best way to end of trip. What a treat. Here are a few photos of the northern lights.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at Minnesota Northern Lights over the Pigeon River.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis

My Northern Landscapes 2012 – a Lake Superior Calendar features pictures from Grand Marais area of Lake Superior. Four of the images come from the surrounding area; they represent George Washington Pines, the Flute Reed River, flowers near my house and the northern lights over Northern Lights Lake. The rest are from Lake Superior.

The calendar is printed on sturdy card stock and is 11 inches wide by 17 inches long when open. The colors jump off the page. After 2010, I felt bad recycling mine, because the images looked that good.

Image Locations

Here’s a list of where the Lake Superior calendar images were taken:

• Cover: Artist’s Point in Grand Marais
• January: Paradise Beach
• February: 121 Beach
• March: George Washington Pines
• April: Flute Reed River
• May: Artist’s Point in Grand Marais
• June: Near my house in Grand Marais
• July: 121 Beach on the Superior Hiking Trail Lake Walk section
• August: Near the Grand Marais campground
• September: Near the Grand Marais campground
• October: Northern Lights Lake on the Gunflint Trail
• November: Artist’s Point in Grand Marais
• December: Grand Marais

Buy Now

Buy my Lake Superior Calendar for $19.99 now. Buy it from Lulu by clicking here now.

Click on a thumbnail to see the full image.

This is a post from Bryan Hansel Photography. Respond and ask questions at Northern Landscapes 2012 Calendar – a Lake Superior Calendar.

Share and Enjoy

ShareThis