2019 Photo Contest

Seeing Seasons

Spring

Wild River State Park. By Kay V. Christianson

FIRST PLACE: SPRING CATEGORY

Kay V. Christianson
at Wild River State Park

How would you describe the mood?

I use this poem whenever I show and share my nature photographs. It sets the mood for my pieces and holds true for this photo of the Night Heron:
Write your story,
sing your song,
illuminate your vision of the natural world.
That we may better see
our relation with Nature,
experience its gifts to us,
and deepen our love
and care for the earth.”
~ Bonnie Gisel

How did you set up this photo?

Whenever I go for a hike, my camera is always with me. I had not expected to see a black crowned night heron that day. But what an awesome surprise to come upon it and be ready to capture its beauty. It was a very lucky day!

2nd Place Honor
Itasca State Park. State flower grouping at sunset, alongside Lake Itasca; Showy Pink and White Lady Slippers. By Walt Huss

3rd Place Honor
Tettegouche State Park. In the hour preceding sunrise, colors can be intense. This view included "The Stack" of standing rock (which used to be bridged to the land), and Shovel Point in the background. By Steve Simmer

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.
The sun was shining and the flowers were blooming all over. This photo of the lighthouse was made from the top of Day Hill. By Mick Rollins — Honorable Mention
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. The sun was shining and the flowers were blooming all over. This photo of the lighthouse was made from the top of Day Hill. By Mick Rollins

Honorable Mention
Itasca State Park. By Jelieta Walinski PhD

Summer

Milky Way over Judge C.R. Magney State Park, July 2019. By James Misuraca

FIRST PLACE: SUMMER CATEGORY

James Misuraca
at Judge C. R. Magney State Park

Where was the photo taken?

From the road between campsite 5 and 6.

What was the mood like?

The entire campground was asleep and the wind was gently blowing through the tree tops. The night sky was so crystal clear and there was absolutely zero light pollution.

I couldn’t fall asleep for most of the night. I just stared at the sky and watched the stars curled up with my dog. Sadly our dog passed away a month later unexpectedly, so I will always remember this trip and that night as our last adventure together.

We hiked Magney, Grand Portage and Temperance the next day, but nothing else we saw was as beautiful as that night.
I also want to say, I just barely got into photography with a Canon EOS M50, and a few hours of YouTube tutorials. Anyone can take a shot like this with a little effort and the right night.

2nd Place Honor
Tettegouche State Park. This image was taken on one of the highest cliffs along Minnesota’s north shore of Lake Superior. With rocky outcroppings, plentiful streams and gorgeous foliage, it’s easily one of the best locations for photography in the Midwest. For this photo, I crawled to the edge and used a 14mm wide angle to capture the cliffs, lake and sunrise. By Max Foster

3rd Place Honor
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. A long exposure of Ellingson Island near Pebble Beach at Split Rock State Park. 20 second exposure during this misty morning. By John Keefover

Honorable Mention
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Nerstrand Big Woods. By John Rystad

Honorable Mention
Tettegouche State ParkReflecting on sunsets at Nipisiquit Lake. A friend and I hiked the Superior Hiking Trail from Tettegouche to catch a sunset at an inland lake. We made it just in time, and both shot through the sunset. Only I fell into the lake off of one of those logs though. By John Keefover

Fall

Maplewood State Park. By Alison Christensen

FIRST PLACE: AUTUMN CATEGORY

Alison Christensen
at Maplewood State Park

Where was the photo taken?

Just off the trail leading up to the Little Grass Lake hike-in campsite.

When did you take the photo?

It was early October, overcast, and pretty cold outside (as you may have gathered from boots and hat). It was very quiet and tranquil. Nobody else was nearby on the trail.

How would you describe the mood?

I felt like I had stumbled across this hidden magical fairytale land. You can’t see this from the photo, but there were orange and yellow leaves gently falling from the trees and hitting the surface of the pond like it was raining gold flakes in slow motion. And here we were just standing in the middle of it, almost like time had stopped.

2nd Place Honor
Itasca State Park. Itasca long & winding road. By Nancy Jahnel

Person biking on trail with fall colors on trees — 3rd Place Honor
Gateway State Trail. Approaching bridge over State Hwy 96. By Jim Schuder

Honorable Mention
Tettegouche State Park. Palisade Head, looking over Shovel Point. By Walt Huss

Honorable Mention
Jay Cooke State Park. St Louis River from new bridge. By Jim Schuder

Winter

Split Rock Lighthouse SS Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Lighting. By John Rystad

FIRST PLACE: WINTER CATEGORY

John Rystad
at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Where was the photo taken?

I was positioned close to the southern point on Pebble Beach within the park.

What brought you to this place?

The annual lighting of the beacon to honor the lives lost on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.

What were the condition like?

The day was unseasonably cold. I believe the temperature was around 15 degrees and I remember wondering if I had dressed warm enough to withstand the cold for the anticipated hours of waiting for the light to appear.

How would you describe the mood?

When I look at the image I think it generates a mood fitting the event. The water and clouds give it a cold and unforgiving feel worthy of the unforgiving lake. The light from the beacon and support buildings gives a feeling of warmth and safety.