The Light at Split Rock

Yesterday we saw the interior of the lighthouse and the lens that projected the light across the lake at 10 second intervals.

Today here are three views of the lighthouse itself perched high on the cliffs and you can see why it was so important to have a light to assist the safe passage of ships along this stretch of the lake.

Inside The Light

Today's images were captured inside the lighthouse at Split Rock Minnesota.

The lighthouse has a fascinating history and it is well worth looking it up here

It is no longer in use as a lighthouse but is the central feature at Split Rock State Park on Lake Superior's North Shore. 


It was wet and windy when we visited so it was a wise move to explore inside to get out of the rain (although I managed to get some great shots of the exterior too).

The first shot of the spiral staircase has been given a little treatment in lightroom using a vintage photo preset which I think adds a nice warm tone and gives the right feel to this shot of a century old staircase.

The next three images are of the lens from slightly different angles, it was a little tricky getting them as the light mechanism was moving the whole time.

The first one looks a bit like an eye and you can see the spectrum as sunlight passes through the lens elements.

The second one has a nice green tone and you can see a little of the framework that supports the heavy elements.

I shot the final image in black and white and it is possibly my favourite shot of the day but that is a matter of taste so if you have a favourite why not let me know and tell me why.

Getting Back to Your Roots

These impressive tangles are the roots of Eastern White Cedar, they were photographed at Gooseberry Falls in Minnesota. I loved the intricate abstract patterns of loops and whorls and I wonder just how old they might be. 

Three Views of Balance Two

Following on from yesterday's post here is another pebble balance from the shore at Duluth. Again I have photographed it from different angle so you have the horizon in one, the rocky backdrop in another and the wooded background in another.

From some angles this looks like quite a simple stack but in the first image you can see just how precariously these pebbles are balanced and you can see that it wouldn't take much to set the whole thing tumbling down.

I like the third shot because of the bokeh which looks really cool and I also like the fact that the biggest pebble looks a bit like a tongue poking out(at least it does to me).

Storm Over Horseshoe Bay

I really like these shots of Horseshoe Bay just off Highway 61 along Lake Superior's North Shore in Minnesota.  

You can see that there is a storm brewing out over the lake with the sun breaking through, or trying to break through the low clouds.

I  have applied a "cool light" preset in Lightroom to emphasise the moody nature of these scenes and I think it looks really impressive. I like the way the surface of the lake sparkles in spite of the overcast sky and I like the trees standing straight on the edge of the lake.

Grand Marais Harbour

For two days of our trip to Canada we went across the border into Minnesota to drive along the north shore of Lake Superior. One stop along the way was the town of Grand Marais which was a really nice spot with a harbour protecting the town and the boats from the extremes of the lake.

I like the lighthouse on the end of the harbour wall and even though it was a calm day you can't underestimate the importance of the lighthouse because the lake can be treacherous and many ships have been sunk after  crashing against the rocks along the shore.

I shot this scene in colour and in black and white. It was an overcast day with not a lot of strong colour so I thought that it would work well as a black and white image. I like both images but I think I prefer the colour image because it has a  warmth about it.

Dead or Alive

This Eastern White Cedar was growing on the bank near Gooseberry falls near Two Harbours in Minnesota. I was informed by another visitor to the falls that this was the fittest west these trees can be found as the prefer the more temperate climate of Eastern Canada and the USA.

We were amazed to see that was still actually growing as it was pretty much hollowed out. I think this is a really good perspective to see the twisted trunk, although my son managed to get a better shot (just don't tell him I said that).