Green Water

It was about 4:00 in the afternoon. I figured the Cascade River would be in shade as it descended the various falls on the last leg of the journey to Lake Superior. Earlier in the day sunlight would have shined thru the trees creating numerous hot spots.

As we approached the river, right at the Hwy 61 bridge, the water was in complete shade. The sun was brightly lighting the green trees and with the blue sky the water reflected a shimmered green and blue. It stopped me right in my tracks.

It was more striking being there than I was able to capture (not all images are made with the camera) but here are a few I enjoy.

Roger

P.S. Feel free to leave comments, good or bad.

Tom Lake

After spending some time shooting High Falls, on the Pigeon River separating the US from Canada, Dale and I hurriedly drove out the Arrowhead Trail looking for a spot to catch the quickly approaching sunset. We somewhat randomly turned onto this dirt road followed by that dirt road. I had driven some of the spurs off the Arrowhead Trail last year looking for Moose and some of the places we went by this year looked rather familiar.

We turned onto Tom Lake Road thinking we might have a good chance of finding a lake (we're smart guys). Sure enough as the sun was dipping below the horizon there was Tom Lake. Knowing that we would have good light for upwards of a half hour after sunset we made some images from a few spots. This was out last location and produced the image I liked the most. The crescent moon make the shot.

Roger

Bookends

My brother Ralph (do yourself a treat and check out Ralph's photography and blog) likes to call Sunrise and Sunset the bookends on the day. October 4th treated us with two magical bookends.

The morning bookend was made at Hollow Rock Resort on Lake Superior. The evening bookend was made from Honeymoon Bluff over looking Hungry Jack Lake just off the Gunflint Trail.

Roger

Little Spirit Cedar Tree

On Oct 1, Dale and I began a photographic adventure along the North Shore of Minnesota. This was our first 'shoot' together, in fact it was Dale's very first 'shoot'. I'm sure we will do many more.

On the second morning of the trip we were treated with a visit to a very special place, the Little Spirit Cedar Tree. The Little Spirit Cedar Tree is located on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation and is a scared place to the Native American people.

My interest in Native Americans goes back to when I traveled extensively to the Anasazi locations in the Southwest and on the Indian reservations in the four corners area. I always had a special feeling come over me when visiting places like Chaco Canyon, Monument Valley, Wapatki, Canyon De Chelley and other Native American places.

The day we visited the Little Spirit Cedar Tree was not a grand day photographically but a grand day spiritually. Travis, whom Dale and I had recently met and is a Grand Portage Band member, was kind enough to take us to the Spirit Tree that morning. As we arrived at the tree Dale and I stood silently as Travis made his offering to the tree. Travis then gave us the opportunity to make our own offering to the tree. First Dale stepped forward then I followed. This was the first time I'd made an offering at a sacred site and it was very special.

I know I speak for Dale when I say 'Thank You Travis'.

Dale and I listened to Native American flute music a number of time during our trip including the trip home. It was a fitting end to a great trip.

Roger