Another Flutterby
Friends, The last few days I have been chasing butterflies in Crex Meadows, and stumbled upon this beauty. I think it is a Wood Nymph and i love the eyespots on its wing. Now the disgusting part, he is sitting on animal scat of some kind and this is the most reliable place to find butterflies this time of year. Wish it had been perched on a pretty flower but alas, I have blackened that part of the image. Forgive me for photoshoping, but it really was disgusting . til Tomorrow MJ
The Search for the Blue Karner
Friends, the Blue Karner butterfly is rare even in Crex Meadows. This tiny blue butterfly is about the size of a nickel, and has distinctive markings on the back side of the wings. My friend and I have searched many places for this lovely blue and never found them until I retired up north. Now every year I go in search of them partially to renew old times and to reassure myself that they are still there. This one is for Cheri til Tomorrow MJ
Lifeboat
Friends, In 2010 when the tall ships entered Duluth, I took hundreds of images and put them together in a book titled “Tall Ships and Other Lifeboats”. This year I didn’t take as many images but the lifeboat theme is still in my perspective. When the Niagara went by my vantage point, I centered on the lifeboat strapped to her side. I realize that photography has always been my lifeboat. til Tomorrow MJ
Niagara
Friends, the tall ship Niagara entered the harbor at Duluth during the Tall Ship Parade. She is one of the larger ships and sits flat on the water. I wasn’t in love with the color version, so rendered her in black and white, then in sepia to give it an old time flavor. Which version do you prefer? til Tomorrow MJ
First out of the Gate
Friends, this image is a bit surreal, but the ship was very far out and tested my long lens. Today was the start of the Tall Ship Challenge Race from Duluth to Whitefish Point across the Lake Superior. Four days are allotted to cover the over 300 miles on the water. The Pride of Baltimore was first across the start line at noon today, and she has all her sails up trying to catch the wind. The wind was very slight today and some of the heavier ships were having difficulty getting some momentum. til Tomorrow MJ
Young Cormorant
Friends, while shooting the tall ship parade, we were entertained by some cormorants that were feeding nearby. This juvenile has a beautiful turquoise eye, never noticed their eye color before. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Masterpiece
Friends, this tall ship, the Sorlandet, is truly a masterpiece in workmanship. She is 210 feet in length and looks smaller than most because its sails are safely tucked away . When this fully rigged ship has all sails out and full of wind, she should be quite impressive. But during the parade she sailed in without sails. The crew did display her flags and these were pretty flying on the breezes. So I am showing you one of the three tall ships of Norway. til Tomorrow MJ
Tall Ship Parade
Friends, this ship was the first tall ship to enter the Duluth Harbor yesterday in the Parade of Tall Ships. She is the Pride Of Baltimore and that is written on the yellow flag flying from the top of her mast. Jim and I were able to ride aboard this ship in 2010 and she is truly a very fast ship. You can see in this image that she leans away from the wind when her sails are full. Love the tall ships. til Tomorrow MJ
Tall Ship Day
Friends, I am very excited today we are going to Duluth to photograph the tall ship parade as 10 ships enter the Duluth harbor from the mighty Lake Superior. This is an image of the Niagara as it entered the canal marked by the little lighthouse in 2011. Lots of history concerning the war of 1812 is connected to many of these ships and I hope to be in this same spot today to photo their entry. In 2010 we had 12 ships for the festival, but in 2011 and 2012 only 2-3 ships were present for the show. In 2011 you can see the weather was less than favorable, but today dawned bright and cheerful so good images may be possible. til Tomorrow MJ
Pink and White
Friends, not a spectacular image but a softer feel to this pink and white. I think these are dogbane, what an awful name for a sweet little bloom, these are about 1/2 inch and this branchful were about 2 inches across. Some of the blooms are out of the focus range but i like the softness. Not sure i like all the stems near the bottom, what do you think? til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 