North Shore Spring Waterfall Workshop - May 2016

June 06, 2016 • 2 Comments

The weekend of May 20 - 22, I participated in the North Shore Spring Waterfall Workshop. Don and Peter just keep getting better and better at leading these fabulous workshops! They picked some great locations and I keep learning some new techniques.

On Friday, I arrived about an hour and a half before dinner. So I checked in and stopped at Palisade Head where several adventurers were getting ready to rappell down the rocky cliff. A couple of guys agreed for me to take their photos, while kayakers paddled below.

Rappelling and Paddling along the Lake Superior ShorePalisade Head in Beaver Bay, MN on May 20, 2016

After having dinner at Camp 61 and our meeting to go over our agenda, some of us went to the Lake Superior shore to capture the full moon.

Full Moon Rising Over Lake SuperiorSilver Bay, MN on May 20, 2016

On Saturday, the next morning we met in the lobby at 4:45 AM and went to the rocky beach below Split Rock Lighthouse to capture the spectacular sunrise.

Sunrise

SunriseSplit Rock Lighthouse in Silver Bay, MN on May 21, 2016

Then when photographing the other side of the beach, much to our amazement, a yearling and her mother appeared at the edge of the woods. We all had our wide angle lenses on for capturing landscapes, but it turned out that's all we needed. The yearling confidently walked right past our camera bags and Terri, sitting on the beach, to get a drink from Lake Superior. I think she was about 4 feet from Terri and about 10 feet from me. All five of us photographers were completely still, not to spook the deer and ruin this magical moment.

Thirsty YearlingNear Split Rock Lighthouse in Silver Bay, MN on May 21, 2016

Meanwhile the mother doe watched anxiously from the edge of the woods.

Be Careful of Those StrangersNear Split Rock Lighthouse in Silver Bay, MN on May 21, 2016

Eventually, the mother doe decided it was safe and joined her yearling for a drink.

I Told You It is Safe MomNear Split Rock Lighthouse in Silver Bay, MN on May 21, 2016

We had a well deserved breakfast at the hotel, while telling Peter what he missed while he slept in. Then off to West Branch Falls, where we spent lots of time learning to capture silky water along with colorful foreground flowers.

Marsh Marigolds by the RiverWest Branch Falls on May 21, 2016

Then before lunch we stopped at Glen Avon Falls where there are many opportunities to capture different mini water falls.

Emerging WatersGlen Avon Falls on May 21, 2016

Peter has a way of getting photographers to think out of the box to capture very creative images.

Hands-on Lesson on Capturing the FallsGlen Avon Falls on May 21, 2016

Since we had a long, exciting morning we had to have a quick lunch and image critique session, then off to Tettegouche State Park. After a hike up and down lots of stairs we spent some time capturing High Falls. The mist coming out of the falls made a spectacular sight!

MistyHigh Falls in Tettegouche SP on May 21, 2016

As usual, Don was giving great expert photography tips on location.

Giving Expert Tips on Capturing the FallsHigh Falls in Tettegouche SP on May 21, 2016

Then on the way back we went down the steps to photograph Two Step Falls.

Swirling WatersTwo Step Falls in Tettegouche SP on May 21, 2016

Looking down river we were treated with a rainbow when the sun hit the spray.

Rainbow

RainbowTwo Step Falls in Tettegouche SP on May 21, 2016

After having dinner at the Northwoods Family Grille in Silver Bay, that evening we endured the extreme lake effect temperature drop at the beach in Silver Bay to capture the full moon rising over an island.

Moon Over the IslandFull Moonrise over Lake Superior in Silver Bay, MN on May 21, 2016

On Sunday morning, Don gave a great Lightroom / PhotoShop lesson along with critique and advice on our images we presented. Then off to Caribou Falls where three of us wanted to get a unique perspective. So we walked through the flowing river to the rocks below the falls to capture scenes like this...