Tettegouche November Photo

Photographer’s Note

Tettegouche November

Arch Rock
Tettegouche State Park
North Shore of Lake Superior
near Silver Bay, Minnesota

alternate title .. why men will not stop and ask for directions ...

Before we moved to Minnesota this summer I had spent some time scouting out photographs and photographers from the area. This arch was on the top of my list of places to find after our move.

Tettegouche State Park is about an hours drive from my house along the North Shore scenic drive. My first trip out was for a day hike with Andrew this summer. My brief look at the hiking map was done in a way that didn't seem to relate to what I found when we arrived. I followed signs to the main trailhead .. which was down a winding road from the entrance station. We took off down the trail. I mistakenly figured that "the arch" would be some sort of major attraction and well marked ... well I was wrong .. and had been disoriented from the winding road. We were actually a good distance inland. I soon gave up on finding the arch and Andrew and I followed the signs to the beautiful high falls of the Baptism river.

For our second trip in August I had done some more research and discovered. That the main trailhead that I followed last time was for the miles of inland trails. The trails to the shore all left from the rest area/main office of the park. I also discovered that my arch was not marked on any map. So Andrew and I arrived on a windy afternoon .. we left from the rest area trail head .. we quickly found a web of trails .. rarely marked with any signs .. We went with the flow of the largest path ... and ended up at the river mouth ... the black and white I posted a couple images back in my TE folio.

I knew from stories from various photographers I read online (about racing up from Duluth to catch the sunset ) ... that the arch could not be far from the parking lot ...

It took a couple months until I found the moment for my third attempt ... I arrived alone on a cold 16º F (-9ºC) November morning. Again I set out from the rest area parking lot .. I knew the river mouth was to my Southwest .. and that the arch had to to be somewhere along the Shovel Point trail to the Northeast .. I turned to the Northeast and followed the very first path down to the water I could find ... It was a short .. but very steep .. walk down to this rocky beach .. I was pretty excited to see the arch through the trees .. it ended up being along the shore essentially directly below the parking lot.

I set up my camera and did all my shooting .. at this point I am feeling so National Geographic ... here I am alone on an icy shore ... rain in the distance .. vast empty natural space. As I turn to head back up the path ... this couple appears .. they have a combined age of around 160 ... so much for my pompous self .. after we exchange pleasantries the man tells me "your going to have a nasty walk back up in this wind" ... well he was right .. but well worth it .. I hope they had as wonderful visit as I did .. I can't imagine I will be in condition to visit here some November 40 years down the road. I just hope to get here for a sunrise with the arch some morning.

I am adding a couple workshop images:
workshop one is just an image of the ice on the cold shore ....
Workshop 1 file info:
1/500 f/5 ISO 100 lens Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM

workshop two is another companion I met along the shore ...
Workshop 2 file info:
1/250 f/9 ISO 100 lens Canon EF 400mm f/5/6L USM

Minnesota State Parks:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html

Tettegouche State Park:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/tettegouche/index.html

bakes888, Buin, fulvio52, edal, saylan-cb, mvdisco, paura, gunbud, feather, Cricri, Didi, Atousa, danos, gracious, parbo, riclopes, angela926, Vasa, Angelillo, AROBN54, plimrn has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

batalay (20800) 2008-12-01 21:11

Hello John,

A fabulous photograph, accompanied by an extraordinary note, one that the National Geographic Society should enjoy. Are your permanently back in Minnesota now, or are you going back to Colorado?

Warm regards,

Bulent

bakes888 (18055) 2008-12-02 0:50

Hi John. You have the nicest companions for your excursions. I have trouble imagining the cold you have there, if it gets anywhere near zero deg C I turn into an inside sort of a guy. (doesn’t happen often here)
You have an excellent DOF in this shot, good colour and nice texture in the sky also. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

dvlazar (6472) 2008-12-02 1:35

A simple and effective landscape shot of the seaside here. The light and mood is calm - the iciness isnt obvious to the viewer.
D

Buin (37302) 2008-12-02 3:27

Hallo John!
A wonderful contribution to TE. The combination of photo, ws photos and your excellent and individual note is a real pleasure. I especially like the composition of this atmospheric picture.
Greetings from grey, humid and cold Germany!
Frank

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-12-02 4:31

Hi, John.
Greatly atmospheric and technically impeccable. I particularly appreciate the exposure, in my opinion perfect under the circumstances : light and textures are superb and the view speaks for itself. Excellent!
You have a good day, my friend. I'll be seeing you.
Hugs,
Fulvio.

edal (6567) 2008-12-02 13:33

Hello John!
Your capture is so different - it's an artistic presentation of the season - beautiful and forlorn... Workshops are a good addition, thogh every onr of them deservrs a separate presentation.
Very good colors, pov and composition.
Friendly regards,
Anton

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-12-02 14:25

Hi John,
This is a beautiful image wiht good captured the colours and ligh are wonderful.
TFS/Regards

mvdisco (11434) 2008-12-02 17:33

Hi John,
Nice presentation and composition,
good note and details,
Excellent perpective and colours,
Very well taken and done.
Michel

paura (38116) 2008-12-03 4:20

John,
A very beautiful capture here, with efficient lighting and colors management. The image is really very beautiful. The note is also very nice. well done!

Abraço

Paulo

gunbud (27729) 2008-12-03 6:08

Hi John,
Lovely rugged typical Lake Superior beach. Love the gentle curve from the rocky beac to the majestic cliffs.
Beautiful brooding silver blue sky. Looks much like the beachhes I remember from a visit to Michigan's UP.
Regards, Tom

feather (49858) 2008-12-04 6:44

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your note and smiled at your suggestion for alternate title. This is so like my husband; he'll drive for miles getting further and further away from our destination before accepting defeat and then stopping to ask directions. Usually when walking we don't have the option as we rarely see anyone else. ;D
Without reading your note I wouldn't get a hint about the ice-cold temperatures, as there seems to be a warm, gentle light. Then I noticed the ice on a couple of the rocks and of course in your WS. You have composed the image well with the curve of the shore-line leading the eye nicely to the arch. (What is it about arches we all find attractive!?) Your Bald Eagle friend would make a good main post for another day. An excellent and full presentation
Kath

Cricri (43030) 2008-12-04 9:58

Hi John
C'est une trés belle image suivi d'une bien jolie note et de WS intéressant et sympathique!!!
J'aime l'ambiance du moment ou la lumiére fait resortir l'ensemblent des couleurs, un endroit qui me semble agréable d'être...
Friendship
cricri

Didi (35900) 2008-12-04 18:35

Hi dear friend
Very beautifull morning lights with interesting exposure balance between sky and the deep foreground.
We are no lucky with the weather in my place, no chance for taking pictures.
All tehe best for you.
Take care

Atousa (3434) 2008-12-06 23:49

Salam John,

Very nice compo to present this beautiful nature..I like its soft colours a lot n also the clarity throughout the image..peaceful n atmospheric...after reading the alternate title , I found it interesting to know that it is an international subject/problem :-)
TFS
Best regards, A

Waylim (10717) 2008-12-07 0:41

John,
this is a very refreshing image, It must fairly cold up the in November. I do not know too much about Minnesota. when I was in a refugee camp in Thailand, one of my neighbor was going to Minnesota, they left in December to go there, that must quite a shock with the cold comming from Thailand. Anyhow, this is a wondful image with great composition. The landscape is very beautiful, I would look into it if I ever pass by the area. Thanks John.
Way

danos (32090) 2008-12-07 1:18

Hello John,
nice and tranquil this November shot in the empty beach of Tettegouche State Park.I like the sharpness and the clarity of the scene as the two WS complete the whole scenery of the region.

gracious (20017) 2008-12-07 16:49

Hello John,
This is real good 16-35lens, even with this sort of weather and lighting condition, still brings out perfect clarity and sharpness over the lake, the focal point is top norch over the far distance on the Arch Rock!
I also loved the effect from the f/22 on the waves coming ashore!
many thanks for the sharing
you take good care and my warmest regards!!
a hug from Tony

parbo (10966) 2008-12-07 17:09

Hello John,

I'm admire your long exposure scenes. Here amazing effect on waves but the lights and colors are splendid too as same every time. Excellent addition of complementary posts. Congratulations. Have a nice new week.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

riclopes (32947) 2008-12-08 3:36

Olá John, very good long note describing the story of what we see here. Funny alternative title, btw ;-) This is a real beauty and I love the detail of the arch in the distance. It's a small detail in the background but everything leads to it and it's evident that its the main subject here. However, if I had to choose, I would pick the magnificent portrait of your friend in WS2 - what an impressive bird! But of course that this one is more proper to TE and the other to TN...I like to see the snow in WS1 too.
Have a nice day,
ricardo

Nicou (44341) 2008-12-08 6:18

hello,

Quel douceur dans les teintes, mangigique cette image, les douces vague, un très belle ambiance avec de merveilleuse couleur, grandiose.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

angela926 (1882) 2008-12-09 17:30

Hello John,
Fantastic capture, beautiful natural colors, lovely
light, superb sharpness and depth of feild,
excellent composition and pov and very
nice exposure.
Thanks
Angela

Vasa (5280) 2008-12-10 11:58

Hi John, friend,

wish to be on that beach in Minnesota - even in november. You show that a photographer can find his reason easily. Really nice impressionist toil. All compliments,

Branko

Hellas (5107) 2008-12-12 1:00

How much you love walking into nature shooting and discovering new things! Your word betokens the truth!
Great the vast horizon and the clouds in the depth (excellent thanks to f/22) and surely a beautiful corner of the seaside including Arch Rock, the terminus!

Have a nice weekend,
Athanasios.

Angelillo (9065) 2008-12-14 13:39

Hi John,

The cold light here is pure poetry. I like the sad / nostalgic mood of the light in this shot. Nostalgic but tender... Very well composed, with the stones in the foreground, and big depth! Very beautiful!

Greetings,
Angel.

danyy (68386) 2008-12-15 22:58

Bonjour John,
un endroit vraiment enchanteur que tu as photographié comme il se devait.
Malgré le peu de lumières, tu as rendu des contrastes forts et des couleurs bien franches.
Une bonne profondeur et un ciel que j'aime beaucoup.
Best regards.
daniel.

AROBN54 (10721) 2008-12-16 16:44

Oh, John,
this is just beautiful. The curve of the shoreline, the way the land comes down to a point, the way the lake and sky seem to be one in the distance. I love those soft colors and the quiet feeling it has. It reminds me of a fantasy book illustration. Truly a lovely shot. Many thanks and I hope you and yours are well. Happy holidays!
Shelly

plimrn (19592) 2008-12-27 18:24

Hi John,
In spite of the effective framing, perfect light management and detail; you note describing your odyssey is as just good as the composition!! ;-)
HLJ, pat

smarcell (14233) 2009-06-11 12:00

I like this wide angle lens view. The light is very beautiful. The cloudy sky increases the contrast-
Very nice
Regards Stefano