Derek Montgomery Photography >> Blog » Aerial Lift Bridge

Morgan & Shelley :: Duluth, MN Wedding Photography

DRock — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:18:02 +0000

Awhile back I spent the day with Morgan and Shelley on a boat (sorry, no nautical-themed Pashmena Afghan), near a century-old tower given to the city of Duluth by a Norwegian Prince and under one of the most amazing sunsets of the summer. The two had elected to get married aboard the Vista Starr, which is a small cruise-ship that tours the shoreline of Duluth along with the Wisconsin and Minnesota harbors. Kristin coaches soccer with Morgan at St. Scholastica and she even took a few photographs during the ceremony including a pretty sweet wide shot of the boat during the ceremony...

It was an awesome day for a wedding and be sure to check out the surprise ending to their ceremony. Hint: Morgan is a soccer coach and this was early July...

The guys save Shelley from a passing rain cloud...

The kiss, the Lift Bridge... nice. Photo by Kristin.

Vuvuzelas!!!

Hey you guys!! Holy Mary Mother of God, Look at that… the tall ships are coming!!!

DRock — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:19:35 +0000

A couple of weekends ago, an armada of tall ships descended upon Duluth for the Tall Ships Duluth festival. I photographed their arrival for the Duluth News Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio. Throughout their time here, I could not stop thinking of various "Goonies" phrases. The two that came to mind the most were Sloth's infamous "Hey you guys!!!" and the Sheriff remarking "Holy Mary Mother of God, Look at that..." at the end of the movie when One-Eyed Willie's ship finally finds the open sea.

The event was a big deal for the city. Two years ago, three tall ships came to Duluth and so did an estimated 125,000 people to see them. Many waited hours in line to get a tour and if you weren't in line by 10 a.m., chances are you weren't getting on the ship. At one point, the line to tour the ships stretched over a mile. The problem was much less of an issue this year since there were nine ships instead of three.

During their five days in Duluth, they were the talk of the town. Whether it was the traffic, the crowds in Canal Park or the constant reminders of one of cinema's greatest movies of all time in the Goonies, the tall ships left an impression on everyone.

The U.S. Brig Niagara sails through the Duluth ship canal toward the Aerial Lift Bridge during the start of the Tall Ships Duluth festival.

James Smith reaches for some oil to apply to the Pride of Baltimore's mast while the entire crew performed general maintenance on the ship ahead of Duluth, Minnesota's tall ships festival. The ship was docked at Loon's Foot Landing in Superior, Wisc.

Chief Mate Alan Morse sands near the bow of the Pride of Baltimore II while it was docked at Loon's Foot Landing in Superior, Wisc.

People get out their cameras and photograph the Pride of Baltimore II as it sails through the Duluth ship canal toward the Aerial LIft Bridge.

The U.S. Brig Niagara approaches the Aerial Lift Bridge through the Duluth ship canal during the start of the Tall Ships Duluth festival.

People line the roof of the Paulucci Building before the start of the Tall Ships Duluth festival.

The U.S. Brig Niagara approaches the Duluth ship canal on its way toward the Aerial Lift Bridge during the start of the Tall Ships Duluth festival.

Helicopters fly by the U.S. Brig Niagara during its entry under the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth, Minn.

The HMS Bounty sails under the Aerial Lift Bridge during the start of the Tall Ships Duluth festival. The HMS Bounty was in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead's Man Chest."

Lili Carranza (left) uses her brother Jack Carranza (right) as a prop for taking a photo of the approaching HMS Bounty as it neared the Aerial Lift Bridge during the start of the Tall Ships Duluth festival.

Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge can be seen behind the sails and masts of the U.S. Brig Niagara during the Tall Ships Duluth festival in Duluth, Minn.

Sea Smoke :: Duluth, MN

DRock — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:42:46 +0000

When the temperature in Duluth gets insanely cold, sea smoke rises from Lake Superior and shrouds the shoreline and anything out in the water in an eerie mist. On a simpler level, it's basically fog formed when very cold air moves over warmer water. The same principle leads to lake-effect snow.

I have no idea how in the previous three years that I've been up here that I never made it down to the shore or up along Skyline Parkway to photograph this amazing event. I have no doubt I will be returning later this week for some more shots. To get these, I had to rise at 530 a.m. and drive down to Canal Park. I made it there way too early as I waited in the parking lot for almost an hour before any light broke through the horizon. At about 7 a.m., the parking lots began filling with other people who had the same idea as me. They lugged their tripods, cameras, jackets and mittens out to the shore to capture what in my mind is one of nature's most awesome spectacles around these parts. The temperature when I stepped out of the house this morning was a balmy 21 below zero with wind chills approaching 35 below. Beautiful day.

The shots of the lighthouse were taken in Canal Park while the shots from above were taken along Skyline Parkway. Next time I am going to have to remember to bring my tripod as I missed some cool shots right when the light was breaking through, but I'm both happy with my first effort and in awe of what Mother Nature shows us each and everyday.