Hello,

Yesterday I drove up to Duluth to go lighthouse flightseeing again. When I called the pilot @ 9:30 am, he said there was a chance for lake effect snow but said that it was clear at the moment. When I left Lake Elmo, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. By the time I got close to Duluth, it was snowing really hard, and I couldn't see more than a mile ahead. I thought the pilot would cancel the flight, but he said that it could be clear up by Split Rock. So, we took off.

It took us about 30 minutes to get to Split Rock. It was snowing so hard by the lake that we almost flew by the light. We circled around Split Rock about 5 times, waiting for a break in the sky. Finally, there was a break in the sky, and I was able to get some decent shots. I'm still sorting through the photos. Here are a couple of pictures.





Tammy

Tammy, I didn't think that anything could top the pictures of your orcas but I was wrong! These pictures of Split Rock are absolutely beautiful!!! You did a great job of taking the pictures and I thank you very much for sharing them with us!!

WOW!!

Boy, does that water look cold! Great pictures.

Tammy...you have such incredible talent for taking aerial shots. I am happy for you that your efforts to get to fly over Split Rock were rewarded with these beautiful photos.

Split Rock is in my top 5 of favorite lighthouses that I have ever visited. When John and I were there this past July we didn't want to leave.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, everyone. I'm happy that some of my photos turned out, considering the conditions. If I have a chance, I'll post a photo from the first 30 minutes when it was snowing hard so that you can see the difference.

Lorie, I've had a lot of practice with aerial photography this year. This was my 5th flight. I think my photos keep getting better. Good lighting, a fast lens, and a good pilot also help. The pilot I flew with was the same one I went with in the fall. He has done some aerial photography, too.

Maybe I'll have the chance to photograph Split Rock from the air again in the spring or summer.

Great job. Looks like those will make beautiful prints. - Dan Sheehan

Superb pictures! Photography at its best! You get "four" thumbs up for those pics!

Bob

Fantastic photos Tammy! Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures and the narration of how they came about. I agree with Jim, that water below the light sure looks cold. I just have to visit Split Rock someday.

Bert

WOW!
Thanks for sharing!

Great shots, Tammy! Your photos are always fantastic.

I'm so jealous. I've never seen Split Rock and your images make me drool! Lovely capture! I need to get out and do some shooting this week before the Lake completely freezes over. I've been so tired from raging hormones I just have not had the energy to go freeze my derierre!

Great pictures, I wish it snowed over here

While talking to Ken Reese today he asked if I had seen these photos, Tammy. They are spectacular! I am a lover of flying over lights and this is a great example of what you can shoot from above. Thanks so much for sharing.
Derith

Zachary, we barely had a white Christmas in Lake Elmo. We have about an inch of snow on the ground at the moment.

Derith, I still regret that I missed out on the opportunity to go lighthouse flightseeing with Ken Reese and others in the UP in August...

I photographed 19 lighthouses from the air in 2004. I think Split Rock is easier to photograph because it sits on a cliff above the water.

Finally I got through all of the photos that I took. I have to share one of my photos that I took when it was snowing so hard that we almost flew by the lighthouse. I dumped most of them. But I thought it would be fun to keep a few. I know that I could improve this with PS Elements. But I wanted you to see what the conditions were like.



Here's a photo taken from the other side.



Finally, here's one of my favorites. This photo was taken on one of our last passes by the lighthouse.



Thanks for looking!

Tammy

WOW, Tammy, those last two pictures are so crisp and so clear!! They don't look like pictures - they look like I was actually seeing them! You did a great job - thanks for sharing them!

Tammy,

Your photos -- especially the last ones -- are absolutely breathtaking.

bobo

Tammy,

Great photos!!!!

Dan

Just out of curiosity, what are those buildings near the lighthouse? Do people live there? Coast Guard people? Or are they office buildings? Just wondering.

Great pictures, Tammy!!! Thanks for sharing them with us!!!

It's amazing that such different conditions came about from the same flyover time. Thanks for posting more outstanding pictures Tammy.

Eskilady...the 3 buildings by the side of the lighthouse were the original lightkeeper houses. All 3 are identical in size on the outside and the interior. When we were there in July, the tour guide said they wanted the head-keeper and the 2 asst.-keepers to have the same homes so there was no complaining about the living conditions.

The first house closest to the lighthouse has been restored and is open for tours.

I also should have said that the building next to the lighthouse is the fog signal building. You can see the large black fog horns on top of the building. There is a nice display of information about the lighthouse inside this building.

Tammy, forgot to ask if you had a window that opened on the plane or if you shot through glass. Again, love these very cool shots. -

Dan Sheehan

Great photos, Tammy. Thanks for sharing.
Judy

Eskilady, the State of Minnesota took over this lighthouse in the early 70's. I think Lorie answered your other question.

Dan, I was lucky to be able to shoot with the window open. That's really helpful (unless it's really windy.) I had to shoot through the window on 2/5 flights this year and on a helicopter last year. (By the way, I still have your website bookmarked and was looking at your deer photos again the other day.)

I just got off the phone with a pilot from Alaska, and I'm looking forward to seeing some Alaska lighthouses in June.

Tammy

Tammy,

I cannot top what was already said in praise for your efforts, but I can thank you for posting them.

Thanks !!!

Barry

Tammy, I just want to add my post with many thanks for sharing your wonderful images. Patience is a virtue and coupled with your photographic skills you have pleased many observers here on the forums. Keep up the great work.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

Guess you can't hear this enough... GREAT PHOTOS Thanks Tammy.

WOW OUT OF THIS WORLD! Man they are beautiful, thanks so much for posting them.

Really great pictures Tammy! I like the one with the heavy snow, but I think my favorite is the last one. Really Great photos.

Bert

Your pics are fantastic. Is your Camera a digital.

Yes, these photos were taken with a digital camera. Thanks to Jen, I just sold my last film SLR camera. (I still have 2 underwater point and shoot film cameras...)

Looking at nikon D70. How many meg pix doyou have. Did you blow up those pictures yet and are you happy with them.I have been looking at revews for 6 mon. I think I'm going to make the switch.Some say film is better others say dig is great.
Thanks
Fran

Fran,

Digital is better for me because I've been enjoy wildlife photography, and the subjects are usually moving. I take a lot of pictures of the same thing and then print the best ones. I discard a lot more than I print.

These photos were taken with my new Canon EOS 20D, which is 8 megapixel. A year ago I bought the Canon Digital Rebel, which is 6 megapixel. I got some nice photos with the Digital Rebel, too. The biggest difference I notice is that there is less noise when shooting 400 speed with the 20D. Plus, 5 fps is great. I can't wait to try photographing my next whale breach.

I had 8 x 10 prints made of the 4 photos I posted here, and they are great. (They look better than they do here. I still find that when I reduce the resolution size of a large print to the size that we can post here, that it doesn't look as sharp.)

Do you know who Gary Martin is? I was surprised to find that he bought a digital camera....

You may want to start a new topic to get advice.

Good luck!

Tammy

If your saying that the ones you enlarged are better than what you posted I'm sold. Your pics come across so clear and sharp. Thats what im looking for. I will still post later maybe I can get more suggestion. Thanks so much.
Fran