Thursday, April 30, 2015

Wind Blades on Deck

Johanna C
The freighter Johanna C waits at anchor to unload a load of wind turbine blades at the Port Terminal.
Utility companies such as Minnesota Power have learned to harness the power in the wind to mix with other energy resources that power the country.
Johanna C

Dawn Arrival

With sunrise now occurring before 6AM, sometimes the best part of the day comes and goes without notice.
Paul R Tregurtha

This morning, the Canal Park gulls were already busy at 5:30AM as the 1000ft Paul R Tregurtha arrived in Duluth under clear skies and mild temps in the 30’s. With a cool breeze off Lake Superior drifting inland, and the dawning of another “Superior” morning, somehow the pertinent news stories of the day seemed to get lost in the wash of light and sound that can be found on the shores of the big lake.
Paul R Tregurtha

The ocean freighter Joanna C  lays at anchor in the background waiting to unload its cargo of wind turbine blades.

Paul R Tregurtha arrived Duluth 04/30/2015

Paul R Tregurtha arrived Duluth at 5:15 this morning.
Paul R Tregurtha

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Apollon arrived Duluth 04/29/2015

Apollon arrived Duluth at 16:00 today
Appolon

April 29, 1871: The Ishpeming finishes the initial cut of the Duluth Ship Canal

Harbor News from Zenith City Online:
On this day in Duluth in 1871, the initial digging of the Duluth Ship Canal was completed by the Ishpheming. On September 5, 1870, the steam-powered dredging tug took its first bite out of Minnesota Point at what was plotted as Portage Street—the path that for hundreds of years had been the Ojibwe and French […]

Monday, April 27, 2015

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Federal Kushiro arrived Duluth 04/26/2015

The Federal Kushiro arrived Duluth at 18:00 Today.
Federal Kushiro


Kitchi Gammi - Shining Big-Sea-Water

The Ojibwe, the Voyageurs, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the poem “Hiawatha”, all seemed to agree that the best description for Lake Superior is Kitchi Gammi, the Shining Big-Sea-Water.

For hundreds of years, man has stood on the shores of Lake Superior and has been awed by its immensity and majesty.
Federal Kushiro
When ocean freighters (salties) arrive in Duluth, they often will go to anchor off Park Point until its their turn to load grain. For a photographer, this is a great opportunity to capture a scene that includes the big lake, the big boats, and the big sky all in one place.

In this scene, the Federal Kushiro waiting at anchored off Duluth takes it’s place among the gulls, fisherman, and waves while the sun breaks through the horizon to start another “Superior” day.

I have been photographing scenes like this for more than 25 years, yet each one is a different mix of elements that makes each scene special and unique.  There is nothing like viewing the mighty shores of Lake Superior to make you feel humble and thankful for a new day and the gift of life.
Federal Kushiro

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." - Revelation 4:11

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Friday, April 17, 2015

Project #4 Progress Report 4/17/2015

Project #4 Progress Report 4/17/2015
The goal of this project is to analyse the internet connection speed, camera setup and network traffic at the Marine Museum in order to optimize available internet bandwidth and minimize camera pauses.
  1. Issue - both cameras have occasional pauses due to bandwidth use and speed limits.
  2. Bandwidth does occasionally bounce into the 4MB upload limit.
  3. The bandwidth needed by each camera stream depends somewhat on the light conditions and busyness of the view.  i.e reflecting morning sunlight on the waves doubles and triples the need bandwidth until the sun moves out of the scene.
  4. Last week we raised $600 to investigate ways to optimize these two cameras.
  5. I have hired a local computer company to examine the internet/network connection to see if speed can be improved.  We will be starting this examination next Monday and hopefully get these two cameras streaming better then ever.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Loons have returned

With the tree frogs croaking in the swamps, the loons returned to the Northland to join in the chorus.
I took this photo this evening on Caribou Lake this evening, three days after the ice went out.
Common Loon - Caribou Lake north of Duluth

Monday, April 13, 2015

Question - for those who watched streaming video of the KOM today?

For those of you who watched the KOM arrive on the Canal cams:

  1. Did the video stream smoothly?
  2. Was the sound OK, including the Visitor Center announcements?
Please answer in the comments below.  I am still working on the performance of those two cameras and I need your input. 

Den

KOM arrived Duluth 04/13/2015

The ocean freighter KOM arrived Duluth at noon today, making it the first saltie of the year.


1st Saltie will arrive today

The 1st Saltie of the year, KOM, will arrive late morning.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Friday, April 10, 2015

Northern Lights

With the Northern Lights being so active recently, I thought I would put together a quick story.
The Northern Lights

Camera Status - Fundraiser


Update - 4/10/2015 - 20:00 == You folks never cease to amaze me.  In eight hours we raised the $500 for this project.  Next week I will be scheduling a technician and will keep you posted on the progress.
Thanks again!

Den
--------------------------
The cameras at the Maritime Visitor Center have been having quit a bit of pausing and stuttering this year.  I need the get this fixes, and have tried everything I know that might be causing the issue.

The next step is to hire someone to come in a look at the network and see what can be done to increase the speed so the streaming is not interrupted.

Our goal is to raise $500 in order to find out what can be done to improve performance.

Thanks for your help and patience on this issue.

Den

Burns Harbor arrived Duluth 04/10/2015

The Burns Harbor arrived Duluth 07:15 this morning.

John G Munson arrived/departed Duluth 04/10/2015

The John G Munson arrived Duluth early for a refueling stop and then departed for Two Harbors.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Update - Ice Convoy

Breaking News -- Updated 09:00 -- The Kaye E Barker is ice damaged -- See Story

An incredible convoy of boat is being set up in Whitefish Bay to move through the ice pack.

Photo from Grand Rapids Press
See more image

Monday, April 6, 2015

Ice Jam in Whitefish Bay

The ice conditions on the eastern end of Lake Superior are proving to be a challenge. With eight boats and four cutters slowing working their way through the ice field, it will take a few more day to clean things up.  


Saturday, April 4, 2015

Full Moon

Tonight's Full Moon over Lake Superior was an awesome display of God's universal timing.


Mesabi Miner arrived Duluth 4/4/2015

The 1000ft Mesabi Miner arrived Duluth at 06:40 this morning

Friday, April 3, 2015

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Mesabi Miner departed Duluth 04/01/2015

The 1000ft Mesabi Miner departed Duluth at 15:30 today

Camera Update!

FYI,
We have installed a speaker near the cameras that are located on the Marine Museum. After some tweaking, we should be able the clearly hear the announcements made in Canal Park, along with the boats and the bridge.

Once there is more boat traffic, I should be able to make the final adjustments.

Thanks again to all who donated to the camera fund.

Den

Light Transitions - Bayfront Pak

The hour of the day where daylight fads into night is an enchanting hour. This 300 image time-lapse  taking over 45  minutes last evening is an attempt to capture the "Light Transition".