November 2011 Newsletter
I remember a good friend once told me that when he was growing up his mother would always photograph significant events in his family’s life. It sort of became a family joke that an important event did not take place until his mother took a picture of it. He also went on to tell me that he never saw any of these photographs but that did not matter because the action of having his mother go through the motions of creating a photograph was enough to validate the event. After my friend told me this story I immediately identified with his premise; the act of taking the photograph can have as much impact in our life as the resulting physical evidence.
As a landscape photographer I believe the activity of photography is as important as the final product. I know that I spend much more time at a given location than most casual tourists. I arrive at the location well before dawn or stay well after sunset. Most of my time is not spent in the actual act of photographing but rather looking and observing the place where I am at. I see many groups of tourists come and go during a typical photographic outing.
I believe that the visual exploration with a camera of a landscape (urban or natural) offers a deeper understanding of the land, environment, and the human/nature relationship than most people ever delve into. This exploration can offer wonderful windows into our hearts, mind and soul.
Check out Click! a project by the Smithsonian Photography Initiative about how photography changes everything.
It has been a busy fall as I continue my studies at St. Scholastica. The gallery had a tremendous turn out for our “One Special Place” exhibit, helped by the feature on Art Hounds MPR radio (thanks Julie Caruso.) Last month I completed a project in Southeast Minnesota for The Nature Conservancy a great organization that is alway a joy to work with.
This month’s newsletter includes a short article about proper histograms for printing images, and the featured workshop at the Madeline Island School of Art.
Stop by the gallery if you get the chance on your next trip up north.
Sincerely,
John Gregor
November 2011
September 2011 Newsletter
The summer was an active one for me. The gallery was busy all summer long; thanks to those of you who stopped in we enjoy your visits. The Newfoundland workshop was a blast and we discovered some new areas and I returned with some of the best images I have made in Newfoundland. We had great light and a wonderful group. As many of you may already know I have gone back to school. I am currently working on my Masters of Education through St. Scholastica College in Duluth Minnesota. The degree is entirely on-line and I will graduate in 2013 with a MEd and an emphasis in web-based instruction. School has been engaging, challenging, and exciting. I have learned a few new things–so I guess you can teach an old dog some new tricks…
I am pleased to announce an all new web site. I have had a web page for over 15 years and it seems like every three or four years I have completely redesigned it. Check it out: www.coldsnap.com, in particular check out the new and expanded portfolio section.
I have written a short article about photographing the northern lights, and about the Photography Day at Living History Farms in Des Moines Iowa.
On September 24th from 3-5pm we open “One Special Place” at Waterfront Gallery. Sue, Val and I are very excited about this exhibit. We have brought together 22 of the top photographers who work around Lake Superior and asked them to submit one image of their favorite place on the lake. I have seen the images and they are great! The opening promises to be a festive affair–join us if you can. The exhibit runs Sept 24–Nov 5, 2011.
Stop by the gallery if you get the chance on your next trip up north.
Sincerely,
John Gregor
September 2011
November 2008 Newsletter
Winter is in the air up here in the north-country. I am rushing to finish the last of my commercial projects before end of the season (ok I am pushing the season a little.) I look forward to that brief 
period of time between the holidays when my commercial season has ended and the new year has not yet kicked into full swing. I can sleep in a few extra mornings, relax over a hot cup of tea and reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and worry a little about what the new year may bring.
A couple of weeks back Waterfront Gallery hosted a seminar on historic photographic processes and digital preservation of contemporary images. This seminar was very well attended and the subject matter was well received. I have decided to reprint the notes from my presentation in this newsletter. Digital preservation is the Achilles Heel of the digital process, it is curious to me that the camera magazine press has not given this important subject more attention.
John Gregor
February 2009 Newsletter
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we may experience the unusual event of a completely frozen lake. The ice offers great photographic opportunity, in fact there are several spots along the shore where the stack ice has begun to form already.March 2009 Newsletter
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April 2009 Newsletter
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July 2009 Newsletter
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graduated from the University of Minnesota, University Without Walls Program (I was much too independent to complete a conventional degree program-I wonder where my daughters get their independent streak…) with a degree in “Documentary Photography of American Culture.” The attached photo is from Hubert Humphrey’s Funeral in 1977 which I covered for the school newspaper at North Hennepin Community College. This photo won “Best Spot News Photo of the Year ” for Minnesota College Newspapers.November 2009 Newsletter
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March 2010 Newsletter
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May 2010 Newsletter
Spring has arrived.
This year I am fortunate as I landed photography contracts with two organizations that I admire and respect; The Nature Conservancy, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Scientific and Natural Areas. My contracts are to photograph selected nature preserves. Included in one of the contracts is language that I must (where possible)” walk the preserve site from north to south and east to west.” Rugged duty-going for a walk in the woods, but someone has to do it-right? While I will not get rich on the money from these contracts I enjoy spending the time in the woods photographing and contributing to the efforts of the above mentioned professional organizations.
This season promises to be a busy one as I have filled; the Minneapolis “Art of Seeing”, the “Wildflowers & Waterfalls, and the “Summer Reflections” workshops. The “Circle Tour Workshop “and the “People and Place Workshop” still have spots available. All of these workshops promise to be exciting, fun, and educational experiences. In addition I am pleased to announce a new “Art of Seeing” workshop in conjunction with the Paramount Visual Arts Center in St Cloud Minnesota. For more information or to enroll go to the Paramount Arts website, or call Derick at (320) 257-5928.
In this newsletter I am continuing the series on composition with an article on “Composition; Creating Space In Your Photographs,” I have also included an article about geo-tagging your photographs. 
If you come up north stop by the gallery--the teapot is always on.
June 2010 Newsletter
Paul Gruchow was a good friend of mine and my mentor.
His writing is always inspirational, and I recall with great fondness our many excursions in the outdoors. About twelve years ago I had the honor of illustrating a book of his essays about Scientific and Natural Areas called “Worlds Within A World.” Due to a very short publication deadline I only had the opportunity to illustrate a handful of the essays, the rest were illustrated with stock photography. Yet, I cannot tell you how much fun it was to read the essays and then venture out to explore and photograph the places the essays depicted.
Paul was one of Minnesota’s foremost naturalists and probably our best outdoor writer. His passion for the outdoors and nature came through in his writing and his teaching. Our excursions into bogs, prairies, or the north woods was like having my own personal tutor about all things natural. Exploring nature with Paul was always an adventure and he loved sharing what he knew.
Sadly Paul died a little over six years ago. I have decided to include a regular column of quotes from his writings as a remembrance and promotion of his work. I hope you find as much inspiration in his words as I have.
If you come up north stop by the gallery–the teapot is always on.
January 2011 Newsletter
calls, and typically for most businesses it is a short week anyway. I can show up a little later to work, and take an extra day off if I feel like it, spend some time playing in the snow, or just dream of places I’d like to go. Ahh the week in between.March II, 2011 Newsletter
Originally posted March 2011
For most rural towns in out-state Minnesota the Community Library is the cultural center of the region. Money allocated by the Minnesota Legacy Fund (the 2008, 3/8th percent increase in the State Sales Tax) has allowed the Arrowhead Regional Library System to provide cultural and arts experiences to a wide range of adults and young people that previously were living too far away to have access. Currently the Minnesota State Legislature is re-assessing the Legacy Funding for the Arrowhead Regional Libraries, they are in the process of gathering public input on the effectiveness of the Legacy Funding of arts and cultural programs for the last two years.
I have had the wonderful opportunity to see firsthand how this funding has effected people living in rural areas and small towns. Last summer I was hired by the Arrowhead Regional Library System to teach a series of one-day photography workshops. The first workshops I taught were for teens. I taught 13 workshops in July, about 3 per week. These workshops were held in the community libraries throughout the rural and small towns of the Arrowhead Region. The workshops were very well attended with most libraries filling the limited number of seats available.
Unlike the metro region of Minnesota where arts centers and cultural museums and organizations seem to thrive on every other street corner rural Minnesota has very few arts opportunities. For many teens living in rural areas the local public library is the only arts and cultural outlet available because the local schools have had drastic budget cuts in the arts curriculum.
Please join me in contacting your representative to let them know that the Minnesota Legacy Funding for the Regional Library System is critical for providing arts and cultural experiences in rural and small town Minnesota.
To contact your representative go to: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.aspx?id=47
John Gregor
February, 2011
February 2011 Newsletter
Originally posted February 2011
Winter has settled in up here in the north country. And quite a winter it is turning out to be. Sub-zero temps and lots of snow. I don’t mind, in fact, it is shaping up to be a great winter for photography. I must also admit that every time the weatherman reports another “coldsnap” is on its way, I smile and think; “ahh free advertising…..”
The lake has begun to freeze over-although a complete freeze over is very rare, ice has begun to cover many of the bays, harbors, protected waters, and the narrow part of the lake nearest Duluth. It is too early for stack ice, as that doesn’t occur until late February or early March. I will send out a general announcement once I begin to see ice form on the shore near Two Harbors.
I am continuing my series on 12 Locations of Light-12 of my favorite places to photograph on Lake Superior. Featured here is Part Two in the series.
“Summer Solsitice” is the featured workshop this month.
Both of the Winter Wonderland workshops have filled. I have added a photo-shoot portion to the Fine Art Print workshop for those who are interested in some field time as well as computer lab time, there are 2 spots available in this workhshop.
March I, 2011 Newsletter
Originally posted March 2011
Despite the recent snow/rain mix there is definitely a spring feeling in the air. This winter has been quite nice with several beautiful snow storms and just enough shore ice to keep things interesting, although we never got an accumulation of stack ice along the shore. I continue to teach workshops for the Arrowhead Regional Libraries with about 7 more to go in the next two months.
TheNewfoundland trip still has spots available and promises to be a great adventure. Normally I fly into St. John's to teach the workshop but this year I am considering a change with a road-trip via Nova Scotia. I will retrace my route around the Bay of Fundy, Cape Breton Island and Cheticamp from a hitch-hiking adventure in my college days--I wonder if I'll bump into those two gals from Long Island who gave me a ride... I look forward to camping a few nights in gravel pits with some native Newfies (its a Newfoundland thing) and finally leading a great workshop in a beautiful land.
Speaking of beautiful land; closer to home Split Rock Arts has opened registration for the Summer Solstice Retreat at the Cloquet Forestry Center. Here on the North Shore the Wildflowers and Waterfalls, and People & Place Workshops have spots available.
This month I have written the first in a two part series about tripods. Next month will feature the second part of the series.
Keep the faith--green grass, robins, and magnolias are right around the corner! Stop by the gallery on your next trip up north.
Sincerely,
John Gregor
March 2011
April 2011 Newsletter
Originally Posted April 2011.
This last weekend I was in Madison Wisconsin to teach a two day workshop at Olbrich Gardens. If you have never been to Olbrich you must put it on your list of places to visit. It is a spectacular garden in downtown Madison. While it was early for the outdoor gardens there were crocus and snowdrops in plentiful bloom adding clumps of color to the grass lawns. In the gardens I saw my first robin of the year-a sure sign that spring has arrived. I had a great time with the workshop participants including a dedicated group who got up early on a rainy dreary morning for a sunrise shoot at Olin park on Lake Menona. We had a wonderful time photographing the bare branches of gnarly oaks against the heavy overcast skies.
Up north here the melt water has begun its annual run-off. The rivers are a mix of snow, ice, and melt water. Sometime in the next week or so the ice cover on the rivers and streams will break up and big chunks of ice and snow will flow downstream into Lake Superior--a totally unpredictable but awesome event.
In this newsletter I am finishing up the second half of the article on tripods, and I have featured the Summer Solstice Retreat at Cloquet Forestry Center through Split Rock Arts.
Watch for the spring bloom of the pasque flower (shown in the photo above) this prairie bloom should begin to make its appearance sometime in the next 2-3 weeks.
Stop by the gallery on your next trip up north.
Sincerely,
John Gregor
April 2011
May 2011 Newsletter
This last weekend I was in Des Moines Iowa for a two day workshop. We had wonderful light for our sunrise although admittedly it was a tad on the brisk side-at least cold enough to make your hands stiff after a few minutes in the wind, but our group hung tough and made some great photographs.
Tomorrow I head out for a four day Spring Ephemeral photo shoot in Southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. In Wisconsin I have the good fortune to have an excellent guide, John Zoerb a wonderful photographer and native plant expert. I will let you know what he shares and what I discover.
The Split Rock Arts Summer Solstice workshop is getting close to full, if you are planning to sign up you had better contact them. Last I heard there were 4 spots left.
The Wildflowers and Waterfalls workshop has 6 openings left. This workshop offers the best of the North Shore in Spring-ok early summer-either way it will be a blast.
People and Place-dance to the wonderful sounds of the Two Harbors Ukulele Group (THUG)-or photograph others dancing. One of the locations and events we will be visiting is the informal country hoe-down at the Silver Creek Town hall held the last Friday of every month. While we never know who will show up to play or dance one thing is for sure there will be lots to photograph....
In this newsletter I have given some tips in how to prepare for a wildflower trip just like the one I am going on. I have also included some of my favorite places to go.
Stop by the gallery on your next trip up north.
Sincerely,
John Gregor
May 2011
June 2011 Newsletter
A Student at Chicago Art of Seeing Workshop
Recently, I was in Chicago for the third annual “Art of Seeing ” workshop. We had beautiful light and weather. We started our workshop at the Calumet Photographic Cherry Ave Store in downtown Chicago, a great store packed with lots of toys to drool over. We spent the afternoon photographing at the Lincoln Park Zoo and surrounding park. The following morning we photographed the Chicago skyline at sunrise from North Beach Park–a great view. We spent the rest of the morning photographing at the Lincoln Park Conservatory Prairie Garden and Pond, located next to the Lincoln Park Zoo it is a little known and little used escape from the city, if it weren’t for the traffic noise you wouldn’t know you were in the middle of the city. We completed the workshop with a review of everyone’s work at the Lincoln Park REI store’s Community Room. Chicago is an elegant city with lots to offer photographers of any style.
Last month I ran an article about preparing for spring photo shoots. In the article I mentioned that a “700 inch” lens as the workhorse of most nature photographers. This was a typo, the Constant Contact software did a spell check change that I did not catch. I apologize for any confusion. The proper reference is to the “70-200mm” lens which is one of my go-to lenses. A 700 inch lens would be a monster to carry!
As of this writing there is only one spot remaining in the Split Rock Summer Solstice Photography Retreat. Wildflowers and Waterfalls has 4 spots remaining. People and Place has several spots open.
I have put together a new fall workshop. This workshop is a three day workshop September 30 through Oct 2nd. The emphasis of this workshop is shooting in the field. Check it out at: Superior Fall Color; Fall Color on the North Shore.
Stop by the gallery if you get the chance on your next trip up north.