Jim Richardson (aka Lake Superior Aquaman)
Fish Cam
I saw a family of mergansers diving in shallow water (~18 inches deep) by these rocks where I’d seen little fish before. After the birds had gone, I set my camera down there for an hour and 40 minutes in three different locations. Here I have condensed all the fish that swam by = three minutes of footage. If you wonder what mergansers eat, this is like a drive-thru restaurant for them. I would appreciate any help with identifications, there are at least 4-5 species represented.
Responding to a comment about how some of the fish seem curious about the camera, part of the reason may be it is simply blocking their way. This area of interspersed boulders is a maze-like bunch of trails for them to zoom around in all day. To keep my camera from floating, I had to pile rocks on top of it, essentially blocking one of their thoroughfares. Several fish come up to it in transit and squeeze over top of it or around, others turn back and go the way they came, adjusting their regular routes.
Lastly I will add that several times, pairs of fish (I don’t know what kind they are) seem to be playing. I think these may be the same pairs each time they appear. I have named the most prominent ones Herbert and Gerbert.
Dead Chipmunk Floats By
Spent all day setting up the underwater camera to get the mergansers diving in the area, but they were pretty uncooperative. Then this dead chipmunk floated by, so the day wasn’t a total waste haha. Anyway you can see what I’d wager is a talon wound on its side. Chipmunks live (and die I guess) all along the water’s edge, I frequently hear their signature chirping. Lots of vegetal flotsam in the water today too.
Exploring Madeline Island’s Rocky Shore
Wading/rock-hopping up Madeline Island’s beautiful bay shore of sandstone boulders. My little love letter to the island.
Fly Fishing for Brookies
Friends Alyssa and Max play hooky with brookies. Alyssa is also teaching fly tying at the Beer ‘n’ Bugs event at Bent Paddle.
Standing Alone
Duluth filmmaker/musician/artist Ariane Norrgard just premiered this at the Zinema. It is about Anishinaabe elder, Jim Merhar, of Coleraine Minnesota, who once rocked both the Armory and the Opry.
Standing Still on a Moving Ice Sheet
Magical Duluth.
One From the Vault
2014
Exploring Tischer Creek After a Rain
With my wing man Alyssa.
The Weird Hole
Chester Creek.
Walking My Portrait Home
Retrieving my portrait from the Duluth Art Institute, where it had been part of artist Sarah Brokke’s “Portrait of an Artist” show. On the walk home I stopped a few places, got my taxes done, and had some drinks. That’s my friend Troy there at the end.
Duluth is a Giant Ice Rink: Rose Garden Sunset Edition
I shot this a few weeks ago at the height of Duluth’s urban guerilla ice-skating craze.
Underwater Ice-scapes
Footage from the icy shallows of January.
Duluth is a Giant Ice Rink: Bombing Chester Creek Trail Edition
I would NOT do this further up the trail where there are sheer drops.
Duluth is a Giant Ice Rink: Joyride Edition
Abandoned car on the train tracks by the Lakewalk — just beneath Lake Place Ice Skating Rink Park.
Duluth is a Giant Ice Skating Rink, Park Point/Canal Park Edition
With underwater pancake ice.