Photos
Selective Focus: Hypercaffeinated
Hugh Reitan, untitled
Interpretations of our theme ran the gamut this week from loose to literal, from graphical to perfectly-banal. However, Hugh Reitan’s hyperkinetic take was irresistible as a feature photo (regardless whether caffeine, or pure glee was the stimulant responsible). Based on some tales swapped at Tycoon’s, next week’s theme will be “capers” (no, not the pickled flowers- stunts, escapades, pranks). (more…)
Selective Focus: Vintage
Ava Francesca Battocchio, “Nopeming”
Not an oenophile or single-malter in the house, eh? Not to worry, lots of other great takes on “vintage” this week. I even took some liberties to pair my Grandma Mohrbacher, on what looks like the Duluth pier (anyone?), with myself and my Grandpa’s Electrolux- a company he sold door-to-door for while living here in the ’20s. Fun facts. (more…)
Selective Focus: Perilous
Richard Narum, untitled
Mother Superior seems to have held a prominent place in the psyche of many of you who considered our “perilous” theme. It conforms to a theory of mine regarding what makes this area so unique; when you’re daily reminded that life is tenuous, highs and lows are more pronounced, and halcyon days are more precious. (more…)
Selective Focus: Blanket Fort
Marija Majerle, untitled
This week’s theme is simple, merely a matter of where you feel secure; whether that’s among your family, with a loved one, even out in nature, or at a favorite watering hole. Next week let’s see images of the people, places, and things that make you insecure, test your mettle, and remove you from your comfort zone. We’ll call the theme “perilous,” and again, your broadest interpretations are encouraged. (more…)
Where in Duluth?
Saw this one this morning. It’s tiny, but it stood out, so maybe someone else will remember seeing it.
Found: The Elusive West Duluth Snowy Owl
If you’ve followed Perfect Duluth Day closely for more than a year, you might know that my wife and I are the world’s laziest and lousiest birders. We have cheap binoculars and cameras, and basically just try to keep an eye out while we are engaged in an activity like cross-country skiing. Last year, during an owl irruption in the Duluth area, we saw zero owls. The only snowy owls we had seen in our lives, before today, were in captivity at the Lake Superior Zoo and the World Bird Sanctuary in Missouri.
We had a few failed missions last year, seeking the elusive snowy at Rice’s Point and the Bong Airport. After hearing reports of sightings near Duluth Business University and Wade Stadium this year, we decided to give it another try. We saw a bald eagle at Grassy Point within minutes, and figured that was a good sign. We knew from reading Sparky Stensaas’ blog post about Superior Snowy Owls that it’s generally easier to find them in a stupid place, like on a football scoreboard (in his case) or a piece of industrial equipment (in our case) than in a beautiful wilderness environment, so we were only moderately surprised to find our gal at Erie Pier in West Duluth, perched on a bulldozer.
Selective Focus: Resolve
Erika Fryklepak, untitled
With “resolve” I’d asked for images of what you’d like to leave behind in the new year — vices, habits, excess, etc. — as well as things you hope to carry forward and to cultivate — whether those are things as tangible as a garden, or more ephemeral- like say, gratitude, mindfulness, or empathy. (more…)
Where in Duluth?
Time for another installment of Perfect Duluth Day’s ultra-thrilling photo-trivia sensation. Where in Duluth was this shot taken?
Selective Focus: Light
Marissa Murdy, untitled
Given the perpetual greige skies of Duluth this late-December, looking at last week’s light-themed photos was a necessary pleasure. And, as I can see no reason now to stop being seasonally appropriate, our theme next week will be “resolve.” Again, here’s a word that is capable of many possible valencies: tenacity, commitment, coming into view, and more. (more…)
Selective Focus: Getting Around
Kip Praslowicz, untitled
This week’s entries covered a wide spectrum, though I had hoped someone might have submitted that jet outside the American Legion Post 71, or even a shot of illicit substances (I mentioned conveyances of any sort, yes?). Bear in mind, our themes are open to your broadest possible interpretation. The ironic, the cheeky, and the challenging… all are welcome here (except perhaps the snarky).
(more…)
Selective Focus: Time
Marija Majerle, untitled
Nice to see so many diverse interpretations of this week’s time theme: down time, killing time, bath time, seasonal time, time capsule, even perhaps “time to break your lease” (thanks Tyler).
(more…)
Select Images from the 1934 Denfeld Oracle
Back in the day, Denfeld art students competed in the Proctor and Gamble contest, the Scholastic Award or the House Beautiful Cover Design contest. Miss Genevieve Bancroft was the art instructor, with the assistance of Miss Nellie Smith. (more…)
Selective Focus: Warmth
Marissa Murdy, untitled
It’s good to be reminded that however bare and frozen our present surroundings may be (though granted, there’s an austere beauty there too) that current conditions aren’t permanent, and are not beyond most of our abilities to moderate them — given enough light, loved ones, woolen wear, fire, alcohol, some occasional nudity … whatever is close at hand. (more…)
Selective Focus: Randomness
Kip Praslowicz, untitled
This is the debut of a new weekly feature on Perfect Duluth Day in which we showcase a collection of submitted pictures on a chosen theme. The first theme is “Randomness,” which is sort of the opposite of a theme, but provides some sense of the range of photos we’re looking for. The featured image is above; more images on this theme are below. (more…)
Halloween Banner Contest winner
The winner of the PDD Halloween Banner Contest of 2014 is Mark Ryan with this entry.
Honorable mention goes out to the submissions below. Thanks to everyone who sent photos, all of the submissions are now in the rotation along with photos from past years.
(more…)
Home dressed as the White house for Halloween
Be wary of any loose wall outlets, and don’t mind the smell of gasoline in the carpet.
My wife and I decided to turn our front window into a Breaking Bad themed display so our house could dress up for the holidays as a meth kingpin’s abandoned home.
Duluth Target discount store opens in 1962
Built in 1962, the Duluth Target store was one of four Targets built in the company’s inaugural year. Roseville was the first store; the other two opened in St. Louis Park and Crystal. Target President Doug Dayton said the new stores would, “combine the best of the fashion world with the best of the discount world, a quality store with quality merchandise at discount prices, and a discount supermarket.”
(more…)