Survival Days

from flickr user Aynchent1
A street scene from Survival Days and the West Concord Historical Society Car & Truck show at West Concord Survival Days in West Concord, Minnesota.

Orange on Purple

from flickr user djsime
During the height of summer, green seems to be the dominant color but this photo showcases the colors that you sometimes need to dig for -- vibrant purples of the flowers and striking orange of butterflies.

T-54

from flickr user -Chad Johnson
The base of a wind turbine ~ Dodge Center, Minnesota

Red Bull Flugtag - Little Red Corvette

from flickr user LinderRox
Inspired by Prince's " Little Red Corvette" - This Red Bull Flugtag flying machine's front hubcaps actually spun around.

Red Bull Flugtag

from flickr user LinderRox
The Twin Cities edition of the Red Bull Flugtag featured this duck in flight which looks like it flew right through the crowd. I'm sure it's only an illusion but it makes for a cool photo at St. Paul's Harriet Island.

Red Bull Flugtag - Twin Cities

from flickr user gomattolson
Favre's Wingmen. Notice the second piece of this "flying machine" far below the main portion. If this Red Bull Flugtag flying machine is any indication, Brett Favre needs new wingmen.

Historic Holman Field Beacon

from flickr user John Pihaly
The Holman Field (Downtown St. Paul airport) beacon with the skylines of both downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis both visible at sunset.

Evening at Lake Calhoun

from flickr user muppetofdestiny
A mostly silhouetted photo of two youngsters on a tire swing could very well be the poster for early evening summer fun in Minnesota but in this case it's a very nicely done photo.

Duluth Air Show 2010

from flickr user nitch217
USAF Thunderbirds Sneak Past!

Bastille Day

from flickr user benbrlsq
I won't pretend to know much about this photo but based on its tags this was the Bastille Day celebration at Cafe Barbette in Minneapolis on Sunday evening.

Push! I said push!

from flickr user twinflight
Apparently boats at Sunday's Aquatennial Milk Carton Boat Race on Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis float better than others. Seeing this makes me want to build one and see how awesomely I could fail.

Tour de Fat, Minneapolis

from flickr user smoncrieff
The Yard Dogs at New Belgium Brewery's Tour De Fat in Loring Park.

Minneapolis superhero

from flickr user IIJanies PhotosII
It's not ever day that you find a superhero in Minneapolis but I'm sure with CONvergence 2010 being held over the weekend that women in bikinis like the one pictured weren't just spotted poolside or on Minnesota's lakes.

Lansing Corners

from flickr user Ruin Raider
The photographer says: Lansing Corners Fine Foods, near Lansing, MN. north of Austin. Empty and for sale for about 2 year's or so. If anyone has more info please post, this place is just really neat. I have been going past this for about 5 year's and alway's wanted to stop in but, a city boy would have been lost.

Having grown up in Austin, I'll bite. It truly was a one-of-a-kind restaurant. It' was what I consider to be a true supper club and on weekends it was usually packed despite the fact that it sits about 7 miles outside of any part of the populated city. Apparently it needed extensive renovations (both kitchen and dining areas) and rather than make a sizeable investment, it sank in to foreclosure and eventually an auction in which the minimum asking price wasn't met. So here it sits many years later likely to meet the wrecking ball as people spend their dining dollars at the Perkins and Applebees of the world.

Town Hall

from flickr user Ruin Raider
A rather non-descript town hall at Mount Pleasant in rural Goodhue Co.

Weezer

from flickr user Joe Lemke
One of my personal favorite bands, Weezer, at this year's Basilica Block Partin Minneapolis.

Sunset at the Airport

fom flickr user cassandra7788
Minneapolis St. Paul Airport
Minnesota
July 2010

Sunrise over Leroy, Mn

from flickr user TannerWolfe
The photographer says: I forgot I stopped one morning on my way down to Riceville Iowa to go fishing and as this storm was moving in the sun was just started coming up to make a eery effect over the farm ground. This is made up of 5 images stiched together by eye in photoshop and adjusted and erased by hand.

Strength of the prairie

from flickr user Gretcholi
This is the beautiful end to a horrible storm that caused hail and winds over 70 mph and a tornado that took out power lines and a home less than 3 miles from here... (in rural Blue Earth County in southern Minnesota)

River Current

from flickr user NVJ
The photographer says: Between the Two Step Falls on the Baptism River @ Tettegouche State Park. I ended up taking this picture from underneath a tree because it had started raining. I was hoping it would be a passing shower but 5 minutes later I found myself climbing over a clay and tree root mess and running back up there stairs to camp.

Stone Arch Morning

from flickr user Alex.Noriega
The photographer says: Thought I'd take a break from the morning lake shooting and do my first Stone Arch Bridge shot with the 24mm. I can't wait to get back here during blue hour with some crazy clouds.

More photos to check out

Last week on Twitter I hinted at a new blog I was working on. Holding true to my word, I present you with Minnesota River Valley Photos. Unlike MinnPics, Minnesota River Valley Photos is more geographically focused and will feature whatever photos I feel characterize the uniqueness of the Minnesota River Valley. In no way will this be a vast collection spanning the entire length of the Minnesota River but in my daily travels I'm always noticing gems worthy of being photographed so bookmark, subscribe to the RSS feed or ignore it completely (don't do that, I have feelings too). See how long it lasts until I run out of material.

Retired

from flickr user mark schermerhorn
A unique look at the retired Minnesota Twins numbers with original signage featuring Minnie & Paul above the outfield of Target Field in Minneapolis.

Virginia Blue

from flickr user Rob W Jackson
Virginia, MN high school marching band flag bearers. Virginia's band is college-quality in performance and precision. This is a highly anticipated highlight of the 4th of July parade in Eveleth, Minnesota

Walking on water

from flickr user pete (aka Amanda)
The small lighthouse adjacent to Duluth's lift bridge is probably one of the city's most photographed structeres but this photo is the best of that location I've seen yet. Obviously taken after a rainfall, the glass water captures a reflection so deceptive to the human eye that it appears that the lake has taken up residence on the walkway leading to the lighthouse and the only way to the outpost is to walk on water.

A forgotten Oliver?

from flickr user mygeekdaddy
Tractor (an Oliver 1950 outfitted with front wheel assist) parked off a minimum maintenance road south of Le Sueur, MN.

Snow Cone Fireworks

from flickr user zman z28
Taken from Stone Arch Bridge at the Red White and Boom Fireworks display.

Fireworks over Sleepy Eye Lake

from flickr user ndtish
Another excellent fireworks photo - again from Sleepy Eye, MN. The colors in this one fly off the screen much more than the previous photo. Impressive! Now I'm curious what my photos from the St. Peter, MN fireworks display turned out like.

Fireworks over Lake Sleepy Eye

from flickr user nuphotoguy
When we think of Fourth of July fireworks in Minnesota, it's always the metro-area celebrations that get all of the attention. However, some outstate locales put on a pretty good show too.

This photo taken over Lake Sleepy Eye (which I can only assume is in or near Sleepy Eye, MN) captures not only three fireworks shells exploding but a killer reflection on the lake and the deep blue silhouette of some clouds in the distance. Nice work!

Pedestrian Subway

from flickr user mspdude
A former Duluth Street Railways streetcar crosses over a pedestrian underpass that was built for the crowds of streetcar passengers going to Lake Harriet.

Minneapolis Street Art - Uptown

from flickr user tristanu
I need a future. Everyone does.

GB Leighton: Natalie Murphy

from flickr user duluthdesigned
She definitely has stage presence in one of the most widely-known Minnesota bands of recent memory. I've always loved how amazing photos taken under stage lighting turn out. This photo was taken during Grandma's Marathon weekend in Duluth, MN.

Young Buck

from flickr user dtredinnick13
A spectacular photo showcasing a young Whitetail Buck Deer making its way through a grassy area near sunset. He has apparently noticed something and while he looks alert, the deer was not spooked enough -- or the photographer was quick enough -- to sprint out of the perfect photo setting.