MnDOT conducts aerial photography in Cass, Hubbard and Polk County

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation is asking residents not to disturb wood panel photography targets as crews begin aerial mapping in Cass, Hubbard and Polk Counties.

The survey mapping projects will take place in the following locations:

·         Cass- Highway 200 from the Highway 371 Casino Jct to three miles east

·         Hubbard- Highway 34 in the City of Akeley

·         Hubbard- Highway 64 from Highway 34 to north of 11^th Crow Wing Lake

·         Polk- Highway 2 from Erskine to Marcoux

The aerial survey process relies on clear observations, so it can only be conducted after the leaves fall from the trees and before the snow flies. To begin the process crews place an “X” on the ground as a reference point for the aerial photographer.

The mapping will create a record of existing infrastructure and landscape along MnDOT right of way for transportation planning and operations. “Crews paint large white ‘X’ targets on paved surfaces” said Dan Domeier, MnDOT Land Surveyor. “For unpaved locations they use a wood panel target.”

A survey crew then records the coordinate position and elevation of these targets, and provides that information to the aerial photography company.

The wood panel targets are temporary and will be removed when the photography is completed. MnDOT requests that landowners not remove or disturb the targets until the photography is completed.

If a target must be moved, please contact MnDOT District 2 survey staff at 218-755-6533 or by email at daniel.domeier@state.mn.us.

For real-time travel information and road conditions anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.

MnDOT conducts aerial photography near communities in northern Minnesota

BEMIDJI, Minn. – In a sure sign of spring, the Minnesota Department of Transportation begins its transition away from snowplow operations by conducting aerial mapping of several locations in northern Minnesota.

This aerial survey process relies on clear observations, and must be conducted after the snow has melted and before the trees leaf out. To begin the process crews place an “X” on the ground as a reference point for the aerial photographer. Weather permitting; work will begin in early April in the following locations:

·         Red Lake- Highway 1

·         East Grand Forks- Highway 2

·         Bemidji- Highway 2 and Highway 71

·         Hallock- Highway 75

The mapping will create a record of existing infrastructure and landscape along MnDOT right of way for transportation planning and operations. “Crews paint large white ‘X’ targets on paved surfaces” said Dan Domeier, MnDOT Land Surveyor.

“For unpaved locations they use a wood panel target. A survey crew then records the coordinate position and elevation of these targets, and provides that information to the aerial photography company.”

The wood panel targets are temporary and will be removed when the photography is completed. MnDOT requests that landowners not remove or disturb the targets until the photography is completed.

If a target must be moved, please contact MnDOT District 2 survey staff at 218-755-6533 or by email at Daniel.Domeier@state.mn.us.

Photography Takes Center Stage at Split Rock Lighthouse with 3-Day Workshop and Afternoon Symposium in March

The Minnesota environment, natural and built, provides inspiration to a wide range of artists. Split Rock Lighthouse is a favorite for photographers, thanks to its natural beauty and historic value. Photographers of all skill levels are invited to hone their craft at a 3-day photography workshop or a 1-day symposium, both offered in early March.

Photography Workshop, Feb. 28, March 1 and 2.
During this 3-day workshop, John Gregor and Randy Hagar of ColdSnap Photography will provide personalized professional instruction to build technical camera skills for digital photography. The workshop is a hands-on experience making this event ideal for photography students, tourists and nature enthusiasts.

Participants will be encouraged to explore the landscape on their own and conduct an independent field shoot. Facilitators will provide insight for exercising creative control and embodying the essence of the North Shore in their work.

On Saturday, participants will join the Lake Superior Photography Symposium. Then on Sunday, a critique will be held to conclude the workshop and celebrate each participants' work.
The workshop cost is $299. Advanced registration is required and can be made by calling 218-226-6372 or online.

Lake Superior Photography Symposium, March 1, 1 to 4 p.m.
Photography enthusiasts can opt for a shorter program where they can learn from four local photographers about their craft. Christian Dalbec, Bryan Hansel, Travis Novitsky and Emily Rose will discuss their work, showing some of their favorite photographs of Lake Superior. The symposium will include a question and answer session. John Gregor of ColdSnap photography will serve as the moderator. Guests are encouraged to go on a field shoot at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park after the presentation.

The symposium cost is $60. Advanced registration is required and can be made by calling 218-226-6372 or online.

USDA Announces Cutest Birds Photo Contest

This fall and winter, bird lovers with charming chickens, delightful ducks or fine feathered friends can show them off in an online photo contest sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The USDA’s Biosecurity For Birds Campaign is inviting backyard poultry owners and other bird enthusiasts to compete for bragging rights by entering the Cutest Birds Photo Contest.  Submit JPEG files at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov in two categories: 

1.     Cutest chicken or bird

2.     Cutest bird couple or family

The four month contest begins in December and continues through March 2014.  At the end of each month, the winning photo in each category will be posted on the Biosecurity For Birds web site.  The winners will be considered for inclusion on the 2015 Biosecurity For Birds Calendar.  For an entry form, contest rules and more information visit http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

The Biosecurity For Birds program began in 2004 and is designed to educate backyard poultry owners and exotic bird enthusiasts about highly contagious poultry diseases and other threats to birds.  The program helps inform bird lovers how to prevent disease and tells them what to do if they suspect their birds are infected.

Photographer Dan Francis to kick off TMI Hospitality artist in residence program

Fargo, N.D. - In a recent project called “Fargo: Past and Present,” photographer Dan Francis deftly acknowledged the history of downtown Fargo buildings, blending old and new images to compare and contrast past and present.

Francis’ sense of a place and its history made him a perfect first participant in a new resident
artist series at TMI Hospitality (TMI), who will feature work from the “Past and Present” series in their Fargo headquarters. The exhibition will be on display this summer. An opening reception date will be announced in the coming weeks.

TMI CEO Lauris Molbert stressed how important it is for a strong business community to make room for artists.

“TMI is dedicated to playing an active role in our community. We believe we should support where we live and work, and we think the expression of art makes Fargo-Moorhead a better place for us all to live in and work in. It’s important to us to have a thriving community, and a very important part of that is having art and places for artists to be successful. It’s a nice way to help the community at the same time multi-tasking with the idea that art is correlated
with the art of hospitality," Molbert said.

The TMI resident artist program is unique to the area for a couple reasons. Private businesses often purchase and display local artists’ work, but rarely do they offer an artist resident status, offer a public reception, or commission work, as the TMI program does. Also, the program’s collaborator, The Arts Partnership (TAP), is assisting in the program by pulling together artists and local independent curators. This collaboration, said TAP Director Dayna Del Val, benefits the entire local arts community as a result.

“It’s a really wonderful thing when a business like TMI supports and values the role the arts play in creating a thriving community for their employees to work and live in. We are honored to be a partner in this collaboration,” Del Val said.

For this inaugural exhibition, TMI will display about a dozen of Francis’ works, including an artwork commissioned by TMI. 

Three artists will be chosen for the residency annually, and all artists in the Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo area are eligible to apply. For more information on the program, contact Del Val at dayna@theartspartnership.net, or to apply, visit www.theartspartnership.net.