Photography

Family of ducks paddles by, boats float

May 27, 2026

Look at this absolute family unit of mallard ducks. Photographer Ben Threinen snapped this photo of the two parents and their nine ducklings out for a Memorial Day weekend swim. Below, sailboats and motorboats on Lake Pepin in another photo by Threinen.

5K-9 fundraiser and 100-mile Garage Sale coincide

May 13, 2026

Photographer Ben Threinen captured some images from what was an eventful weekend. At left are two athletes participating in the Hiawatha Animal Humane Society’s annual 5K-9 fun run or walk along the Riverwalk from Ohuta Beach toward Hok-Si-La and back. At right, three people contemplate some old...

A turn of turtles and a solitary wood duck

Apr 22, 2026

Sitting there like a bump on a log gets a bad rap. The turtles above and at right below look like they are living their best life while soaking up the springtime sunshine. At left below, a wood duck paddles by.-Photos by Ben Threinen

Pelicans proliferate on Pleasant Valley Lakelet, crane makes appearance

Apr 15, 2026

A great many pelicans were present on the southern portion of Pleasant Valley Lakelet (AKA Frontenac Pond) on April 10. Ben Threinen, who took this photo, said it’s the first time in about six years he’s seen such a large gathering on the pond. Back then they had congregated on the northern part of...

Remember spring?

Mar 18, 2026

Remember when it seemed like winter was over, when most of the snow had gone, when the lake ice was in retreat and even nighttime low temperatures didn’t dip much below freezing? If so, maybe these aerial images captured by local photographers before the weekend blizzard (see related story) will...

Photo club meets next on March 10

Feb 25, 2026

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Lake City photo club meeting, a member shared about black and white images, which are gaining popularity in photography circles alongside a return to film rather than digital. “Many objectives were given for considering taking an image in black and white and...

Open water provides a fly-in spa for ducks

Jan 7, 2026

Ducks took advantage of open water at the entrance to the Lake City Marina’s outer harbor over the weekend. -Photo by Ben Threinen

Solstice sunset

Dec 24, 2025

Ben Threinen captured this image of the sun setting on Dec. 21, the winter solstice and shortest day of the year. A solitary portable ice shack is visible just downstream from Marina Point on the first official day of winter. Following the solstice, days begin to lengthen. We can look forward to...

Eagles and ducks

Dec 10, 2025

Photographer Ben Threinen got photos of eagles, mallards, and goldeneye in the shrinking open waters of Lake Pepin.

Swan backwater

Nov 26, 2025

Local photographer Steve Brown submitted several photos of what appear to be trumpeter swans taken around the Weaver Bottoms. “Living in the flyway we’re treated to these opportunities to see lots of birds move through our area,” he said.