Travel
If you’re like me and often find yourself returning to the same familiar spots for photography, try stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring new locations. While visiting your favourite places in different seasons can offer fresh perspectives, there’s something truly invigorating about discovering new destinations.
Revive your inspiration
Traveling and photographing new places can significantly boost your inspiration. This summer, I was incredibly fortunate to embark on a trip of a lifetime to North America, and then across the border to Ontario, Canada.
Although it was a family trip to visit relatives, I seized the opportunity to bring my camera and drone to explore and capture the magnificent North Shore. After traveling from Heathrow with a heavy camera bag in tow, we arrived in Minnesota and stayed with family in Castle Danger, situated alongside Lake Superior. The views along Lake Superior were stunning; no matter where you stopped, the scenery was simply fantastic.
Throughout the holiday, we visited multiple state parks in Minnesota and were lucky enough to stay close to Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
This popular North Shore State Park features spectacular waterfalls, scenic overlooks, a wonderful visitor center, and superb trout fishing. The park offers campgrounds, hiking trails, and cross-country ski and snowmobile trails in the winter.
We absolutely loved this place. I captured plenty of images here, some of my favorites from the entire trip. A must-see view from the bridge rewards you with waterfalls on both sides. You can then walk either up or down the river to the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls, while a pleasant hike takes you on a loop that includes the Fifth Falls.
Split Rock
Split Rock Lighthouse is a lighthouse located southwest of Silver Bay, Minnesota, US on the North Shore of Lake Superior (image 3). It was built in response to the great loss of ships during the famous Mataafa Storm of 1905, during which 29 ships were lost or damaged on Lake Superior. One of these shipwrecks, the Madeira, is located just north of the lighthouse.
We didn’t actually go up in the lighthouse itself but walked around the edge of the lake and took in these stunning views. I would of loved to of had better light on the day to enhance the image but unfortunately it was an overcast day. When we looked around the visitors centre there were some fantastic images of the lighthouse at sunrise and also in wintery conditions.
Highway 61
Driving along Highway 61 was never a chore (nothing like the M25 in the UK). We loved taking in the gorgeous scenery on either side of the highway and random wildlife. In the middle of the trip we ventured across the border to Ontario Canada to a place called Thunder Bay which is known for the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and Fort William Historical Park.
Here we visited more family and had a fantastic time at the family lake house house (camp) where we kayaked, paddle boarded and entered into the Canadian tradition of baking yourself in the sauna then jumping into the lake.
We even managed to fit in a visit to the Sleeping Giant Brewing company
Sunrise at Arrow lake (camp)
Whilst in Canada we also crossed the longest suspension footbridge at Eagle canyon which extends an amazing 600 feet across the canyon and hangs at a height of 152 feet above the canyon floor with exceptional views, which you can see in my gallery.
Kakabeka Falls
All I can say is WOW!
The 40 metre high Kakabeka Falls is the second highest waterfall in Ontario Canada which has year round access for viewing. The Kaministiquia River has cut deep into the rocks to reveal 1.6 million year old fossils at the bottom of the falls and is the historic route of the Voyageurs.
This is an all year round venue with walking and nature trails in summer and groomed cross-country ski trails in the winter.
Kakabeka Falls
Even though this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you might be thinking, “My budget won’t stretch to a trip like that!” my point is that you don’t need to travel far to have a fantastic experience. While I did travel over 4,000 miles to an amazing place, you can find inspiration closer to home. Make a conscious effort to step out of your comfort zone and explore places around your country that you wouldn’t normally visit.
Be spontaneous; you don’t always need to do extensive research. It doesn’t have to be an expensive trip either—there are plenty of ways to travel on a budget. Take the opportunity when you can. Trust me, it will open your eyes, inspire you, and enhance your creativity.