As we near the end of 2018, I was thinking about what my best photos were this year so I could create a post for the website. Strangely, I see I never made a post for my best photos of 2016 or 2017, so I guess I’ll do that now!

Here are my I think are my best photos for 2017. In looking at them, I’m amused to note that six of them feature a lighthouse of some sort.

The MV Lee Tregurtha rounding the point as she is about to head into Agate Bay in Two Harbors. The Tregurtha has a distinctive steam plume from her stacks. That plume is the result of sophisticated exhaust gas scrubbers that remove a large amount of the sulphur and other particulates that would normally have been emitted from her stack.

You know I love lighthouses, and this beauty is the Key West Lighthouse. You are allowed to climb the tower in this lighthouse.

The P-51 Mustang “Barbara Jean” taking off after a visit to the AirExpo in Eden Prairie, MN.

The Wings of the North Corsair on final approach at AirExpo 2017.

The Wings of the North F4U-5 Corsair cycling her gear up on takeoff. It always fascinates me that the gear does not go up in a synchronized fashion.

The MV Cason J Calloway of the Great Lakes Fleet departs Duluth.

One of the things I enjoyed about Key West was that there are chickens just wandering around in various places. Right at sunset, the rooster was crowing like crazy.

The ATB Joyce L VanEnkevort about to enter the Duluth Ship Canal in the evening.

My wife and I visited Duluth for our birthday and this year we were greated with massive waves from an early fall storm. This photo isn’t even the worst of the waves. The biggest ones had come in about 8-10 hours earlier, but these were spectacular enough for me!

The same storm bringing big waves in along the shore by Split Rock Lighthouse.

The same storm bringing in big waves near Cove Point Lodge along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

The ATB Clyde S VanEnkevort approaching the Duluth Ship Canal in the bright afternoon sun. It was cold that day and the vessel was sporting a layer of ice formed from the spray freezing on her superstructure.

Another shot of the Redtail Mustang waiting on the Ramp at the AirExpo 2017.

The Huron Lighthouse in the late afternoon sun. I visited several lighthouses the day I took this. This was the best shot as the weather was really unsettled that day. This lighthouse would be a lot more interesting if it still had the lantern. The lantern was removed when it was automated.