It was late, and I was finally heading back to my car.
I'd spent a few remarkable hours on the shore of Lake Superior that June night, alone, quiet, unhurried, making photographs and letting the lake do what it always does: slow everything down. The drive home to Minneapolis would take nearly three hours. But I wasn't in a hurry yet.
On the way through the trees, something stopped me. A gap in the pines opened up just wide enough to frame it: the Milky Way, rising above Lake Superior, its core blazing against a sky I'd rarely seen so clearly from Minnesota. The silhouetted spruce and pine crowns, so distinctly north woods, held the edges of the frame like a picture inside a picture.
I knew immediately; this was Minnesota. All of it, in a single frame.
This is the kind of image you don't plan. You stay out late. You take the long way back. You pay attention when the forest tells you to stop.
The light glowing softly at the base of the Milky Way core is Lake Superior itself, reflecting the galaxy above. The image was captured in a single long exposure, preserving the full depth of the night sky exactly as I saw it from that quiet stretch of North Shore.
Printed large, this image transforms. The star field reveals details invisible on screen. The blacks deepen. The lake glow warms the room. This is a piece that people stand in front of and go quiet.
Location: Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Region: Lake Superior North Shore, MN
Captured: June 20, 2020
Subject: Milky Way core above Lake Superior
Print formats & notes
▸Metal prints — The richest way to display a night sky image. Deep blacks, luminous star detail, ready to hang. Best for modern and contemporary spaces.
▸Acrylic prints — Museum-quality face-mount process similar to Lumachrome TruLife. Exceptional color depth and clarity with UV protection.
▸Canvas — A warm, textured presentation that softens the star field beautifully. Gallery-wrapped edges included.
▸Framed prints — Professionally framed and ready to hang. Select from available frame profiles at checkout.
▸Wall murals — Transform an entire wall. Spectacular for great rooms, cabins, lodges, and commercial spaces. Ships with full installation instructions.
▸Paper prints — A beautiful, versatile option for framing yourself. Printed on premium archival paper.
Credentials & recognition
★
Licensed by Pearson Education — selected for use in a published school curriculum project, recognizing this image as an exceptional representation of the natural world and Minnesota's night sky.
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Fine art astrophotography — captured in a single long exposure at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on Minnesota's North Shore, June 2020.
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William Drew Photography — based at Gallery Aurora, Studio 179, Northrup King Building, Minneapolis. Featured at MSP International Airport and the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Every format is printed and fulfilled to order. Metal, canvas, and acrylic prints ship ready to hang. Prints are hand-inspected before delivery. Wall murals ship with installation instructions for a seamless install.
Questions about sizing, framing, or the right format for your space? Reach out, I personally respond to every inquiry.
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This means you can use the camera on your phone or tablet and superimpose any piece of art onto a wall inside of your home or business.
To use this feature, Just look for the "Live Preview AR" button when viewing any piece of art on this website!
