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While not very well known as a photographer, Danny Johnson has taken some stunning photographs. His work ranges from picturesque landscapes of the Duluth skyline all the way to mammoth grizzly bears of a remote Alaskan island to local skateboarders and beyond. Johnson’s passion for photography took roots in an East High School classroom in the tenth grade when he got his first SLR camera and has been going  strong ever since.

It’s pretty obvious why anyone would get into photography.
“I liked the way things around me looked and wanted to take pictures of them as away to capture the moment.” Johnson laughs in reply.
“From there it grew into a more dedicated hobby.”

Johnson draws his inspiration from a few different outlets. John “Surfer John” Schneider is the primary muse. If you live in Duluth you may have witnessed this man flying down Lake Avenue at ungodly speeds on his skateboard. His Evel Knievel-esque way of going about things makes for some fantastic photos. Most notably, Johnson snapped a photo of Surfer John swan diving off of the tall pier at the lighthouse in Canal Park. It was taken on a chilly late October day accompanied by thrashing, volatile waters in the harbor. Temperature was of no concern. It was about getting the photo. When Surfer and Johnson pair up, there’s bound to be some good photos that come out of the day.


Some of Johnson’s most impressive work comes from the inspirational shores of Lake Superior and it’s surrounding rivers. Different techniques aid Johnson in harnessing the maximum beauty out of each photo. Techniques like HDR (High Dynamic Range) can be very helpful in making the best out of bad lighting or an overcast day. HDR is a photo layering method where three different photos are taken; one of them is overexposed, one normally exposed, and one underexposed. The three photos are then layered on top of each other in software program creating a stunning photo with piercing colors that look more like a painting than a photograph.

Some of Johnson’s favorite photos were taken during a summer up in Alaska. His focus was on the feeding Grizzlies that were seemingly everywhere.

“Being around 30 wild animals that could potentially kill you on a whim is pretty humbling.”

Johnson was able to get within several feet of these majestic beasts to snap a few unforgettable photos. With salmon in abundance, they tend to be pretty docile around humans.

If anyone would like to see more of Danny’s array of work he can be emailed at danieljamesjohnson09@gmail.com. Prints are also available for purchase at a very modest price.