Photograph the City of Lakes Loppet

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Description

Chance to see some of the world's best cross-country skiers for freeBeautiful, urban settingAble to get close to the actionContrast of white snow, blue sky and colorful skiing uniforms make for unique photos

The City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival takes place each winter in Minneapolis. (The 2016 festival is Feb. 5-7) There are outdoor activities Friday-Sunday, including competitive and non-competitive races for cross-country skiers, speedskaters, fat tire bikers, snowshoers and dogsledders. It's a fantastic weekend for spectators who enjoy winter sports, food and beer.

There are more than 25 races throughout the weekend and myriad parking and spectating options. I like to stake out a spot near Dean Parkway and Lake of the Isles Parkway. Get there early and find street parking in the nearby neighborhood, then head down to the frozen lake.

I like using a GoPro Hero3+ Black to capture the world-class skiers as they buzz by. The two settings that work best are burst mode and timelapse mode. In burst mode, set the camera to take 30 images in 2 seconds and push the shutter button as the action is right in front of you. Get low on the ground for a unique perspective. In timelapse mode, set the camera to take one image every 0.5 seconds and let the camera run for 30 seconds or so to capture a large quantity of shots.

After watching some of the race, go to the Surly Beer Garden for an IPA.

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Features

Photography

Skiing

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Food Nearby

Groups

Lake

Scenic

ADA Accessible

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