On the evening of Monday, January 13th, an array of Destination Duluth’s talented photographers, Board members, and sustaining partners – along with their guests – came in from the bitter cold to gather at the Great Lakes Aquarium for its 5th Annual Celebration of Photographers. It is a night to honor and award the DD contributing photographers, and, this year, to launch an all-new branding and theme.
As in years past, 2024 was a banner year for DD photogs. Throughout 2024, these hard-working artists have continued doing whatever it takes to capture their amazing images.
This often includes working late nights and early mornings and enduring all sorts of inclement weather conditions to shoot – and generously share – their shots. As a result, they continue to attract an astounding number of views to DD’s social media platforms.
In fact, with the arrival of 2025, DD has enjoyed over 715 million views to date since its inception in 2013. There were 67.2 million views in 2024 alone.
Venue
For the third consecutive year, the Celebration of Photographers Event was held at Duluth’s Great Lakes Aquarium. The warm, humid setting of the Aquarium – featuring plenty of exhibits showcasing fish, birds, and mammals – was a welcome comfort for guests, as outside temps hovered in the negative digits.
The Aquarium provided a unique opportunity for guests, who were encouraged to arrive early, roam around, and snap photos of the creatures and décor.
Upon arrival, guests were given a couple of special gifts: a super soft, cozy, DD-themed sweatshirt featuring one of Destination Duluth’s favorite hashtags (and new focus), “Life up North.” Guests also received a “Life up North”-themed decal. Later in the evening, Managing Director Jerry Thoreson shared the news that there is a brand-new DD store, open NOW, featuring tons of cool merch. See and shop at destinationduluth.co/store.
The evening officially kicked off with a happy hour. Later, guests enjoyed a delicious dinner of pasta, salad, and dessert from Valentini’s. A formal program – including plenty of recognition for photographers – made up the bulk of the evening’s festivities.
Formal Program
Thoreson began the formal program by honoring the founders, Branden Robinson, who registered the Destination Duluth domain in 2006 and recruited Tom Livingston and Chris Swanson to launch Destination Duluth in 2013. Thoreson then recognized current board members David Schauer, Beau Walsh, Melissa Dressely, and Branden Robinson.
He then introduced the brand-new “Life up North” theme and focus. The seed for this idea was created by the DECC’s Executive Director, Dan Hartman, who suggested DD integrate the concept that people often refer to Duluth and the area as “up north.”
Thoreson asked the audience to consider, “What makes Life Up North a better life?” The answer is quite subjective and multi-faceted, but it all boils down to the basics of life, and the Northland excels in them in extraordinary ways. What makes Life Up North better?
It’s the Water – The largest fresh-water, life-giving Lake in the world – Lake Superior. For centuries, known as the “Great Gitchee Gumee,” the mystique and draw of Lake Superior is undeniable having magnetic, almost magical power. “There’s something in the water!”
It’s the Land – The rugged hillside terrain has made an outdoor-lovers paradise. The 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail starts near Jay Cooke State Park is a, winding continuous trail that runs alongside or near the shore of Lake Superior all the way to the Canadian Border. In the last two decades, mountain biking enthusiasts have developed the best mountain biking trails in the Midwest. Duluth was named a Gold-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The city’s trail system is just one of six in the world to receive that designation, according to the Duluth News Tribune
It’s the Light – People ask, “What are your most popular posts?” The most popular posts on Destination Duluth are Ships, Split Rock and Sunrises! Standing on the very tip of Lake Superior, experiencing a saltie arrive at sunrise on a summer day (or in the sea smoke when it’s 20 below). Watching it quietly glide in the canal, so close you can almost reach out and touch it, then hear the bellowing blast of the captain’s salute! All this as the sun rises over Lake Superior, changing the hues every few seconds. Duluth is a city on a hill, where every neighborhood can experience the magnificent sunrises over Lake Superior.
It’s the People – The Northland is a welcoming community filled with resilient, hardworking people. With the water, land, and light, Duluth and the North Shore is a magnet to outdoor enthusiasts but also industrious, hard-working, and creative people who form a strong, vibrant arts & entertainment scene. We are people who like to have fun, with dozens of craft breweries, cider, locally-owned restaurants, and festivals galore. There is a community group for nearly every interest imaginable.
Thoreson announced that “Life Up North” will be DD’s new theme and focus of its messaging and content. This announcement was enhanced by a beautiful slide show featuring photos that have received more than 50,000 views on the DD platforms. The video was accompanied by a poignant song by artist Brooke Fraser, titled, “Something in the Water.”
If unable to view video, go to 2024 Photos with more than 50,000 views
Later, DD co-founder and Board member Branden Robinson shared some history of the organization. He also expressed his appreciation for Thoreson, the photographers, and all other stakeholders who have been a part of DD’s success.
Purpose/Mission/Vision/Values
Thoreson took some time to reiterate DD’s purpose, mission, vision, and values for the evening’s guests:
Purpose: To foster a connected, vibrant, and growing community
Mission: To create and curate content that inspires, educates, and connects people to Duluth, showcasing its unique quality of place
Vision: To see people filled with a deep sense of belonging and identity with Duluth
Values: Intentional, positive, and genuine
New in 2025
Thoreson also noted that, heading into 2025, DD has a couple new initiatives/priorities in the works. They include a new and improved website experience, which is now live! Take a tour at Destinationduluth.org
An initiative that was successfully launched in 2024, called DD Outdoors, will continue into 2025. This effort was created by photographers Tanner Hermes and Ryan Rumpca, and highlights all the amazing outdoor recreational opportunities we have here in Duluth.
A brand-new DD store is now open. (destinationduluth.co/store). and features merchandise with the new DD logo and “Life Up North” theme.
Thanks, Sustaining Partners!
During the program, DD’s sustaining partners – including Glensheen Mansion, Grandma’s Marathon, South Pier Inn, the Duluth Grill “family” of restaurants, Essentia, Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Bent Paddle, Lake Superior Zoo, and Split Rock Lighthouse – were recognized and thanked. Many of the night’s door prizes were shared by these generous organizations.
Prizes included a Lake Superior Zoo membership, a gift certificate to Chicken and Whaaat?, a Locally Laid Egg package, Josh Turner concert tickets, Taylor Dayne/Tiffany concert tickets, a Bent Paddle growler/goody bag, and a Chilly Billy’s gift certificate. The grand prize was a two-night stay at the South Pier Inn, generously provided by the Sola family, owners of the hotel.
Celebrating Photographers
The largest part of the program, however, was reserved to recognize and honor DD’s talented photographers. A variety of photographers were recognized by name. All photographers also received a certificate for their work.
Recognitions were organized into the following categories, based on the number of views the photographer has received:
The photographers whose posts had 50-200k views in 2024 include William Summer – 50,530, Dawn LaPointe – 52,804, Lizanne Lately – 53,705, Dana Malkovich – 55,854, Laurie Crofoot – 56,117, Terry M Pederson – 56,117, Jeff Rennicke – 56,117, Paul Chen – 56,705, Matthew Birkholz – 57,415, Paul Pluskwik – 58,980, Liam Hoffmann – 59,083, Peter Keller – 60,518, Scott Pearson – 61,173, Bill Donovan – 64,345, Clint Austin – 64,397, Dustin LaVigne – 65,234, Helen Mongan-Rallis – 68,617, Tucker Olson – 68,681, Todd Drussell – 70,000, Heather Moe -76,443, Roxanne Distad – 83,175, William Wright – 87,853, Samantha Roffers – 88,451, Danielle Thralow – 89,730, Steven Ohman – 93,661, Mark Ellis – 94,387, Nick Moran – 96,512, Amy Sylvester – 98,994, Keith Christensen – 102,241, Travis Novitsky – 110,661, Marius Anderson – 114,564, Ethan Sorensen – 114,918, Brian Peterson – 134,018, Dawn Parendo – 141,182, Ingrid Ilg – 155,947, Cary Schmies – 162,174, Jeffrey Doty – 166,330, Scott Rockvam – 179,337, Ryan Wystepek – 179,733, Alison Gimpel – 195,300.
The photographers whose posts had 200-400k views in 2024 include Marybeth Kicenski – 201,359, Kyle Arndt – 205,478, Joe Garfield – 206,197, Douglas Kilen – 238,410, Tim Beaulier – 248,868, Rich Hoeg – 257,531, Dan Bielski – 266,115, Cody Lau – 266,115, Amy Louhela – 266,115, Lindsey Ruhnke – 266,115, Tylor Elm – 275,015, Connie Kirvida-Lehr – 286,211, Marcie Crain – 297,602, Bryan Benson – 298,255, Kevin Severson – 300,964, Dustin Parsons – 310,597, Greg Moir – 317,753, Yvette Schneider – 324,486, Jesse Nord – 331,837, Nancy J Lindberg – 332,902, George Ilstrup – 354,215, Ken Palmer – 355,164, Jamie Rabold – 374,993.
The photographers whose posts had 400-700k views in 2024 include Elizabeth Miller – 411,862, Matthew E Moses – 429,260, Gary Sayles – 439,358, Gregory A Israelson – 443,301, John Heino – 446,885, Mike Mayou – 462,908, Melissa Dressely – 468,960, Amber Nichols – 498,473, Jerry Thoreson – 520,966, Charles Howard Smith – 528,849, Jeff Sundin – 565,088, Gus Schauer – 571,112, Jan Swart – 590,646, Sandi Larson – 605,274, David R Johnson – 609,558, Jim Schnortz – 656,815, Paul Scinocca – 673,299
The photographers whose posts had 700k-1 million views in 2024 include Randy Wolf – 724,448, Ryan Tischer – 738,295, Matthew Pastick – 766,006, Rick Rice – 856,271, Glenn Blaszkiewicz – 893,344, Chuck Olsen – 894,484, Steve Mattson – 929,872.
The photographers whose posts had 1-2 million views in 2024 include, Adam Malmanger – 1,133,722, Ryan Rumpca – 1,168,422, Edward Lee – 1,213,126, Nicholas Narog – 1,280,164, Tanner Hermes – 1,327,214, Mike Novak – 1,360,139, Steve Sola – 1,402,306, Kathleen Wolleat – 1,541,538, Hayes Scriven – 1,740,086, Tim Mlodozyniec – 1,850,007, Ken Harmon – 1,859,260, Jane Herrick – 1,892,696.
The “Top Photographers” whose posts had 2+ million views in 2024 include Scott Bjorklund – 2,029,095, Dennis O’Hara – 2,177,966, Stephanie Irwin – 2,271,404, Martha Lind – 2,838,985, Adam Bjornberg – 3,279,608, David Schauer – 6,847,677.
Photographer (and DD Board member) David Schauer was the top-viewed photographer, with a whopping 6.8 million views in 2024.
Thoreson shared a few of the items he considers when posting a photo on the DD platforms. His list includes what pops up on the Facebook algorithm; photos by photographers who post daily; and, obviously, a top-tier skill set.
Thoreson also mentioned that he’s been sharing more videos lately, as social media has turned in popularity to the short, vertically formatted videos (or reels). Thoreson noted that 8 of the top-viewed 10 DD posts in 2024 were video reels.
Summing up a Great Year
Thoreson is pleased to wrap up another great year with Destination Duluth, and is eager to see what 2025 brings. The word for 2025 he has chosen for himself and Destination Duluth is “expectancy.”
“The contributing photographers are the heart and soul of Destination Duluth,” Thoreson concludes. “As we showcase their inspiring work and intentionally educate the qualities of “Life Up North,” we have an enthusiastic expectancy of great things ahead as an influencer for the growth of Duluth and the Northland.”
