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North Woods Images is a writing and photography venture owned by Ralph LaPlant of Holyoke, Minnesota. LaPlant has been a photographer and writer for over 30 years, concentrating on the great out-of-doors, although any subjects of interest are photographed by him.
His writing, for the most
part, has been about wildlife: His columns and articles have been published in local
newspapers, as well as in regional and national publications. His photography
has appeared in local, regional and national publications, brochures, posters
and postcards.
Having a deep respect for the
out-of-doors, being a conservation officer and having been a paramedic for over
20 years, LaPlant has regularly contributed to American Survival Guide magazine, where his works have concentrated on outdoors survival and emergency
medical skills.
"Curious," a
photograph of two whitetail deer fawns, won LaPlant the 1993 Minnesota Deer
Hunters Association's 1st Place in the Live Action category and the
Association's Grand Prize. This image
is on the cover of MDHA’s spring 1994 Whitetales.
With a passion for classic
motor vehicles and with his emergency medical services background, LaPlant
created a photo essay on limousine ambulances for JEMS - The Journal of
Emergency Medical Services. Published in their November 1996 issue,
"Longing For Limos" was a nostalgic look into the classic ambulances
of the past. This piece was nominated for the prestigious Maggie Award (Western
Publisher Publications). A recent
reprinted version of this article was published at merginet.com. This version has expanded photo galleries of
classic Ambulances.
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Outdoor and Survival Skills For Nature Photographers |
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LaPlant is currently employed
on a full time basis as a conservation officer for the 1854 Treaty Authority. The 1854 Treaty Authority is
responsible for off reservation conservation enforcement for Bois Forte and
Grand Portage Ojibwe Bands in Minnesota’s beautiful northeastern Arrowhead
region. Previously employed by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's Department of
Natural Resources as a conservation officer, one of his duties was to represent
them as a voting delegate at the "Roundtable," a gathering of
representatives from entities concerned about the wolf - man relationship and
its future. The roundtable was assembled to create a wolf management plan
submitted to the Minnesota Legislature.
National Geographic's special "Polar Bear Alert" drew LaPlant to Churchill, Manitoba on two occasions to study and photograph the magnificent polar bears that migrate through that area. Frequent trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and into the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota, together with living in the woods and being a conservation officer gives LaPlant daily opportunities to observe, respect and photograph nature. As a result of his interests, he gives interpretive talks on various subjects.
LaPlant has made numerous trips to Alaska to observe and photograph the immense beauty there. Captured on film and digitally were Dall sheep, mountain goats, northern (Steller's) sea lions, orcas, Dall's Porpoise, arctic ground squirrels, sea otters, star and jelly fish, salmon, parasitic jaegers, bald eagles and many landscapes including glaciers, Mount McKinley and local cultures. He recently completed the "grand slam of North American bears" (black, grizzly, polar and Alaskan brown) by photgraphing Alaskan brown bears in the Lake Clark National Park.
The Brainerd Daily Dispatch called LaPlant "Photocop" and he is rarely seen without his camera gear close at hand. LaPlant prefers Minolta digital cameras and uses Minolta and Sigma lenses, ranging from wide-angle to 600 mm super-telephoto. Bogen and BPS Marketing Incorporated (Ultrapod) manufactures LaPlant's tripods of choice.
LaPlant has had the honor of exhibiting his works at libraries, nature centers, local businesses and art galleries including the Moosehorn Gallery in Moose Lake, MN . |
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Ralph LaPlant 2007 © |
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