Photo Gallery | Winter on the Water
Original photography of icy winter scenes on our Driftless waterways
After a couple weeks of temperatures flirting with record lows in January, Southeast Minnesota’s early February record warmth quickly erased January’s ice buildup along most stretches of the Root River and its tributaries — but not before photographers Craig Johnson and Joe Deden had a chance to capture some water-mimicking-art type photos.

Snowy banks guide this stretch of the Root River’s south branch through a woody glen after passing under the Root River State Trail’s east bridge in Lanesboro. (Photo by Joe Deden)

A partially open channel winds through the ice at the confluence of the North and South Branches of the Root River; the Root River State Trail bridge can be seen in the distance. (Photo by Craig Johnson)

A narrow channel of dark water cuts through an accumulation of pale ice and snow on the Root River. (Photo by Joe Deden)
For more icy January scenes, watch this video compilation of “Winter on the Water” photographs by Craig Johnson.