Tone Coughlin Photography LLC

Call Directions Website Contact the business

Tone Coughlin Photography LLC Award winning Duluth based photographer capturing the unique beauty and wonder of Minnesota.

I also capture media for events, weddings, engagements, grads, families, business marketing materials, newborns, and everything else under the sun. Purchase wall art: https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/Tone.Coughlin.Photography.LLC

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonecoughlin/
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCYrHX-YNu4Am67gcrWIxYw

Check out my YouTube Video Index: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTF1-3Lt51wLrLOMW8e6vDNOj1FOS-Ms_xFIs29LUpM3I2pYRqkdcP0NBwHIzRuDF1nPZr1VDIBR0IS/pubhtml

Day 21 of 31 - Epic Sunrises In the heat of summer if there's a storm or clouds rolling in at the beginning of the day, ...
10/22/2026

Day 21 of 31 - Epic Sunrises

In the heat of summer if there's a storm or clouds rolling in at the beginning of the day, it makes the perfect recipe for amazing sunrises.

Jaana was wondering if we were headed out fishing after morning coffee on this father's day in 2021. She had been checking out the snapping turtles looking for fish at camp the evening before.

If you camp towards the west side of a lake and have a clear view of the east, chances are you'll get a decent sunrise as the lake provides a distance between you and the treeline and low angled sun.

Day 20 of 31 - Immaculate SunsetsIn the heat of summer if there's a storm or clouds rolling in at the end of the day, it...
10/22/2026

Day 20 of 31 - Immaculate Sunsets

In the heat of summer if there's a storm or clouds rolling in at the end of the day, it makes the perfect recipe for amazing sunsets.

A BWCAW sunset hits a little different at the end of a long travel day, than a morning sunrise. Maybe you just finished fishing for the evening, had dinner, and are chilling by the campfire. You're winding down with good conversation and a glass of wh***ey.

If you camp towards the east side of a lake and have a clear view of the west, chances are you'll get a decent sunset as the lake provides a distance between you and the treeline and low angled sun.

Day 19 of 31 - Memories MadeEvery trip has a follow up story, to share with friends and family at home or on the next tr...
10/21/2026

Day 19 of 31 - Memories Made

Every trip has a follow up story, to share with friends and family at home or on the next trip. We often find ourselves sharing a handful of laughs at memories made while playing cribbage or sitting around the camp fire.

Photos like this of Jaana bring back so.many vivid memories. I know exactly where it was taken, on which trip, an the time of year. She was an amazing dog who lived for nearly 16 years. A one of a kind.

On this trip she helped train puppy Sissy at 9 weeks old how to be a professional canoe camping dog ❤️🐾❤️🐾

I really miss her but will always remember the adventures we shared.

Day 18 of 31 - Boulder Hairdo Sometimes you find interesting things behind camp you realize never existed in Minnesota. ...
10/21/2026

Day 18 of 31 - Boulder Hairdo

Sometimes you find interesting things behind camp you realize never existed in Minnesota. Living here my entire life I've never seen tiny ferns growing on boulder tops. They reminded me of 80's hairdo's.

It wasn't isolated to just these two in the picture there were at least 50 of them. Some boulders the size of a small car.

There's always something new to be discovered in the BWCAW even though it's been occupied by man for thousands of years. Chance are the camp you're at has been there for centuries.

Day 17 of 31 - Sunrise Coffee w/ a Furry Companion I've never missed a sunrise or a sunset while canoe camping in the BW...
10/18/2026

Day 17 of 31 - Sunrise Coffee w/ a Furry Companion

I've never missed a sunrise or a sunset while canoe camping in the BWCAW. Opening up the food barrel and getting the fire going while waiting for coffee water to boil usually starts in the dark.

Then the camera comes out if we have a nice sunrise.

A lot of forest creatures are used to cleaning up after messy campers that dump food at camp. Bringing a dog helps keep them away.

Some people are afraid of going into the woods, bears, moose, wolves, weird sounds at night... But in reality their biggest danger is themselves. Not having the proper skills and understanding weather. There's no need to take unnecessary risks.

Living off grid in northern Minnesota with my sled dogs for 15 years the biggest threat we've ever had was other people. Wild animals want nothing to do with human beings.

Day 16 of 31 - Dark Skies, No Light Pollution One of the perks of spending time in the BWCAW is getting away from all th...
10/17/2026

Day 16 of 31 - Dark Skies, No Light Pollution

One of the perks of spending time in the BWCAW is getting away from all the lights.

On a clear night, you can actually see significantly more stars without the glow of a city washing them out. And if you're lucky enough to catch the northern lights, it's even better.

I usually go to bed not long after sunset because you're just wasting time for an early morning departure. But if you wake up and your tent is glowing without the help of the moon, chances are the northern lights are out.

I've spent plenty of nights out here staying up way later than I planned, watching the sky and trying to get a few good shots. It's hard to head to bed when the sky looks like this.

It's one of those things that's easy to take for granted until you spend a night somewhere with no light pollution. Makes you appreciate just how dark the night can get.

We saw the aurora at home many times in 2024 the sun was very active.

Day 15 of 31 - Breathtaking LandscapesI could paddle around places like this all day. The palisades, fall colors, reflec...
10/16/2026

Day 15 of 31 - Breathtaking Landscapes

I could paddle around places like this all day. The palisades, fall colors, reflections on the water… it’s hard to beat a day like this in the Boundary Waters. And of course, having good friends and dogs along makes it even better.

My good friend Mike from the old bike racing days fell in love with the BWCAW again a few years ago. We did 2 trips that season and they were both amazing.

These are the kind of places that remind you how lucky we are to have somewhere like this in Minnesota.

Day 14 of 31 - The Art of Single PortagingIf you've ever traveled in the BWCA, you know portages can make or break a tri...
10/15/2026

Day 14 of 31 - The Art of Single Portaging

If you've ever traveled in the BWCA, you know portages can make or break a trip.

Single portaging means carrying everything in one trip. Canoe on your shoulders, pack on your back, gear packed away, and hopefully nothing dragging on the ground. You make one trip instead of going back and forth for the rest of your gear. When you have everything dialed in you can exit your canoe, throw on your pack, stow your paddle, and put the canoe on your shoulders. Gone in 60 seconds.

Sounds simple enough until the trail looks like this. with 2' of snow in some sections mid May.

Rocks, roots, fallen trees, mud, and whatever else the Northwoods decides to throw at you. It's a good reminder that the shortest route on the map doesn't always mean the easiest route in real life.

Single portaging saves time, but it takes carefull planning, packing efficiently, and being honest about how much weight you're willing to carry. Sometimes it's worth it. Sometimes two trips sound pretty good halfway through a muddy portage. Being a photographer I need to bring at least 10 lbs of extra gear that also takes up.space.

Either way you'll be cursing the stuff you brought but really don't need, and the canoe still has to get to the other side.

Day 13 of 31 - Camping Companions I wouldn't go into the wilderness without a dog they've been a big part of my life for...
10/14/2026

Day 13 of 31 - Camping Companions

I wouldn't go into the wilderness without a dog they've been a big part of my life for decades. Back in 2009 I did a solo BWCAW trip with 4 dogs in the canoe, we had a good time.

A dog makes a pretty good camping partner. They don't complain about the portage or chores, they're happy to be outside all day, and they're usually just as excited about camp as they are about getting back in the canoe.

But dogs have jobs out here, too. They're companions with endless entertainment, trail scouts, wildlife spotters and deterrents, unofficial campsite inspectors, leg and body warmers, and sometimes the reason you notice something you would've walked right past. They keep you company on a quiet evening and give you someone to talk to when you've gone a few days without seeing another person.

Of course, they're also experts at finding the one thing you don't want them rolling in. Nobody's perfect.

The BWCAW is a great place to bring a dog, as long as you're prepared to be responsible for them.

Nirvana is full of personality he's always ready for any adventure you're willing to embark on. A self loader and unloader of the canoe most of the time when you're not prepared.

He prefers to SPRINT every portage back and forth several times just to make sure you're paying attention before he takes your legs out.

A good dog doesn't need to know where you're going. They're just happy they're going with you.

Day 12 of 31 - Sunset Paddling When the winds of the day calm down in the BWCAW, a pre-dinner paddle to go fishing, look...
10/12/2026

Day 12 of 31 - Sunset Paddling

When the winds of the day calm down in the BWCAW, a pre-dinner paddle to go fishing, look for firewood, or spot a moose wading on the shoreline is always enjoyable.

I have a hard time sitting still at one camp for long when camping solo. There's always some sort of chore that needs to be done.

Moving 3-5 hours per day just after sunrise over a handful of lakes and portages if the weather is good is my preferred mode of exploration. If there's bad weather or heavy wind and rain it's probably a good day to stay put.

What's your style of camping in the BWCAW?

Address

6838 Pequaywan Lake Road
Duluth, MN
55803

Telephone

+12187212571

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tone Coughlin Photography LLC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Tone Coughlin Photography LLC:

Shortcuts

Share

Category