Matt Herberg Photography

08/01/2026

Storm coming in out on Vermilion. I still caught some fish! I’m sure the forest firefighters were happy to see some rain.

07/25/2026

Ok I can't help myself. I'm gonna have to change my page to just Matts minnesota stuff here pretty soon cause photoshopping and design is too easy now.

07/17/2026

You complain about traffic because you have a car
You complain about dishes because you ate
You complain about laundry because you have clothes
You complain about noise because you have a family
You complain about work because you have a job.
You complain about the weather because you can move and do things outside.
You complain about gray hair because you’ve lived long.

Changing your perspective on things can make everything seem pretty awesome if you think about it.

07/17/2026

We’re hosting a license plate design contest! 🚗🌲

It’s been a decade since we last hosted a design contest for the Minnesota state parks and trails specialty license plate. Now, we’re doing it again!

This new design will join the current specialty license plate as an option for state parks and trails lovers—and just like the current plate, will also provide free entry to all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.

Read on for more contest details:

–Designs must celebrate the North Shore and the Lake Superior agate, as determined by the Minnesota Legislature in 2026. Designs celebrating the region can draw inspiration from waterfalls, forests, wildlife, unique geology or other natural features and recreational experiences found throughout the North Shore landscape, which can be easily accessed from state parks, trails and other public lands.
–This contest is open to all Minnesota residents. One person may submit multiple entries.
–All designs must be created without the use of artificial intelligence, as mandated by the Minnesota Legislature.
–You can begin working on your designs now! We will begin accepting designs online this fall, from Sept. 15 through Oct 31. Watch this space for more updates later this year.

Make sure you read and understand the full contest rules by going to mndnr.gov/parksplate/contest

Not a designer? You’ll still be able to weigh in on the final license plate design! We’ll post the finalists here for you to vote for your favorite in early December. Follow us for updates!

Know someone who should participate? Share this post with them!

07/17/2026

Those of you wondering about a smoke forecast on the map this is a good one.

https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/?fbclid=IwdGRjcATHUHZwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKsLJrt4V0iQgd7nKFKUy-geMD1Lm2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4GB3xmYQ0oRR6d46HWOUIDddiQGIbhyZD1gQ6nlHcH4172js_bP5H3vhhLrw_aem_DG8ty--ssPOEONnVULFKSQ

Ground level concentration of particulate matter 2.5 microns and smaller (PM2.5) in units of micrograms per meter cubed (µg/m3).

07/16/2026

07/15/2026

Little smokey outside.

07/12/2026

Are photographers done?
I could write a book on this topic, but here’s the heart of it.
A while back, I drove 5–6 hours with my family to Dells Mill because I had a very specific image in my head for years. On a family trip is isn't all about me. The conditions weren’t right for the shot I really wanted, so I built it myself in post-production.
I shot about 20 daytime frames on a tripod (no filters) so I could stack the water for a smooth, silky look. I already had a separate Milky Way image I’d captured earlier using a star tracker and stacked to reduce noise. Then I spent hours blending everything in Photoshop — dozens of layers, precise masking, color grading, the works. This wasn’t a casual edit. It was the result of 20+ years of learning, studying, trial and error, and thousands of dollars in equipment and experience.
Now compare that to the other photo: I grabbed a free image off the internet and typed a single prompt into an AI tool — “make the trees fall-colored, change the scene to night with the Milky Way in the background.”
It took me literally 20 seconds. I never left my chair.
The gap in effort versus reward is massive. So now what?
If you saw both images with no backstory, would you know which one took months of planning and skilled work versus the one I made in 20 seconds? Would it even matter to you? What actually makes a photo enjoyable or meaningful — the final image itself, or the story and struggle behind it?
Most people will never know the full process behind an image. They just see the result. So today, you basically have two paths to create something impressive: either invest 20 years becoming a skilled photographer… or have an internet connection.
I’m interested to hear everyone’s take on the matter.
My personal opinion: Lean into the tools. Use AI when it makes sense, but don’t forget what photography is really about. It isn’t just about getting likes — it’s about the journey. No one takes a photo of something they want to forget. My version carries a real memory and an adventure with my family. The AI one is valueless to me. I’ll probably forget it by tomorrow.