Location:

Downtown is right in the middle of Northfield, roughly bounded by 2nd Street and 7th Street on the north and south, and Washington Street and Highway 3 on the east and west. The Cannon River runs right through the middle of downtown.

Preferred type of shooting:

I’ve taken quite a number of photos downtown, but it seems like most of them fall into two different categories. There are landscape/architecture photos, where I’m mostly capturing wider scenes, and portraits, which are quite self-explanatory.

What makes it special:

This was not an easy section to write. Assembling a list of what makes downtown special to me, I quickly realized that I was only putting together a list of every attribute of downtown that I could think of. With so many different things competing for my attention, it was hard to select a few to highlight. This end result is hardly an exhaustive list, but rather just a small sampling of all of the things which come together to form the downtown which so many people love.

The buildings:

It’s impossible to go downtown and ignore the buildings (After all, aren’t buildings rather crucial for the definition of a downtown?). Quips aside, the particular buildings which make up downtown Northfield stand out in their own right. Many date back well over a century, carrying the styles of a bygone era into the modern day.

Their looks vary, with materials ranging from rough-cut limestone to smooth, painted brick, but they come together to form a patchwork, yet still cohesive whole. Brightly lit storefronts invite in passers-by, selling everything from bikes to sandwiches. Following along the trees outside, window displays change through the year, welcoming the coming seasons with their decorations.

The river:

The Cannon River is almost as hard to ignore as the buildings themselves. The sound of rushing water greets you as you step out of your car near Bridge Square. Normally meandering peacefully through the countryside, the Cannon River cascades over a man-made dam by the Ames Mill. Despite this obstruction, stretches of the river slide tranquilly past the banks at both the north and south edges of downtown, often carrying geese, ducks, and their young.

As with any sort of water, the river brings opportunities for photos. I often gravitate towards the dam, since it’s hard to pass up the chance to let a long exposure turn the rushing waters into a silky-smooth blur. The trees, buildings, and bridges nearby provide the perfect foregrounds and backgrounds to compose a well-balanced image.

Beyond the dam, there are still plenty of images to be had. The light of the setting sun usually glints playfully off the quiet waters, which then come alive with the lights of Northfield at night. Ducks and geese often float atop the water, providing even more subjects.

The details:

Finally, Downtown Northfield has plenty of small details to fill in the spaces between the river and the buildings. Everything from Bridge Square’s fountain and popcorn cart, to the banners and flowers on lamp posts, contributes to a polished whole. The occasional mural dots the side of buildings, and countless alleyways provide quiet corners. It’s never hard to find a background for whatever I have in mind.

Click here for the previous location in this series: The Waterford Iron Bridge

Location Profile