A few months ago, Angel and I discovered a unique coffee table book while browsing through Barnes and Noble. It was a book full of photos taken in Minnesota by local photographers. After slowly looking through each inspiring page, we learned that the entire book was shaped by a community with the same name as the book, Capture Minnesota.

Similar to Flickr, members of Capture Minnesota can share their photos with the community, favorite or comment on other photos and follow other community members. Unlike Flickr, photos have to be taken in Minnesota, and photos can be voted on – either DIG IT or NIX IT – which are used by the editors in determining the best photos to publish in the book.

I joined the community and submitted a handful of photos to be voted on for the next book, Capture Minnesota II. The photo pictured was my top ranked photo when the voting ended, taken during a frigid January weekend at Blufin Bay. Temperatures were well below zero that weekend, resulting in an icy landscape on the rugged rocks, and ten very cold fingers.

From what I’ve read, the editors of the book inform you that you’ve been selected, but don’t tell you which (or how many) photos will be published. The book is expected to be released in May, 2013. Whether or not I’m in it, I know I’ll at least have a new inspiring coffee table book this spring!