The 2025 Stillwater Minnesota World Snow Celebration is a rebranding and expansion of the previous World Snow Sculpting Championship #wssc events. The 2025 Stillwater Minnesota Snow Celebration event downtown Stillwater adjacent to the St Croix River and Historic Lift Bridge located in the eastern twin cities Minneapolis St Paul metro area.
2026 World Snow Celebration Snow Sculpting Day 4 (1/17/26)
2026 World Snow Celebration Snow Sculpting Day 2 (1/15/26)
2026 World Snow Celebration Snow Sculpting Day 1 (1/14/26)
1st place Team Fjordwitches from #canada with their creation The Inosculation of Souls
2nd place Team Falcon of #mongolia with their creation Legend
3rd place Team #thailand with their creation Life in Frame
People’s choice Team Kawsay from #peru with their creation Tupuna / Enlace
Artist choice Team Fjordwitches from Canada
Winter Sunrise Stillwater Minnesota Video
2025 World Snow Sculpting Day 1 Drone Video
Day 1 (Wednesday January 15th) started out sunny, windy and cold and ended up cloudy and blustery however with lots of activity in the afternoon. Check out the activity including artists working on their creations up close (with invitation of one of the artist teams to fly through one of the creations) and Ice Skaters on the Ice Rink.
2025 World Snow Sculpting Day 2 Drone Video
Day 2 (Thursday January 16th) of the world snow celebration and world snow sculpture championship event #wssc saw lots of progress on the artist teams creations along with nicer weather.
Due to unsafe weather conditions, no drone aerial images were able to be captured on day 3 (Friday January 17, 2025) of the Snow Celebration event because of strong winds.
2025 World Snow Sculpting Day 4 Drone Video
2025 Stillwater Minnesota World Snow Celebration Video of Day 4 (Saturday January 18th) daytime and night time drone aerial views.
Short Recap of 2023 15th Annual Withrow Car and Tractor Show Event
2022 Withrow Classic Car & Tractor Show
Short Recap of 2022 Withrow Car and Tractor Show Event
Longer Video 2022 Withrow Car and Tractor Show
2021 Withrow Area Classic Car and Tractor Show
Aerial Video Views Withrow 2021 Classic Car and Tractor Show Event Click On Above Image To View More From Previous Withrow Events
Withrow Car Tractor Show was co-hosted by Sals Angus Grill and Withrow Event Center (aka Withrow Ballroom) is a great event located between Stillwater to the east, Grant to the south and Hugo to the west. As a fundraising event. The Withrow Car Tractor Show benefits the Minnesota Military Family Foundation as well as Wishes & More organizations.
[sphere 4511]360 Interactive View (Rotate image) 2020 Granting a Wish
360 Interactive View 2020 Withrow Area Classic Car Show Wishes and More Wish Granting
[sphere 4515]360 Interactive View (Rotate image) Granting The Wish
[sphere 4516]360 Interactive View (Rotate image) Family Arrives
[sphere 4517]360 Interactive View (Rotate image) Family On Stage
[sphere 4513]360 Interactive View (Rotate image) After Wish Granted
Have an event or other activity you are looking for aerial and ground based coverage (still video and photography)? Contact us and we can discuss options to meet your needs.
Click on above image to view, shop and buy Fireworks Images & Prints
2024 Winter Fireworks Stillwater MN
2023 4th July Fireworks Stillwater MN
2023 February Fireworks Stillwater MN
2022 Twinkle Party Fireworks Stillwater MN
July 4th 2022 Stillwater Fireworks Video
Winter Fireworks 2021 Downtown Stillwater MN
August 2021 Stillwater Lift Bridge Celebration
Marine on St. Croix July 3rd 2019
Downtown Stillwater 4th of July 2019
Having an FAA Part 107.29 waiver enables Pictures Over Stillwater to fly 24 hours a day including at night weather permitting. In addition to having additional high-intensity multi-colored strobe lights (red, green, white) visible from 3 miles on our aircraft, Part 107.29 operations also includes having trained visual observers (VOs) as part of our night safety crew as well as keeping aircraft (e.g. dones) within visual line of sight.
In addition to our SmugMug online store, we also have a FineArtAmerica site where you can shop, buy prints, puzzles, wall art and other items.
When in downtown Stillwater Minnesota stop in and visit Art n Soul on the corner of Mainstreet and Chestnut (across from Leo’s) to check out some of our work including post cards, puzzles, framed prints and other items.
Pictures Over Stillwater drone school are held at various education venues presenting UAV UAS Drone related topics. These safety and awareness education and outreach activities include introduction, basic, beyond the basics, as well as advanced topics such as aerial photography videography, among others topics.
Education and awareness sessions range from large adult community education, high school, individual custom training along with STEM programs around the greater Minneapolis St Paul Twin Cities metro area and online. Click here to learn more about Drone Education and upcoming events.
Q: Why do you need to learn to fly a drone as they are automated? A: Learn about the National Air Space (NAS) and where you can fly as well as other tips for flying drones safely. Otoh, you still need to learn how to drive a car, get a license even with self driving cars, or at least for now ;).
Q: Do classes include a live demonstration flight? A: Demonstration flights are weather and other condition dependent.
Q: Can students bring their drone to the classes? A: Yes.
Q: Where have you taught classes in the past? A: Anoka/Hennepin Community Education, Eden Prairie High School, Eden Prairie Central Middle School, Minneapolis Public Schools Community Education, North Central University STEM, Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education, and Stillwater Public Library among others.
Q: How long have you been flying drones? A: Over 10 years for singles and quads for about eight years.
Q: How long have you been commercial licensed drone operator? A: Since May 2018
Q: How long have you been waivered to fly at night commercially? A: I received my 107.29 (daylight waiver) back in December 2018 which was valid until April 21, 2021 when daylight waivers were sunset (e.g. phased out). As of April 21, 2021 for those who have either taken the new initial, or recurrent part 107 test, you are now authorized to fly at night without a waiver (e.g. daylight and night waivers no longer exist).
Q: Do you have any other waivers? A: Yes, 107.39 (Operating Over People e.g. OOP) and 107.145 (Operating Over Moving Vehicles e.g. OOMV)
Q: How hard is it to get certified? A: Depends on how well you can learn (or memorize). Getting your FAA TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) certificate is relatively easy and quick, its free from various organizations such as AMA here. The next step takes more time which is getting your part 107.
Q: How many flights have you flown? A: Many thousands including indoors and outdoors.
Q: How many hours in the air do you have flying? A: Over 600 hours air time.
Q: How many miles total have you flown drones? A: Spanning thousands of flights several thousand miles flown.
Q: If I am not going to fly drones for commercial, why get a part 107? A: Additional experience, you also get access to additional airspace and privileges by being a part 107. Keep in mind that part 107 is often thought of as being commercial license, when in reality, its a category or type of certification that allows you to do more, one of those things being commercial activity.
Q: How much money can you make flying drones? A: Like many things it depends, keep in mind your costs of equipment, spare batteries, apps, licenses, registration, insurance among other costs that will impact what your earnings will be.
Q: Have you ever flown FPV, what do you think about them? A: Yes , check out our FPV experiences page here. FPV drones are great for those who like the FPV gaming experience, including racing, general recreation, as well as for action cinematography videography indoors as well as outdoors. Keep in mind if you are going to fly FPV outdoors you will need to have a Visual Observer (VO) standing next to you watching the aircraft (drone).
Q: Whats different from flying indoors vs outside? A: Besides obstacles, biggest difference is you may have poor to no GPS coverage that can impact automated flight modes, in other words, you want to practice your heads up and stick flying skills (or learn to fly FPV).
Pictures Over Stillwater is involved with Community Education presenting UAV UAS Drone classes at various venues around the greater Minneapolis St Paul Twin Cities metro area as well as online.
April 25, 2026 – FAA Saturday Morning Coffee and Wings
April 8, 2026 – Eden Prairie High School
Spring 2026 Drone Comm Ed Classes Stillwater MN
Drones 101: Ready for Takeoff Monday May 11, 2026 Pony Activity Center (PAC) Stillwater MN 6:30-9:00PM Learn more and register here.
Winter 2026 Drone Comm Ed Classes Roseville MN
Drones 101: Ready for Takeoff Monday February 2, 2026 Anpetu Teca Education Center 1910 County Rd B W Roseville, MN 55113 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here.
Drones 101: Ready for Takeoff Friday March 6, 2026 Anpetu Teca Education Center 1910 County Rd B W Roseville, MN 55113 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here.
Drone Aerial Photography Monday March 16, 2026 Anpetu Teca Education Center 1910 County Rd B W Roseville, MN 55113 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here.
Drone Aerial Photography Friday April 17, 2026 Anpetu Teca Education Center 1910 County Rd B W Roseville, MN 55113 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here.
Winter 2026 Drone Comm Ed Minneapolis MN
Drones 1: Essentials Monday February 23, 2026 Ella Baker School Minneapolis, MN 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here.
Drones 2: Aerial Photography & Video Monday March 2, 2026 Ella Baker School Minneapolis, MN 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here.
Drones 3: Aerial Photography & Video Advanced Monday March 9, 2026 Ella Baker School Minneapolis, MN 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here.
Check Back For Additional Spring & Summer Classes
Fall 2025 Drone Comm Ed Classes Roseville MN
Drones 101: Ready for Takeoff! Saturday November 1, 2025 Anpetu Teca Education Center 1910 County Rd B W Roseville, MN 55113 C207 – Fairview Room A 9:30AM-Noon Call Roseville Area Schools for registration (651) 604-3500
Fall 2025 Drone Comm Ed Classes Minneapolis MN
Drones 1: Essentials Monday October 6, 2025 Ella Baker School Minneapolis, MN 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here
Drones 2: Aerial Photography & Video Monday October 20, 2025 Ella Baker School Minneapolis, MN 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here
Drones 3: Aerial Photography & Video Advanced Monday November 3, 2025 Ella Baker School Minneapolis, MN 6:00-8:30PM Learn more and register here
Previous Classes
Drones 101: Ready for Takeoff! Monday September 15, 2025 Anpetu Teca Education Center 1910 County Rd B W Roseville, MN 55113 C207 – Fairview Room A 6:00-8:30PM
Stillwater Area Public Schools Adult Community Ed Drones: Aerial Photo & Video Registration Saturday June 14, 2025 9:00AM-Noon, SAPS High School/PAC
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 1: Fundamentals, Registration Tuesday June 24, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Justice Page School
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 2: Aerial Photo & Video, Registration Wednesday July 16, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Dowling School
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 1: Fundamentals, Registration Monday April 14, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Ella Baker School
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 2: Aerial Photography & Video, Registration Monday April 28, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Ella Baker School
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 3: Aerial Photo & Video Advanced, Registration Monday May 12, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Ella Baker School
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 1: Fundamentals, Learn more and register here. Monday February 24, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Ella Baker School
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 2: Aerial Photography & Video, Learn more and register here. Monday March 10, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Ella Baker School
Minneapolis Public Schools Adult Community Education Drones 3: Aerial Photo & Video Advanced, Learn more and register here. Monday March 24, 2025 6:00-8:30PM Ella Baker School
Pictures Over Stillwater In Person Training and Consulting
Picture Over Stillwater also provides in-person custom one on one, and group UAS, UAV, Drone classes, seminars, coaching and consulting. Give us a call or send an email to learn more about our drone school, custom education, training, consulting and other drone service offerings.
On Thursday February 6, 2025 Pictures Over Stillwater Founder Greg Schulz (me) was an in the KSTP TV studio guest for a live segment on Minnesota Live with Megan Newquist, Chris Egert and Ken Barlow.
Our conversation included how I got into doing drone aerial photography and video, as well as ground based photos & video, drone safety, covering and capturing events, drone community education and more.
During the conversation several video and photo images appeared from around the twin cities metro area along with Stillwater and St Croix River Valley. Catch the replay here at Minnesota Live.
Courses are lead by Pictures Over Stillwater founder and chief remote pilot Greg Schulz. Greg is an professional FAA Part 107 certified (e.g. licensed) commercial drone operator (e.g. Remote Pilot In Command RPIC). In addition to being FAA Part 107, Greg is also MnDoT aeronautics licensed and insured. His drone flight experience includes having a 107.29 daylight waiver for night flights, 107.39 (Operating Over People e.g. OOP), 107.145 (Operating Over Moving Vehicles e.g. OOMV) along with various 107.41 airspace authorizations to fly in “0” or no fly zones as well as above published altitudes with FAA approval. Greg has accumulated hundreds of drone hours in the air, flown over a thousand drone air miles, spanning thousands of drone flights. As a professional drone operator Greg does projects involving aerial photography, video, FPV, thermal, photogrammetry (2D/3D model map image survey), inspection and other activity for construction, real estate, events among others, including indoor flights. Greg is also an FAASTeam Lead Rep and DronePro representive for Minneapolis region.
This page is a collection of upper Midwest, Western Wisconsin, Minnesota, Minneapolis, St Paul, Stillwater, Mississippi River, St Croix River Valley and other floods flooding content.
Stock Images Video B Roll for Press Media News Producers
We have stock photo still images along with video B roll footage available for licensed use by Press Media News Producers Editors Writers. Our imagery has appeared in various online, on air, and print venues. Contact us at info at picturesoverstillwater.com to let us know what you need, or visit our gallery for self service shopping needs.
NOAA Weather Service St. Croix River Stillwater Forecast
The 7th annual Opera On The River was held downtown Stillwater MN along the shores of the St Croix River July 26, 2025
2024 Opera On The River
Returning for its 6th season 2024 Opera On The River July 27 Stillwater Minnesota downtown 7PM outdoors in Lowell Park along scenic St Croix River front. The event is free and open to the public along with VIP seating for a fee. Learn more at the event page here.
Being in the park, in addition to reserved seating, there is free and open seating (or standing) in and around Lowell Park, or, if you prefer, from your boat. For the hearing impaired, there will be ASL service during the event. Even if you are not an opera fan, these shows are a lot of fun as they have a great mix of classical and musical songs that they perform.
Stillwater Evening Hot Air Balloons
2023 Opera On The River Video Views
Past Opera on the River Events
On Sunday August 2, 2020, On Saturday evening August 10 2019 Operatunity Theatre presented their Opera On The Virtual river event. The 2020 event was a social distanced production taking place near the St Croix River and downtown Stillwater as well as being live streamed on FaceBook and YouTube.
Pictures Over Stillwater was honored to be involved with the production and live stream of the event providing aerial video images of the St Croix River Valley, Downtown Stillwater and event areas as well as documenting behind the scenes of this social distanced event.
Watch for more images (still, video and 360 of the 2020 event to appear hear soon. Visit the Operatunity Theatre website and Facebook page to learn more about this event, St Croix Valley Opera and related information.
Views from Opera On The River Event
The 2020 event follows the 2019 inaugural downtown Stillwater Minnesota opera on the river free event.
Click on above image to view more Opera On The River Images
Downtown Stillwater St. Croix River Valley (few days before Opera event)
Despite the on and off rain throughout the day, the organizers, performers, volunteers as well as attendees braved the elements and proved that the show must and will go on.
The following image was taken during the soundcheck Saturday afternoon with some cast and crew on stage while Stillwater Minnesota native headliner Jack Swanson appeared at ease with the elements. When I saw this view during the soundcheck and the confidence of cast and crew, my thoughts were that rain or shine, this would be a great event.
The Opera On The River Show Must Go On
The following are some images of Opera On The River downtown Stillwater along St. Croix River during the performance after the rains passed (and a short delay to allow conditions to improve).
Looking Forward to 2020 Opera On the River
Thank you to Opportunity Theatre event organizers, staff, volunteers, performers for allow Pictures Over Stillwater full access to capture these and other images of this inaugural event. Also thanks to all of the sponsors and attendees who braved the elements for this first of what will become an annual event. Hopefully the weather and conditions will look more like the following image of the St. Croix River valley and downtown Stillwater for the 2020 event.
Drone based Building Construction Aerial Photography Videography progress inspections projects. Pictures Over Stillwater performs drone based Construction Aerial Photography, Videography, Photogrammetry imaging (2D, 3D, Mapping), are among Pictures Over Stillwater focus areas. Our construction experience spans from design phase pre-build virtual outward looking views to support Building Information Modeling (BIM), to one-off ad-hoc marketing “Hero” shots. Our project experience includes FPV fly through virtual tours, special events (ground breaking, top-off, major milestones), to recurring activity indoors and outdoors on projects spanning multiple years.
We have done residential and commercial construction aerial photography videography imaging mapping and virtual tour projects from western Wisconsin to the west metro, from norther to southern suburbs, as well as throughout the greater Minneapolis St Paul Twin Cities metro area.
Our project experience includes flying in restricted no fly zones adjacent to major airports where special coordination and airspace from the FAA has been required, to flying in controlled airspace with normal FAA airspace authorization, as well out in the middle of farm fields and empty lots.
What We Have Done
Pictures Over Stillwater recurring construction drone aerial photography videography and imaging experience includes both hand flying, as well as autonomous (programmed) missions to capture view perspective that are the same (height, location, focus point) for each flight for long term time lapse comparison and progress reporting. Image capture (indoor and outdoor, ground and aerial) includes still photography, video, imaging mapping (2D, 3D), oblique, nadir, time lapse, panoramic, as well as 360 (still, video, time lapse).
Our project portfolio experience includes fly and capturing image of undeveloped properties ranging from an acre to over 200 acres, from horizontal below grade infrastructure and utilities site prep to tall vertical structures above ground. We have captured imagery from inside and outside, on the ground, to high over tall buildings in downtown Minneapolis and St Paul.
Pictures Over Stillwater construction aerial photography videography experience includes close up inspections of roofs and other items, to wide view images, from single residence to large multi-story structures, from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of square feet in size.
2022 Demo Reel Indoor Outdoor Aerial Video Views
Sampling of what we have done around the Twin Cities metro area: ✓ Capture ground and aerial, indoors (including drone) and outdoors ✓ One off inspections of roofs, buildings, towers and other structures ✓ FPV fly through virtual tours inside and outside ✓ Building facades, oblique and ortho among other views ✓ Recurring projects spanning days, weeks, months and years ✓ Fly in, fly through and look around views plus traditional views ✓ Fly autonomous missions with Litchi, DJI, Autel, DroneDeploy, Pix4D ✓ BIM content for Pix4D, DroneDeploy, Cupix, ODM among others ✓ Virtual views from locations during design and before build ✓ Fly in, around, outside of buildings including high-rise structures ✓ Fly indoors down an elevator shaft and into a large HVAC air duct ✓ Capture images in close proximity to cranes and helicopter lifts ✓ Capture aerial views of heavy lift structure top off events ✓ Ground breaking, special events, major milestone ✓ Year round from heat of summer to below zero winter weather
Who Have We Worked For
Pictures Over Stillwater has captured ground and drone based construction aerial photography videography, imaging and other content for local, regional, and national land owners, property developers, designers, architects, engineers, general contractors, subs including mechanical, roofing, site prep excavators, suppliers, owners as well as third parties and service providers.
What We Can Do For You
One off, standard packages and custom solutions for inside, outside, on and from the ground as well as drone based aerial creative services content capture and creation. Still photography, videography, photogrammety mapping model 2D 3D image capture, 360 (still, video, time lapse), panoramic, oblique, spherical, time-lapse, live real-time video feeds as well as audio.
✓ Capture images and upload for you or your service provider ✓ Post production services including video, photo, 2D 3D maps models ✓ Augment your staff or creative services departments capabilities ✓ Provide drone operation training and flight operations reviews ✓ Assist your staff with flight planning, waivers, airspace authorizations ✓ Capture before, during and after images of structures ✓ Architect, Design, Engineering, construction BIM content ✓ Structure placement studies and content capture ✓ Views of where structure will be and is being constructed ✓ Outward views of where structure will be or is being built
Pictures Over Stillwater drone school are held at various education venues presenting UAV UAS Drone related topics. These safety and awareness education and outreach activities include introduction, basic, beyond the basics, as well as advanced topics such as aerial photography videography, among others topics.
Education and awareness sessions range from large adult community education, high school, individual custom training along with STEM programs around the greater Minneapolis St Paul Twin Cities metro area and online. Click here to learn more about Drone Education and upcoming events.
