Looking closely you can see the authenticity of this roper. A few conchos are missing on her chinks. The leather in the chinks have seen much wear. This is an authentic cowgirl. She works hard and she knows what she’s doing. Her saddle is handmade. Her horse gentle and well mannered under her skills as a horsewoman.
I love the beauty and texture in a thunderhead!On my ranch by Okaton, the sky is unhindered for a full show of the storm until it passes. This 'Brewing' thunderhead was shot from the top of the hill south of my ranch house. My house has fantastic windows to allow for a great view of the sky surround it. I happened…
I noticed these reeds on a recent trip to Sylvan Lake with my son. While he played in the water, I played with several compositions for this photograph. It was so relaxing to just focus on the little details. If you look close, you can see a fly's reflection.
I'd planned an evening of shooting in BadlandsNational Park. The clouds were abundant in the sky, which I love because they create dramatic backdrops for the landscape. I arrived to this location, set up my camera and tripod and took a few test shots to adjust for the lighting. Then, the clouds broke in a perfect place for the evening…
Using the yucca as an anchor in the foreground, I wanted to show a scale of the vast open prairie uninhibited by fences and buildings. The combination of the prairies lush greenand the magnificent sky add to the depth of the landscape.The green grasses bring hope as the sight of new life abundantly transforms the northern plains of South Dakota.…
The eyes tell a lot about a horse and seem to share what they think. This big gray was a little rough around the edges (rodeo rough stock) but his eyes gazed gently at me. I used the available light behind him to highlight his huge eye.
The day of work is over. A time of rest has come. I enjoy creating silhouettes and horses are a fun challenge. My ranch quarter horses don’t generally care to pose and so I work with what they do give me. Positioned low to the ground to bring their silhouettes to the horizon, I used a fast shutter speed to…
July 2017 brought little rain and relief from the heat in western South Dakota. On this particular evening, I’d intended to shoot the wheat fields with the reflection of the setting sun against the eastern sky. I received a show of colors that I hadn't bargained for! A sliver of light broke through as the storm clouds moved from the…
An old homestead garden on South Dakota's prairie continues to share it's beauty of Irises planted many years ago. Golden Hour-my favorite time to photograph when the sun is low and the shadows are deepened, creating warm and vibrant light.
Standing in the pasture to compose my barn in the foreground for the storm and lightning, I was surrounded by explosions. I stayed out as long I dared, trying to capture lightning bolts. The depth in the clouds were amazing and the beauty of the storm now forever to be remembered.
How many can just turn off the lights and have immediate access to the Milky Way? I flipped the switch on our yard light and was instantly surrounded by darkness. Increasing my camera’s sensitivity and setting my exposure for 20 seconds, the camera can fully capture what the eye cannot fully comprehend.
While scouting for interesting locations near Brookings, SD, I came across this small lake. The bare tree trunks standing in water fascinated me. It was a peaceful evening and I wanted to create an image that revealed the moment. As I set up my camera and tripod, the gentle wisp of a cloud passed through. This made the composition and…
The jagged landscape shoots towards the sky. Surrounded by the northern Great Plains the Badlands feel like mountains, especially if viewed from the base. The last light of sunset touches the clouds in pink. A surreal, yet comforting solitude encompasses the soul.
I followed a thunderstorm into Badlands National Park by a new road for me, excited for views I hadn’t witnessed before. As the storm clouds rolled north a glimpse of the famous Badlands color peaked through.
When the sun sets with clouds in the sky, the colors it leaves in its wake are often more spectacular than the sunset itself. Often I find that after the sun has sunk below the horizon the magic in the sky really starts to happen. I was in the Badlands for an evening of shooting. These colors that emerged post…
I love this angle! I wanted something different that highlighted the regal stature of this ram. Shifting my position so most of his body was hidden behind this section of rock, I used the land to create a more mysterious frame so the viewer focuses on his head. I like the minimal appeal this image brings.
I planned an early morning shoot. The barn faces the south and I was hoping for some splendid clouds behind it to the west and north. I've found that when the sun is about down in the evening or just as it peaks over the horizon in the morning, the clouds in the opposite direction give a most spectacular show.…
Fresh powder across the open prairie and huge fluffy clouds beckoned me. I grabbed my camera pack, tripod and slipped into my winter boots, thinking, “It won’t be deep enough for snowshoes.” Was I ever wrong! Hiking the 1/3 mile to the top of Glorious Splendor (my favorite prairie viewing hill close to my house) is a breeze in dry climates.…
When I describe South Dakota to those who have never been here, this photograph is what I attempt. My words do not compare with the beauty and vastness of this open prairie.The rolling hills in shadow of evening. The massive sky.The grand orchestra of cloud formations.In the words of my husband, “This is God’s County.”
The view towards the White River, taken at the Stamford hill. Stamford was one of the towns along Hwy 16 (now SD Hwy 248). Today, unless you knew it was there, remnants of the town are hardly noticeable.
I was given the opportunity to soar over Badlands National Park in late summer. It was incredible to view the landscape from the air with the windows open and my camera hanging out. The textures found in the Badlands, mixed with the angled sun create great natural contrast and interesting perspectives from the surrounding prairie.
Needles Highway is one of my favorite drives through the Black Hills, especially the area surrounding Cathedral Spires. On this particular day, I had been setting up my art show booth at the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival, the end of September. I wanted to venture out to Cathedral Spires in the evening in order to capture the eastern sky that…
