As the sun set behind Sylvan Lake, it left magical colors in its wake with hues not seen during the day. While thinking of a title for this photograph, the words to Taps came to mind: “Day is done, Gone the sun, From the hills, From the lake, From the skies. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.”
Mountain top views of the Black Hills make one feel so small. The layers and depth of the landscape invite us to take it all in. My son and I hiked to the top of this peak from which this photograph was taken. We soaked in the landscape for an hour or so before the lighting was right for the…
During our local Ranch Rodeo weekend in Murdo, I walked over to the rough stock after they'd been used for the Gumbo Range Ride. I'm drawn to the color spectrum of a paint horse and especially the blue eyes of this one. The broncs were a little unsettled while I sat on top of the panels and waited. Blue Eyes stepped…
"I love the beauty and texture in a thunderhead!" On Cristen's ranch by Okaton, South Dakota, 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 her ranch house. "My house has fantastic windows to allow for a great view of the sky surround…
One of the many advantages to living on the prairie is tracking the storms as they form, explode and move on. Evening storms are always the best as the descending light creates vibrant colors in the clouds. This particular evening in June, the storm had moved on but was still raging as the sun began it's farewell. So many colors…
I noticed this band of horses on the way to somewhere. I stopped to photograph them and was late to where I was headed. Sometimes I feel caught between being a responsible adult and stopping to enjoy some spontaneity. I think there’s room for both!
Summers are for sunshine and wildflowers! One of my favorite flowers found in the pastures of our cattle ranch in South Dakota's western prairie are the Coneflowers. Also called Echinacea, their pink peddles stand tall among the waving prairie grasses. I wandered through the pasture that seems to boast the most wildflowers, in search of groupings. Photographed near sunset to add…
Walking down the path the horses made from the pasture to the water tank, my hands brushed the tips of the tall brome grass. The gentle evening breeze invited them to sway, the slow motion of their movement appearing as though they dance. Photography is typically known for still imagery. In order to capture the motion of the moving grasses,…
In the heart of the Black Hills lies Deerfield Lake. Dramatic skies reflect across the smooth peaceful waters. The cry of a Loon can be heard in the quiet.
On her way to Uncle's to help haul calves to the sale barn, Cristen took this image early one late October morning. The golden colors of the cotton wood trees that adorn the Bad River add peaceful notes to the end of the season.
