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 whileI sat on top of the panels and waited. Blue Eyes stepped…
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.
In late summer 2018, I had the opportunity to photograph Badlands National Park from the open windows of a Piper Cub. It was an absolutely thrilling experience! Soaring over the park I witnessed areas I'd never seen before. It leaves me yearning for more! This view is on the east side of the park.
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.
Upon exploring southern Stanley County, Cristen sought shelter from 70 mph winds and damaging hail. Not expecting the severity of the storm to be so grave she stopped at a ranch along Lincoln Road north of Draper asking for refuge to wait out the storm. This photograph was taken just outside the shed door where her car was safely parked.…
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…
Spending a day hiking through Spearfish Canyon through rather steep terrain is rewarded with birds eye views. As the sun moved through the canyon, highlighting the last of the aspen colors in late fall, I was struck by the contrast of the light and the shadow.
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.
Driving the iconic Needles Highway, I stopped at a lookout point to capture the eastern sky at sunset. The last glimpse of light over the peaceful mountains is the perfect end to a long day.
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.
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.
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…
A crisp morning during the Black Hills Stock Show, back in February, as the rough stock awaited their rodeo appearance. To create back-lighting in a photograph, one needs to face the sun. I also moved my position to a higher vantage point by sitting on top of the corral panels. Using the morning light streaming over the building and the…
Cone-flowers are such joyful prairie blooms-vibrant colors that stand out among the grasses, paying tribute to their Maker. The evening started with dark clouds and scattered rain but gave way to lovely blue skies, characteristic of a peaceful summer’s day.
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.…
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.”
This is Stella. She was the start of a longhorn herd on a family ranch.Though she may appear intimidating, she was perfectly harmless and rather content to let me take her portrait, posing for me as I crouched near the ground to add the clouds behind her.
"Cathedral Spires is my favorite area in all of the Black Hills! I love the jagged rocks that shoot out of the middle of the mountain range."On this particular night, Cristen finished setting up her art show booth at the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival the end of September 2017. She was running out of time and wanted to get to…
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…
