Friday, June 30, 2006
Shining river at sunset
Shining far below is a bend in the Bitterroot River that has caught the liquid gold of the sunset. View large (see instructions at left) to see the bird flying above the river.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Where are the cows?
Ben has his lariat at the ready, but first he has to find a cow to capture.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Ducks or bumps?
View large to figure out which are bumps on a log and which are ducks in a row...
(See instructions at left for enlarging photos.)
Taken in western Montana's Swan Valley.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Skeletons
This was taken in the back of a body shop in Seeley Lake, Montana. It was such a fascinating jumble of shapes and textures that I had to try to capture it. The decay was quite a contrast with the bright sunlight and the evergreens in the background. I can't really say that a junkyard is a "pristine place," but every now and again I like to go off on a tangent!
Another skeleton with a story that no one will ever know. This has been a part of the MCG Ranch in western Montana since my cousins bought the place 50 years ago, and is obviously much older than that. In some way, every piece of rusting "junk" has a history and an aesthetic that counterbalances the plastic society we live in.
Monday, June 26, 2006
My home town - Missoula
Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana - old Milwaukee Railroad station in background. Taken from John H. Toole Park.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
A bright morning mood
This is the same scene as the photo just below, composed a little differently. The mood of each, however, is so different that they don't even look like the same place. Taken in western Montana's Swan Valley.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
A gray afternoon mood
Curtains of rain, framed in witches' moss and pine trees. Taken in western Montana's Swan Valley. Interestingly enough, this is not a black and white shot; the day was totally monochromatic.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Beargrass: candles in the meadow
Ephemeral woodland lights: June beargrass in the rain. Taken in western Montana's Swan Valley.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Yellow flowers agleam in last light: Oregon grape
This is an early incarnation of the Creeping Oregon Grape, (Berberis aquifolium or repens.) As summer goes on, these yellow flowers will evolve into little green berries, growing low to the ground. They are found everywhere in northern Montana woodlands. Taken in western Montana's Swan Valley.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
A violent torrent
It's impossible to capture the rawness and velocity of snowmelt as it cascades down the ravines and gullies of mountain canyons. Everything, including boulders, trees, and unwitting people who fall off the log on which I was perched taking this photo, is swept along in a violent torrent.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana
Wavelets gently lapping the shore of the Clark Fork River. The water is clear enough that you can't really tell where the river leaves off and the shore begins. This is the result of an inspiring story of citizens working to clean up a river that during my childhood was terminally polluted.Though problems and challenges remain, it is a joy to see its clarity return.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Springtime sunset
Sunset over the Mission Mountains - taken in western Montana's Seeley-Swan Valley at the Double Arrow Ranch.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
One bright ray over the Mission Mountains
Looking across the Swan Valley in western Montana. This photo must be viewed large to appreciate the relationship between clouds and mountains. Please read instructions at left to enlarge the photo.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Alpine lake in Mission Mountains
Glacier Lake in Mission Mountains Wilderness. A gem of a place that I visited a few days ago. Such silence and solitude up there in the Missions on a rainy, misty day.
Friday, June 16, 2006
A final sail in paradise
A last sail under a lowering sky before re-entering the "world": this graceful sailboat is piloted by my cousin just a few days after his beautiful wedding in the Swan Valley in western Montana.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Reflected sunset
Taken in western Montana's Swan Valley. A magical time of day.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Spring runoff in the Swan Range
Well, it's been an intense and family-filled time here in Montana - we attended a wedding and a memorial service and I've spent all my time with beloved cousins that I haven't seen for years. It has been wonderful. I do have a batch of Montana pix but my uploading will continue to be erratic due to lack of access to broadband.
This was taken in the Swan Range (my continuous source of inspiration) just south of Glacier Park. It's reassuring to see all the cascades of water coming out of the mountains everywhere, as this bodes well for the coming dry season.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Yes, this is a footbridge!
I'm in Montana right now; took a marvelous hike that required crossing three bridges like this! The slippery surface from the continuous rain provided a dash of danger that spiced up the trip. The spring runoff is coming down in torrents due to a good snowpack in the mountains. This was taken on the trail to Glacier Lake in the Mission Mountains.
