I love seeing all the images and video that everyone took and posted to social media all over the west last night, such an incredible display by Mother Nature!
I started my shoot off heading north out of town to get away from the lights and clouds hovering over the valley. Meandering through some of my favorite gravel back roads, I decided that a bridge access of the East Gallatin River near Dry Creek would be a perfect place to hang out for the show. I sat in awe as the greens magically appeared and dissipated in and out below the stars as the calm trickle of the waters from the East gently immersed my mind into an experience bordering on spiritual.
The cameras sensors and long exposures show the colors much more vividly than the naked eye. But once your are in a place of relative darkness and allow your eyes and mind to become attuned, it is still possible to see the movement, even this far south.
Looks like there is possibility of more shows throughout the week, so get out there and take a look! What is the worst that could happen, staring at the stars outside for an hour or two? I think we can all use a little dose of that every now again to "put us in our place" of feeling tiny in this giant universe among infinity.
I should have taken many more stills and time lapse shots, but honestly after about an hour of shooting, I just put away the cameras and just lay out on the ground watching like a child. Strangely, this was the first time I've actually been able to see and touch the soil that has been under 3-4 feet of snow all winter....the smells, the sounds of birds and moving water....the light show...It was just what I needed!
Leave a comment
Also in News
Christmas order deadlines:
December 04, 2024
LOCAL ORDERS & PICKUPS:
-Local orders can be placed and picked up through Dec. 23rd.
I will be closed from Dec. 24th through January 6th.
IN STOCK FRAMED PRINTS and BOOKS:
In stock framed prints will can be shipped out in 1-2 days from order date, and will ship up to Dec. 17th or 18th depending on location. Local orders can be placed and picked up through Dec. 23rd.
NEW FRAMED PRINT ORDERS:
All new framed print production orders must be in by December 5th to ensure delivery by Christmas. (orders may still be placed, but may not arrive in time) For orders that will not arrive by Christmas, I will send you a 8.5x11 pdf printout with a sample of the photo to give as a gift before the print arrives. (see below sample)
Questions? Check the FAQ page, then shoot me an E-Mail or call my office at 406-522-7798
(I rarely answer the phone these days, but leave a message or text, and I will call you back)
Continue reading
Book reading at the Spokane Library, and a few new signed books are now available!
November 08, 2024
Earlier this summer I did one last book reading and signing at the Spokane Public Library with Shann to promote our collaborative award winning book "Montana Panoramic - Transparent in the Backlight". Thank you to all those who came out!
From that event, Shann and I both signed 14 books to offer as fund raising donations and for our best supporters. I now have 8 of those double signed books available for purchase now until out of stock.
A lovely day in Spokane
Reading at the Library
Only a few custom signed books by both of us remain...Get yours here!
Continue reading
One for the Ages...A Northern Lights viewing like none other!
May 23, 2024
Location: Maudlow, MT - Northern Bridger Range, Sixteen Mile Creek
OPEN EDITION
May 11th, 2024 12:35 am
I was extremely excited, and pleasantly surprised to see how many people were able to get out and see this last absolutely unbelievable display of the northern lights! Not only here in Montana but all over North America and the world, it was a sight to behold!
I follow several Aurora Borealis websites to keep an eye on when there are possible chances for a flare up to go out and take some photos. And, along with the excitement of everyone else, it seemed like this was going to be a big one.
I loaded up the camper and all my gear to head north, trying to find a good location that would give me the best possibility of seeing the Northern Lights again, not only from absence of city lights, but also the absence of people and wandering car lights. With a little due-diligence and studying of my trusted-heavily-marked-on and-falling apart Montana Gazetteer maps, I was able to find just what I was looking for out at at the old Maudlow Schoolhouse on 16 Mile Creek. The intact though decrepit school house from 1909 still has the old teeter totters, swings, and basketball hoops still up in the playground. It is such a beautiful place in time, that you can almost hear the children still laughing and playing in the distance.
With no cell service, and no one else around, I could hear the roaring spring waters of 16 mile Creek in the distance as I sat and watched the mind blowing dance of colors throughout the night. It was such an amazing experience, that I really had a hard time keeping myself focused on just taking photos, and ended up just laying down in the grass and watching the dancing show for the rest of the night into the early morning before crawling back in the camper for a couple hours of sleep.
"Hoop Dreams Under the Stars" - Maudlow, MT
"School District 91" Maudlow, MT
Continue reading