October 2021

Views From the Pond #18
Bozeman, Montana
2021

This photo was taken pretty much at the peak of the fall color around our house.

Cell Mates
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

 

Sculpture Garden
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

These orderly groups of corral panels spread out across the prairie reminded me of a similar but more elegant and purposeful sculpture garden here in Montana, that at Tippet Rise.

Accidental Expressionism
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

Framed in my camera’s viewfinder, this random smear of goop of some kind on the highly textured, rusted steel side of a corral panel formed a pleasing (to me anyway) expressionist abstract composition.

Bullpen Abstract
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

It takes a pretty hefty structure to secure a wild bison. These panels stand maybe eight feet high and are made of heavy steel.

Cloud Chamber #3
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

 

Cloud Chamber #2
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

 

Cloud Chamber
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

Even though I did statistical work for several nuclear scientists for a number of years, my knowledge of particle physics is stunningly minimal. Still, when I saw these weld marks on a corral panel, for some reason my mind immediately thought “cloud chamber.” I believe that reaction was not due to my work with the physicists; rather it was the result of my mind going back to some bit I read or heard about in science class, probably in junior high school.

It turns out that most cloud chamber photographs have a black background and white streaks instead of the reverse as is shown here. That means, I suppose, that I’ve been having negative thoughts about cloud chambers all these years.

Thanks to Bozeman Magazine for selecting me as their cover artist for October!

Self-Portrait With Bison
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
2021

More recently than our trip to the American Prairie Reserve we spent several days camping in Yellowstone, enjoying fine weather and the best fall colors in years and of course the wildlife. We saw literally hundreds of bison in various areas of the park’s north side. This is the only safe way to get a selfie with some bison. I probably should have stuck my head further out the window if I really was going for a selfie but this actually happened by accident.