Standout
Beartrap Canyon, Montana
2015

Other than the color, this rock looked very much like the others it was nestled among.

What, Me Worry? #2
Bozeman, Montana
2015

Another barefoot shot from our unseasonably warm weather this weekend, this one from Main Street. One of the businesses on Main used to include the phrase “on the sunny side of Main” in their advertising–a feature that is much appreciated in February.

What, Me Worry?
Bozeman, Montana
2015

The Fashion Queen sporting the latest in February outdoor attire on our patio yesterday morning. If you ignore the pending summer fire risk, melting ice caps and the like, what’s not to like about climate change?

Solid Flow
Beartrap Canyon, Montana
2015

The blurry parts of this photo are actually flowing water, but even the ice maintains a sense of fluidity.

Blind Abstract
Bozeman, Montana
2015

If you read anything at all about the ideal room environment for processing photographs on a computer, you will soon come across the advice that the room lighting should be dim and most of all controlled to a constant level and color temperature. This means that windows, especially ones that are not suitably draped are a no-no. The changing conditions of daylight can affect how photographs and prints look.

So, that’s the advice. The problem is I don’t like working in windowless rooms, so in my studio I have four 4’x5′ windows and a set of full-glass patio doors. I enjoy the full view of the Bridger mountain range these windows provide me. Does it affect my photography work? No doubt, but I can close the blinds to dim the room when necessary and my computer is in the back half of my studio, away from the windows so that helps too. (This doesn’t really help the change in color temperature of the light in the room but then I mostly work in black and white anyway.)

One upside of the windows (besides the great view) is that they wrap around the large work table where I mount and frame prints. The more light the better as far as those activities are concerned. And of course the windows sometimes afford yet another photo opportunity such as today’s POTD.

Bison, Gardner River
Yellowstone National Park, Montana
2015

Bison grazing in the last light of the day near the Montana/Wyoming border.

Bison #6
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
2015

Yellowstone Park regulations say you should stay 75 feet from a bison when you are on foot. Given they can run 30 mph, they can cover 75 feet in something less than two seconds–if they feel inspired to do so. Bison are generally pretty lazy; so presumably the 75 feet must be a distance thought far enough for them not to get irritated enough at a human to motivate them to run after you. Observing and photographing bison from a car seems like a safer bet, especially if you’re trying to get a close-up head shot without a really long telephoto lens. Gotta love the frosty top-knot on this one.

Bison #5
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
2015

Nine Below #9
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
2015

This is probably about the most subtle snow form photo I’ve ever taken. These wrinkles in the snow were in full shade when I took the photo. The light was so even the shadow pattern was barely visible. It took some work on the computer to bring out the snow ripples as they are shown here.

Nine Below #8
Yellowstone National Parks, Wyoming
2015