Treasure State Image Store

Back again for an infrequent post

2010-04-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

I have let this blog languish for a considerable time. It was disheartening to see so little interest. It should be apparent that there are so many of these public ramblings that it would take something really unique and unusual (or perhaps outrageous and/or audacious) to stir more than perfunctory interest. My interests remain preoccupied with the photo posting sites (see links) that comsume the bulk of my time. I will tell a brief story, however, related to my most recent photo posts of which I am mighty proud.

The average visitor to Yellowstone barely scratches the surface. The obsessed such as I return over and over in every season and learn the paths followed and the habits of the full time inhabitants. Last Saturday marked the opening day for those interior park roads that get you through the Park from Gardiner to West Yellowstone. Early spring days are the premium wildlife observation opportunities. Notwithstanding the new roads to be explored I decided first to take the route toward Cooke City. The Lamar Valley is a year round ecosystem but it tends to explode with great hordes and varieties as spring moves toward summer. Just past Tower junction, I pulled into a rather private parking pullout that is a favorite as it lies in the traffic pattern of many species from Buffalo to Grizzly bear. On this day I found an acquaintance parked there before me and no sooner than I had exited my vehicle than he came bounding out of the woods to his own vehicle, grabbing his oversize lens and tripod and announcing simply, "Wolves!" I peaked over the brow of the hill below the parking spot and to my amazement saw 2 full grown wolves leisurely walking up a game trail not 100 yards distant. Nor did the hubbub of us photographers furiously assembling long lens and tripods seem to daunt them in any way. By the time I was set up they were probably 50 yards from my vantage point. This was the closest I had seen wolves (with full photo gear at ready) in the may years since their reintroduction to Yellowstone. I shot dozens of images and then moved ahead to the next spot on the road where logic and experience told us they would next emerge. Sure enough. And they proceeded to pose on top of seriously scenic boulders and to serenade us with their mournful, discordant but beautiful howls. More images - once in a lifetime shots/opportunity. Next stop, as they emerged into the Slough Creek area, they were challenged by a quite possibly insane coyote who seemed to believe he could chase them off his "domain". Not to be. They stared at first seemingly incredulous then promptly charged after him. He found himself running for his life.

You can see some of the resultant images on my redbubble site. This was a day that will rank among my best. No words to describe the deliciousness of the experience.

Second Try at the Blog thing.

2009-08-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

HELLO WORLD!

I did this once before and then forgot my password and changed internet providers and so that first attempt has become a sort of blogospheric junk, i presume. Having gotten the degree in creative writing in my U days, this notion of publishing to the world for free intrigues me. I'll take another run at it but just afraid there isn't enough time in life to do everything with the passion it deserves. If you peruse my blog page you will see that my primary passion in this phase of life is photography . . . specifically nature photography, but whatever else jogs my fancy such as this ode to liberty;

OR:

It's grass - one of nature's wonders without which life on earth would cease to exist. Is it not appropriate that we should cherish it with works of art to hang on our walls?

I just now returned from a short vacation spent in the mountains of Southwest Montana - the Beartooth mountains and specifically in the New World Mining District, of Cooke City area. I own an acre there which I need to seek out every 5 years or so. It's not easy to find and I am not always successful, but this trip I am 90% certain that I stood upon my little acre of paradise with its view of Pilot and Index peaks courtesy of the 88 fires of Yellowstone. (see view below)

If that don't bring tears to your eyes you lack a confirmed soul. Such visits are medication for the scourge of day to day "bidness" we face in our vocational endeavors.

I will try my had at posting some original poetry when next I "blog" to y'all. For now adieu mon fre'res (affectation . . . he doesn't really know French at all.)

2009-08-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

Helena, Montana - my home of many years (20+). Montana has been home since birth - none better.