One of the cool things about Montana is that fireworks on the 4th normally don’t start until after 22:30. We love to head to Freestone, get ice cream, and enjoy it where we park from our firework watching spot and watch the sun go down over the Bitterroots. The view is gorgeous, and in years past, the show was great before the first cannon rips on. My ice cream was a bit melted by the time I got to it, as the clouds were dancing about the peaks in grand fashion. It had been raining most of the day, and looking up towards Horsehead Arch (hidden in the clouds), the clouds couldn’t decide whether to go or stay. The Z 8 was in Dark Monochrome, the Z180-600 was at 600mm as I picked out the puffs dancing about. Such a delightful evening, love the drama of the Bitterroots!

I’ve been staring into these oaks for forty-four years, enjoyed their shape, the birds they’re home to, and the shade they provide. They are the backdrop to the hummingbird feeders I sit at for eight to ten hours every day. And until this morning, I had never taken their portrait to preserve the memory. Well, I can now take them home with me, and my heart feels just a tad fuller. It’s a cherished backdrop!

The day before, we’d just finished filming my latest class for KelbyOne on photographing Yosemite. Sharon & I spent the morning reminiscing about our decades walking the valley floor with a walk along the Merced before heading towards the airport. It wasn’t a photographic walk, just a simple pleasure walk, recounting the thousands of memories Yosemite brings back. We’d walk about two miles when we came upon this scene. The spring runoff had made this large pond, and Sharon instantly found Wood Ducks tucked in the corner. While she was enjoying them, I took notice of the reflection, and I knew I needed to photograph it. That was the quickest two miles I’ve traveled in a long time, going back to the car for a different lens.

We parked in a different locale, so the walk was only a half mile as we boogied over to the same spot. The light hadn’t changed, so I was in luck. The light was luscious, the view, spectacular! I went with the “anchor” in the foreground shot first, what you see below. It was that classic taught technique, and for a minute, I liked the photo. And then, I didn’t as it didn’t speak Yosemite to me and definitely didn’t sum up our walk and memories. With a couple of steps to the right, the fix was at hand. The cure was obvious and simple. I set the Z 8 to Dark Tone and made a simple click with simple elements. Now that’s what I’m talkin about!

It was raining pretty steadily when we left the lodge, seeing that there was a window of clearing at our destination we headed out. When we reached the coast, it wasn’t raining, but the wind was keeping the birds down and the long lenses bouncing on the tripods. Like I tell folks in these conditions, the worst weather can make some of the best photography. And for about an hour, we had some great shorebird photography. Then the cell we dodged at the lodge caught up, and it was pouring! We hunkered down in the truck to see what would transpire. There were windows when the rain would lighten up, and just when we thought we could shoot again, kablam! One of those little windows to the south, as you see above, there was some great drama in the sky. Jumping out I made some quick clicks as I’m a sucker for great clouds. And I wanted a reminder of that morning when the Atlantic had other plans.

The snowline is slowly creeping up the peaks, the days are longer, creeks swollen and bright green everywhere. Spring is here! It’s a grand time to be in the Bitterroots with birds having migrated back, establishing territories, and finding mates. The deer are plump with fawns to come, and wildflowers are peaking out. The battle of seasons is over, spring has won.

Na, that’s not snow you see in the top of the frame, that’s the start of the downpour, one of many for the day in The Hills. South Dakota’s Black Hills is a marvelous place to haunt the dirt roads with your camera. Moisture from the Gulf combined with the heat, builds afternoon lightning shows. The rain that falls greens them up, and the critters come out to munch on the new sprouts. It’s a great cycle to celebrate with your lens. You’ll quickly find for yourself The Hills and sky are calling!