Blog Archives
From the Top
Friends, thia is the view from the top of wind canyon looking north from the hiking trail. These large blocks of sandstone have fallen from the hill and some have been so eroded by wind and rain that they have holes all the way through their bulk. The banks rise above the Little Missouri River sometimes called locally the Little Muddy or Little Misery, depending on your mood for the day. The day that we visited, the sky was beautiful with cumulus clouds dominating this scene. til Tomorrow MJ
Wind Canyon
Friends, going through the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we come to a small parking lot near the north end of the road. The sign says Wind Canyon and a short trail leads you to the top of the canyon where you can see carved figures of sandstone below you, like this golden man standing on a pedestal. A gigantic tree is growing from the bottom of the canyon, but a warning, the trail to the canyon bottom is wicked. You can slide on the sandstone to the bottom, but coming back up, you not only fight gravity but sandstone is so smooth that getting any purchase on the rock is difficult. til Tomorrow MJ
Spotted Towhee
Friends, this beautiful bird is a lifer for me, a spotted towhee from the North Dakota badlands. I love his red eye and rusty feathering, perched on a dead sage brush he was waiting for me to leave so he could resume his rummaging in the weeds for insects; til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Extra Extra
Friends, this Bison calf has stirred up a cowbird in the green green grasses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. The badlands have received lots of rain this year and the park is very green. Good for Bison, birds and other wildlife that live here til Tomorrow MJ
Painted Canyon
Friends, this view is the first view that most visitors from the east see from the overlook along Interstate Highway 94. This is called Painted Canyon and is part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. Some never see the rest of the park, but those who do, usually fall in love with the red hills, wild animals and great trails. In the days to follow, i will take you to some of my favorite places in the park, enjoy til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Challenge: Room
Friends, this is room to wander in the badlands of North Dakota, this rock has enough room to sit and watch the sunrise over the foggy hills. It is a place near and dear to my heart, where my mother was raised and i wandered as a child visiting beloved grandparents. The clouds are mares tails, reminding me of the wild horses who still roam the park (Theodore Roosevelt National Park). This is the first of several posts from this region, enjoy til Tomorrow MJ
Over the River….
Friends, on this Thanksgiving eve i am thinking of the old song, Over the river and through the woods to Grandmas house we go. This is not a river but Amity Creek that runs off Hawk Ridge into Lake Superior. We traveled over the plains and thru the hills to get to my grandmas house in the badlands of North Dakota. This time of year I remember being a child and being loved by parents and grandparents but kind of missing the Thankful part, now I am an adult and I realize how Thankful i am for the blessings of family and friends, so Happy Thanksgiving everyone, til Tomorrow MJ
Copper
Friends, the horses run wild in the badlands within the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This beautiful stallion is named Copper, and he was a herd sire of the wild ones. This year he appeared alone, no mares or foals following him around. They say he is injured and I hope he survives cause he is a pretty boy. til Tomorrow MJ
Prairie Dog Love
Friends, this morning is about prairie dogs, especially why there are so many in the North Dakota Badlands, Love ! Prairie Dog Love starts with a simple hug and a kiss.
Leads to large litters of 4-6 little ones
Then lots of work, feeding and taking care of little ones leaves the adults all tuckered out in the late afternoon.
Lighting Lesson
Friends, Practicing my hdr technique, this image was composited from three exposures, one right on and one overexposed and one underexposed. The sky was trying to wash out and the shadows on the right trees were getting lost in the dark. So hdr was used to reclaim those details. When I first explored the world of photography, I was told to put the sun at my back and shoot, but this often results in a flat image with details obscured. While attending a workshop on butterfly photography, the leader emphasized that the wing details can be enhanced by side lighting, This hill is a great example of side lighting bringing out the erosion details. So are you going to try??, til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 