Blog Archives
Great Gray Stallion
Friends, another gray stallion from the badlands as he surveys me from a hill top. He came from 100 yards away to give me a closer view of his beautiful form. This is a different gray from the one shown yesterday, as he has a pink nose. He is still a spirit horse to me and represents what i cannot put into words: freedom, wildness and that ache within that strives to be outside with my face in the wind. My connection to past generations who struggled to raise children in a sometimes hostile land. Who rose every morning to endless chores and strong sunshine to warm their souls and bodies. They are my heritage and the National Park was their legacy to me and all future generations of those who love the arid hills and the ever-changing river that still carves the North Dakota badlands. So with this post we leave the badlands (temporarily) and return to spring in Northwestern Wisconsin. I promise to return to the badlands soon as i am visiting there in late May. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge: Together
Friends, wild horses are very together in a natural setting of the North Dakota badlands. Often i have seen them with their heads together and we humans interpret that as affection, and maybe it is horse affection. Or maybe they are chasing flies away from each face region. Whatever it really is, i like to think of them as affectionate,gentle creatures that at the same time are wild and free. This post starts a series of posts on the wild horses of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) til Tomorrow MJ
Wildflowers-Miniatures
Friends, these tiny blooms (Globe Mallow) are often overlooked because they are very tiny and sit very close to the ground in the North Dakota badlands. To get this macro shot, one needs to lie on the ground with your nose very close to the blooms. The camera was fitted with a 90 mm macro lens. I did a little post-processing work to give it a fine art look, you know what that is, background dark and out of focus. 🙂 I love the bright orange colors and the blooms in all stages of opening, from the closed buds with their fine hair coverings to the full bloom. The insects must also like them as evidenced by the pollen spilled onto the petals. til Tomorrow MJ
Sandhill Sunrise
Friends, these Sandhills are taking off into the sunrise, pretty colors in the morning especially as the sun peeks over the horizon. Now i am done showing any more crane images until next fall. Tomorrow i start in a new direction, i will still be doing the nature photography, but the location will change from the Wisconsin birds to North Dakota badlands. I will show you the land, critters, wildflowers, lichens and tell you some natural history stories along the way. Tune in for a fascinating journey into a land touched by the sun,wind and history. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 