If you’re on your way to Flasher (and let’s be honest, who isn’t) you might want to keep your eyes open for this old foundation. It sits along Highway 21 just a little ways east of town. It’s on posted land, but thankfully the best angle for it is just outside the fence anyway.
The last time I was in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, I watched (and felt) a storm roll in while standing atop the Wind River Overlook. I had trekked into the park before sunrise, getting one of my favorite sunrise photos EVER after slogging up the Little Missouri on foot for a ways, and was using my early-bird status to mosey around the park before the tourists arrived.
This area, while far different from the Rocky Mountains I enjoyed as a kid, makes me homesick for them nonetheless. It seems that even in North Dakota the skies get bigger the further west you go. I’d love to take a week or two and simply work the park, going back to Medora only for some shut-eye at night and fresh bacon in the morning! Let’s put that on the bucket list.
There are actually a few decrepit windmills in Bluegrass, ND, but the remnants of the little town are encroached upon by subsidy-sucking wind turbines on all sides. I stopped to grab a quick old-vs-new shot during my most recent drive past the remains of this ghost town.
We were doing a family thing, but I couldn’t help but dart outside for a quick Aurora Borealis photo. They weren’t visible from town when I drove in later, but from our place they looked quite lovely! They came and went over the course of an hour or two, and may not be done yet – but I am. I have a rough couple of days ahead.
This barn sits south of Mandan, beckoning to me every time I’m near St. Anthony. Of course, the correct pronunciation is more like “Snatnee” – sometimes even with some h’s in there for good Cherman measure – but I won’t get mired in the details.
Some mornings I like a blazing sunset, washing the landscape with brilliant color. But overcast mornings have their way of bringing out color, too. First off, there are none of the hard shadows of that piercing sunrise light. Second, the muted tones lend themselves very well to the color already present.
I’m glad I had the clouds on my side when these photos were taken. Much of the detail of a beautiful barn like this one would be lost in shadows, and I wouldn’t have been able to photograph both sides of it in one sitting!
That was the title of one of my speech textbooks in college (among other things, I hold a Speech Communications degree). I took this shot south of Mandan a couple Fridays ago. I was so excited to get the golden light from the impending sunrise, but once that happened I found myself seriously underwhelmed.
I like this shot a lot better, from a short while earlier and before the sun broke through the clouds. I also like the angle better as well. But part of the fun of this photography hobby is the experimentation part!
This “Studie” (short for Studebaker) sits on my friend’s property, waiting for me to drop by every now and then. I keep planning on grabbing a tractor and dragging it so it faces north, so I can do a “drive-in” style photo the next time the Northern Lights make an appearance. That may end up being next year at the soonest, now that winter weather is upon us.
This is an interesting old farm, simply because of the backstory. According to something I read about this property earlier this summer, it was the site of a murder-suicide. Two contentious brothers were found dead of gunshot wounds, one in the house and one outside by the water tank.
The story goes on to say that the brothers didn’t believe in banks, and they were rumored to have buried $30,000-$40,000 somewhere on the property. The money has never been found, although it’s possible another relative took the money with them before leaving the farm.
This farmstead is built into the side of a hill, and it’s quite scenic indeed. One of my fascination with places like this is the fact that they each have an untold story, so it’s interesting to get a little bit of a glimpse into the background of this cool farm.
Three shots, two different times and locations. One downside of being a freelancer is working some Saturdays, but this time it allowed me to be in the right place at the right time. The skies burst into color out by my place just as I was getting home from a late gig. I grabbed a nearby section line and swung into action.
These are actually from my backup camera, because when I pulled my main out of the bag both batteries had been depleted. That’s only happened once or twice before. But that’s why you carry more than one camera! I had a $6,000 camera and tripod get lifted and thrown unceremoniously down the highway last winter by a sudden gust of wind – I’d have been in deep trouble if I didn’t have a second unit in the back of the truck. I grabbed it and kept shooting.
Back things up thirty-six hours or so, and we’ve got this Friday morning shot from west of the Missouri River. The spot I’d originally intended didn’t look like it was going to work out, so I stopped here. It turned out to be a great vantage point. Before the skies lit up, I actually left this spot; but when I checked my mirror and saw the sky coming to life I whipped back around and set up to capture the color in the clouds.
The color may be getting stripped from the trees, but this time of year there’s plenty of it in the skies. I hope this winter is as profitable as the summer and autumn! And no protesters, either.
Digging deep for one last blast of fall photos. This one is from the beginning of fall, when leaves were just beginning to turn. I noted the appearance of that first little patch of orange in the background.
This tree had green and orange bursting forth. What an amazing sight!
One more shot into the valley…looking toward the Square Buttes from north of Bismarck.
This is at the Crown Butte Dam on my way home from a long and particularly productive photo roaming day.
Final photo of the night and of this series. The moon was up, the sun was going down, and I revisited this old automobile camping out under a hilltop tree. It was the perfect conclusion to a very therapeutic day of roaming.
That’s it for foliage photos, but I have tons of additional North Dakota shots to share. Stay tuned!
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