….all the way to the edge of desire

I have a lot more to say about why last night was amazing, and maybe I will find the words later, but for now I am just going to bask in the the peace I found. Don’t say a word, just come over and lie here with me ‘Cause I’m just about to set fire to everything I see I want you so bad I’ll go back on the things I believe There I just said it, I’m scared you’ll forgetabout me

Aimlessly

Yesterday was one of those days where the sky was calling me… Loudly. The wind did as good of a job as it could to keep me home but in the end the anticipation of what clouds like that were capable of, convinced me off my couch and into the pathfinder. I decided the best route to take would be to get as far east as I could and work my way back with the sun. I found myself at the East enterance to the North loop of the Badlands and crawled my way through to the West side, where I turned and took the West edge of Sage Creek down to Highway 44. There I popped over to Sheep … Read More

On the Edge

It is still awfully early in the morning for Spring. It has yet to straighten its hair, brush its teeth or even have a cup of coffee. It is up though, it is stretching and yawning and planning its day. Spring is rubbing the dust from its eyes, and dusting the winter out from its golden hair. It’s still dusty, but it is not lifeless. The shift from Winter to Spring often takes longer than my restless self wants it to. I ache for green and the smell of rain. It doesn’t take long though, to spot the signs of new life. Speckles of green are popping up on the edges of the dirt roads and the birds have sounded … Read More

My heart is with the Buffalo

Today is Valentine’s Day. I could say something big and profound about love, but I don’t feel like it. I mean, that’s like the biggest thing to talk about, right? Its a lot of pressure to take on a subject like love. I did think about it a little bit out there. I thought about all the different things to love there are – the love you could have for your partner, the love you have for your children, your family, your pets. We are capable of loving many different things, We can love people, moments, things.  Its a pure feeling, a feeling that pours out of us with out permission. We don’t get to choose love, it chooses us. Right … Read More

Buffalo Car Wash

No, not a car wash in a town called Buffalo. Let me explain: After swallowing rather overwhelming dose of “what the hell am I doing with my life” this morning, I decided to look for the answer to that question (or at least a mute button on that question) with buffalo. I was granted permission to go find them and so I set off. I made a direct line to my favorite dusty road in Wind Cave National Park. The day was huge. I saw many, many things including but not limited to; two coyotes (many miles apart) one had just caught a prairie dog, 4 separate encounters with Elk, a bird I have yet to identify, and the always whimsical prairie … Read More

TBT – or whatever

I found myself revisiting an adventure I had in Wind Cave on a very snowy day in March 2013. It was an amazing. I thought, in order to celebrate the fact that it’s Thursday, and the sun is shining, and that I think someday it will be March again, I would share these again, revisited.

Suspended

  This time of year is always tough for me. Yesterday was grey, cold and gloomy. I had several things on my to-do list that should have taken priority, but I opted to go with desire and shot up to Pactola Reservoir with my most loyal furry friend Tuesday.. I studied some interesting ice formations at the edge of the frozen lake while Tuesday did her best impression of a mouse hunter along the shoreline. Together, we spent about an hour exploring a hundred yard stretch where the ice met land.  More than anything, my lungs were happy to receive the fresh air and the brief escape did me good…. despite the fact laundry pile remains untouched.

in the moment

This morning I walked out of my house to get in my car and I heard the sound of a small dog barking from up the hill. I looked and I could see the little guy running down the road. As it got closer I realized it wasn’t a dog, but instead a gorgeous red fox. It turned and ran up my driveway. It stopped about 8 feet in front of me and looked at me for a few moments before it decided to run back up the hill. I had my camera on my back but chose to leave it there. It was way too special of a thing to have mucked it up by fumbling with my gear.

Not to Bad-lands

The great thing about this time of year;  is that we are gifted with the company of long-time friends who come back home for the holidays. This year was no exception. I have been graced with a flurry great company. Yesterday was no exception. I spent the day with an excellent group of individuals as we meandered through the Southern edge of Sheep Mountain Table in the Badlands. It was definitely cold, but we were well equipped with the gear to keep us warm. It was a full day, made fuller with great folks, good conversation and excellent scenery.

Hoar Frost on Skyline v2

This is the second morning in a row where the absolute beauty outside kept me from breakfast. I really dont mind though. Its been so nice to get back out and shoot, even if my excursions are just a stones throw from my back yard.

Hoar frost on Skyline

I skipped breakfast this morning to take some photos of the fog. Its been a while since I took the time to shoot. I hope you like them.

2014 Favorites

2014 was a big year. I bought a car, Two of my brother’s got married, and I became an aunt of not one but two beautiful and hilarious new tiny people. I am the mother of a 7th grader (what!?) I grew a lot as a person, as a mother and as a photographer. I clocked A LOT of miles across South Dakota and beyond and as I sit here on the edge of 2014 I’m looking back. I am neither happy or sad. I am full, and I am tired. I am not sure its possible to pack anymore into 365 days. I think above all it was a year of growth, and growing up. Its funny, I always … Read More

Chasing the Storm

I was already about 15 miles out of town when my mom sent me a text asking how my night was. “I’m chasing the storm” I told her. “I want to get a shot of a rainbow and the lightning.” She told me to be careful and a few moments later I got another text saying that I should have pretty good luck if I kept going North East.  Which was exactly the way I was headed. I raced onward watching the clouds behind me and the storm in front of me. There’s a delicate balance you have to find when trying to achieve a shot like this. You have to stay at the edge of the storm so that … Read More

Let it be…

And when the broken hearted people Living in the world agree There will be an answer, let it be For though they may be parted There is still a chance that they will see There will be an answer, let it be Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be Yeah there will be an answer, let it be Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be Ah let it be, yeah let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be And when the night is cloudy There is still a light that shines on me Shine on … Read More

Punctuated

Last night, the back roads were calling me. I let the sky and curiosity dictate which way my car pointed and I ended up in the familiar country north of town and east of Bear Butte. This time though, I chose to take a right turn instead of a left and I headed east into new (to me) territory. My desire to shoot was low and I was mostly enjoying the luxury of having my windows down instead of cranking the AC (Tuesday thought this was down-right dandy as well). For the most part, the trip was uneventful. I did find an old schoolhouse that seemed to long for children’s laughter again. As I stood there, I was momentarily able … Read More

Shake Down

I thought about how I would write this up while I was out there today. I thought, how do you really express all of this? How do you talk about how dusty and broken it is? How do you tell about the steps you take and how you have to place your foot each time with absolute caution so you don’t step on a nail, or worse, fall through the floor? How do you explain how each door you walk through shakes your very basic definition of time? I wasn’t quite sure how to do it until I realized that something was continuously catching my eye, it wasn’t the broken windows, the garbage, the pealing paint or the countless toppled … Read More