Experiences on the Plains
Top row is the newest State Park in Kansas – Little Jerusalem State Park south of Oakley, KS on HWY 83. On the same road and north of LJSP is Monument Rock seen on the bottom row of pics.
Other formations to see in Kansas include: Castle Rock in Gove County, Rock City Minneapolis KS, Mushroom Rock State Park, Brookville KS
Wildlife Preserve
Life doesn’t happen along the interstate. It’s against the law
William Least Heat-Moon
This is Commercial photo of the art installation just outside of Last Chance, Colorado. It is amazing to see this in person. I have visited this site several times and here is another commercial view of the site
Now finally are my photos – it is an artistic challenge to know how to best portray this structure – that’s the fun of it.
This is old news but awhile back I decided to attempt to get the phase “Prairie Madness” trade marked. It is the name of my photo book that has been used to generate donations for prairie preservation. I realized without having the trademark that at some time in the future someone could obtain it and demand that all items with this phrase be eliminated from public view. It is an arduous task that did require me to get an online trade mark lawyer to help out. Overall cost was not horrible but it is a time consuming adventure.
I will be returning to Kansas as part of my part time work. It actually was the last gig I did in Kansas that really activated my Prairie and Plains portfolio. So instead of dreading going to Kansas I look forward to expanding what I’ve done in the past.
Had the opportunity to display some of my photographs at a local art show in Brush, Colorado. This is a ranching community on the eastern plains of Colorado about 90 miles from Denver. Unfortunately my amateur status remains intact as I didn’t sell any photographs.
While I’ve been gone from this blog I’ve not been idle. Far from it. Besides our trips to Moab and The Black Hills this year, during COVID we traveled across Wyoming into Montana.
I also discovered with the help of another photographer the wonders of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Preserve. In it’s day the Arsenal processed a lot of really nasty, toxic stuff including Sarin gas. Now that is behind us and the area is a wonderful place to hike, take in nature and in the case noted above to see their Bison heard. This photo is to remind us that Bison on a full tilt can hit 35 mph – hence the speed limit sign for them to obey 🙂
This blogster is sorry for his absence from these pages. Sometimes I have too many paddles in the river so to speak. I’d actually forgotten about this blog until the ‘renew Me’ notice popped up. I love the name I gave this web site so I thought I would renew for one more year and to see if I can keep it going.
This image is maybe a first – Infrared Black and White shot on Dan O’Brien’s ranch in South Dakota. As part of the rally we had with the Colorado Airstream Club we had a book club that read his book “Buffalo for the Broken Heart”. The next day he gave us a tour of his ranch and it’s operation. Dan and his family run a retail store selling Bison edibles called Wild Idea Buffalo Company, check them out.
Simply put, the Bison is THE best grazing animal for the plains. They have lived on the plains for centuries and are specifically adapted to this environment whereas the European Cow is NOT. The Bison were killed off to thwart the Native American in our war of attrition against them. Then to feed the lust for hides and bison tongue they were further decimated.
Fortunately this trend stopped decades ago and the Bison is making a return to the American Prairie.
In Plain Site 