2017 Calendars & Upcoming Book!

I love to create a calendar every year.

I find sharing what I've recently taken keeps my work fresh and new. It's also a great way for me to get a small sampling of my work into the hands of my customers.

But this year will be a little different! This calendar features 12 photos that will be in my upcoming book! I'm thrilled to share with you that I'm in the works of having my very first photography art book published! It will be either an 8x8 or 10x8 hardcover coffee table book.

Not only am I a landscape photographer, I also happen to be a rancher's wife. Our spread is located in central South Dakota so the open land of the prairie is where I spend the most time photographing. Living on a ranch also gives me daily access to our horses and the work of a cattleman. So, it seemed natural to combine these two loves into one book titled: South Dakota: Land & Sky, Where the Cowboys Roam.

The prairies are often overlooked and considered fly-over states. I've lived here for a total of 15 years and can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else anymore. I do love to travel and explore this world but home is my little ranch house nestled on a hill overlooking the prairie. Since I've come to love this land so much, it's become a joy to share the beauty of it with you.

By the end of August, I hope to have a rough draft of my book and a link for pre-orders. My desire is to have the books ready for delivery in early December.

'South Dakota: Land & Sky, Where the Cowboys Roam' 2017 Calendar is now available on Etsy.
Each calendar measures 8.5x11", is spiral bound, and made of 120lb. glossy paper stock.

Murdo Ranch Rodeo

For the past seven years, our community has hosted the Murdo Ranch Rodeo. It has become a highlight of the summer for many people, myself included. Most of the years, my husband and his brothers have been one of the teams to compete. A few were not able to make it this year so two others were recruited.

My kids are young, so we just camp in one spot and I shot what I can from there. The dust was very thick this year and I'm a little nervous what I'll find when I clean my camera sensor.  

I changed most of these to Black & White because I love how the dust adds a little extra to the photographs. 
A rodeo photographer I am not, but I enjoy taking pictures of my husband and the guys doing what they really enjoy. I focused a little more on composition than close action (mostly because I only have a 200mm zoom and across an arena, that doesn't get very far).  

Roping their calf for the Trailer Loading event. 

Roping the two steers for the Stray Gathering event. 

Kids had the opportunity to ride Mini Broncs. This girl rocks!

 The Hide Race isn't something normally found on a ranch, but it's a great crowd pleaser and a little intense as some of the hides tend to get rather close as they pass each other. 

  A beautiful storm joined in on the rodeo.

The pick-up men catching a bronc in the Range Ride. 

My husband's team didn't place, but they won the Range Ride. Paul made it look so easy!

Until the next one...

Wait Five Minutes

South Dakotans have this philosophy about the weather: if you don't like it, wait five minutes and it will change. 
While that isn't always true, especially when it's over 100 degrees for several days, it often can be. Yesterday we had a rather large, threatening storm. 
The high for my house was around 87 and mid-evening the temperature dropped to 59 degrees within 30 seconds, as the clouds rolled in. We received pelting rain and some hail and then the clouds broke and the sun peaked through, giving us a lovely sunset. 

  
I love storms, especially the colors that come in the sky. I would love to be a storm chaser, but for now I'll settle with what I'm able to capture from wherever I'm at that moment. This is from my backyard as the storm made it's way over our land.

 From the top of the hill just south of my house. 

 My husband and I were able to go for a little drive last night after the weather hit and these last photos show the colors left in the wake of the storm.

Flax {A Field of Blue}

Summer is well under way by the time the flax bloom.

You can also see ripening wheat in the background,  soon ready for harvest.

To all the farmers in Jones County, who do their part to help feed us and the rest of the world - Thank You!!

A Show in the Heavens {Timeline of the Storm Rolling In}

Wednesday night (6/22), we had a spectacular show in the heavens!

I'm always amazed at how drastically the colors and light change as the evening deepens into night. 

9:23 pm.
The reflection of the setting sun on the clouds headed toward the east. 
 

9:28 pm. 

The sunset behind Okaton, SD. 

9:34 pm. 

The same reflecting clouds from the first picture, only the colors have changed as the sun dips farther into the horizon.

9:47 pm. 

And then the sky started to rumble and the lightning to strike.

9:55 pm.

The clouds grew thicker and the lightning closer. 

 10:02 pm.
Instead of seeking cover, I kept right on shooting because the colors were beautiful and the lightning majestic.

Happy Father's Day!

I've learned about fatherhood by watching two of my favorite men. 

My dad, who showed me how to keep trusting the Lord through difficult times.

August 1983.

And my husband, who has shown me what servitude looks like. 

August 2013.

May 2016.

Happy Father's Day! I have great respect and love for you both.

Tonight's Storm

It's been pretty dry in central South Dakota for the past few weeks. And hot. 

As I type this we are enjoying some delicious rain. So grateful! 

The storm rolled in while we were at my son's T-ball game. I was so glad I had my camera with me. 

Clouds coming in behind Dakota Mill & Grain in Midland, SD.

I love these "cotton ball" clouds.

A quick stop at Stamford.