Ten-Years Ago (25-August-2009) — North Dakota

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 04: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota.

I woke up early for a sunrise shoot. A thick fog enveloped the campground where I parked the RV. I packed up and drove the scenic drive towards the River Bend, and Oxbow overlooks hoping to get above the fog. It was still dawn when I arrived at the River Bend viewpoint where there is a stone building overlooking the Little Missouri river valley. The valley was still covered with fog, but the sky above had some beautiful pastel colors (Belt of Venus, and the earth shadow). I drove a bit further until the sun started to be visible, and got several shots of the sun rising above the fog filled valley. When I arrived at the Oxbow overlook, there was a faint rainbow because of the fog. I find rainbows always difficult to photograph. Then remembering something Winston Hall taught me “always look behind you, because that is where the best picture is” — and sure enough there was a Bighorn Ram coming over a grass covered ridge. Quickly switching for a camera with a telephoto lens, I got some great silhouette images including one with the Bighorn in midair as it started to run away. Once the show was done, I drove back to the park entrance. The fog was beginning to rise when I came upon some Bison crossing the road, and into the fog.


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.



Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.


Fog Rainbow and Photographer's Shadow. Little Missouri river overlook. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/16, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Fog Rainbow and Photographer’s Shadow. Little Missouri river overlook. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 14 mm, f/16, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.



Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.


Seven Years Ago (25-August-2009) — North Dakota

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 04: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota.

Early Morning Silhouette of a Bighorn Ram in Midair. Missouri river overlook in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/11, 1/1600 sec).

I was focused on shooting the sunrise over the Missouri river. Thanks to Winston Hall, a former photography mentor who taught me to always look behind because there may be a better picture. The Bighorn left as soon as it realized I was there.

Early Morning Silhouette of a Big Horn Sheep in Midair. Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/11, 1/1600 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Early Morning Silhouette of a Big Horn Ram in Midair. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/11, 1/1600 sec). (David J. Mathre)