Last Saturday I made a scouting trip to the Pawnee Grasslands. I wanted to see the campgrounds near Briggsdale and how find out how long it took to get to the Pawnee Buttes from the campground. The campground was much bigger than I expected and is setup for some larger RVs. They have several locations for bathrooms, which us guys over 60 need, water and fire pits. I later drove over the the Buttes scouting for photo opportunities. They are everywhere. I met a young man named Marty Witt who is from the Denver area. He and his wife own a framing and photography business. He had come up for an evening of shooting and camping. We walked along the western edge of the buttes, did the proverbial photographers talk on equipment, how we got started and where we are with it. Always interesting conversations. We’d stop talking every once in a while and listen to the coyotes howling in distance or watch the two kestrels circling above us or listen to the quiet.
6 Comments
ken bello
These are all nice, Monte, but the windmill shot is something special. Blows me away.
Monte Stevens
It was happen chance to get the windmill shot. I had spent a lot of time up above the valley floor along the bluffs to the west. I had met Marty and spent almost all of that time atop the bluff. I felt the urge to move on and drove down to this lower area. Once down there I noticed a bathroom and realized I needed to use it. But, just as I stepped out of the car the sun broke beneath the clouds and added a glow to the scene. The bathroom break was going to have to wait. I grabbed the camera and tripod walked to a group of yucca plants and started shooting. So, this was not one of those pre-visualized scenes. I was at the right place at the right time with camera ready. After a few minutes of shooting I the bathroom break was needed.
Marty Witt
Thanks for the cudo’s, Monte. I enjoyed out time out on the prairie shooting! Glad you were able to get some great shots.
I really enjoyed reading your blog and viewing all of the wonderful photos you’ve taken. You have a great eye for photography, and now that you have time on your hands, you should become even better.
Monte Stevens
Glad you stopped by and left me a comment, Marty. It is always a welcome sight when people have something to say. I also enjoyed our short time together and our conversation. Meeting other photographers is a cool part of this passion we have. We have the opportunity to learn from one another about life as well as photography. Glad you got some sunrise images. Hopefully I can work at getting some of those next week.
John
I think you’ve captured the essence of Pawnee perfectly in your photos, Monte. Beautifully done! I haven’t been there in a couple years, how intrusive is the wind farm? It was still going up last time I was there.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, John! If you look closely of the second image you can faintly make out some of the wind turbines on the left horizon. The farther north and west you go the more there are. I am looking almost straight north from where I took this image. So there are a few on the right hand side but not very noticeable. Not something you want to have for printing images. Marty was standing on the bluffs to the west and probably has better image possibilities from that direction.