SUNSETS AND OTHER CELESTIAL DELIGHTS

I love to photograph the sky.  What better place to do it than in big sky country aka Montana. It seriously is not hype or department of tourism hyperbole. The sky in Montana, like the state itself,  is truly big and really beautiful. The colors of the sunsets, particularly in the winter, are a color junkies delight. The clouds, well, you can just lose yourself in them. I often lay on my back in the woods and just watch the clouds float by. It's like watching a movie the way they shift and fashion themselves into the most incredible shapes. I love so much about Montana but that big sky steals my heart.

Here, for your viewing pleasure, is a slideshow with some of that stellar big, beautiful sky.


sunsets clouds celestial landscapes - Images by Kinsey Barnard

To check out the still images go my skyscapes gallery.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

Photographing Sunsets and Clouds

The other evening, just for fun, I photographed some sunsets and clouds as seen from my home. I sometimes remark how I am blessed with, what I consider, extraordinary sunsets and other celestial delights here on the mountain.

On those occasions when I do the other person usually exclaims me too! But, I think not. Light and it's angle are a photographers boon and bane. There is something quite unique about the lighting here and I believe it has to do with the elevation. The light and clouds seem to intersect with my position in such a way as to produce truly amazing celestial landscapes. The camera does not always do justice to the things that I see but from the images below you can get the jist.

©Kinsey Barnard

And then, of course there was the moon.

Big Sky

Not to overwhelm with skyscapes but the Fall sunsets have arrived a little early and I cannot resist them.

I know it isn't even Fall yet but the sunsets here at Dancing Deer are already just gorgeous. I don't know why they are so beautiful at this location. Although, I suspect it has something to do with the altitude and the position of the sun as it moves south.

Light is pretty extreme up here in northwestern Montana. Each year, at the extremes, we go from eight hours of darkness to just eight hours of sunlight. But the visual trip between these two extremes is always awesome. Hm, I wonder if I coulda used extreme any more times in two sentences. :)

The scenery around here is so incredible I often think I am actually living in a painting.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

Morro Bay Harbor - Giant Cedars Montana

I've decided to try my hand at a remodeling project. I've never tried one around here and it's turning out to be much more than I had bargained for.  In the "other world" I just called a decorator and told them "Make it so!" Where I live now one is pretty much on their own. You can hire the work done but the rest is up to you. And since Home Depot and Lowes are 75 miles away a small bathroom project is turning into a major undertaking. It also doesn't help much that I'm not very domesticated.

All this to say I haven't been getting out much with the old magic box. I have been doing a little housekeeping as regards my image files. It's a chore I dread but really needs to be done. I am coming up with some very nice stuff that has never seen the light of day, that's always exciting.

This first image is of Morro Bay Harbor in California. In the winter of 2008 I was asked to speak at my alma mater, Cal Poly-SLO, so I decided to make a winter of it. In good old Clementine, I photographed the west coast from southern Washington to Avila Beach. We took nearly six months to do it and it was one of the best photographic experiences of my life. Photographing the coast in winter is simply the best. It's cold. It's gray. It's wet. It's blustery. It's simply wonderful! The ocean is at it's most dramatic and until you get down to the Bay Area you pretty much have the place to yourself.

I stayed in Morro Bay for about a week and it was a photographer's dream. This first image is of the harbor at Morro Bay. It was taken as the sun was setting. The lighting was just right to give the boats interest and the colors great depth.


Morro Bay Harbor by Kinsey Barnard

Back in Montana, in the summer of 2008, we took a trip over to Bonner's Ferry, Sandpoint and environs. We made sort of a loop trip traveling over on Hwy 2 and returning via 200 along the Clark Fork River and up 56 back to 2 along the Bull River. Along 56 you will find the Ross Creek Nature Trail and the Giant Cedars and believe me they are giant! If you like cedars you need to see these. They are magnificent! In the photo you can see the little nature trail which meanders along a babbling brook.


Giant Cedars Montana by Kinsey Barnard

Personally, I am a little dippy about cedars. I just think they are such elegant trees. A week or so ago I was over in the West Kootenai and shot this photo of a cedar branch. I think it captures just how unique is the foliage. It looks like a delicate lace to me.


Cedar Frond by Kinsey Barnard

Isn't Mother Nature grand?!

©Kinsey Barnard Phtography

Rainy Days and Rainbows 4-27-10

I had to make a business trip to the "big" city. I was lugging along some of my artwork so I had to leave Koty home. By way of an apology I bot him a new toy one of those ones with a squawk box in it, big mistake. He nearly drove me nutz but he did wear himself out, eventually.

It rained most all of the day but at exactly 8:49 pm there was a break in the weather and this happened.


Rainbow Over Dancing Deer by Kinsey Barnard

Honest to Pete I have never seen such a vibrant rainbow in my life.

It had an enormous arc that I could not get entirely in the frame.

It must have lasted ten minutes. I don't think my photos really do the real thing justice but there it is.

After the rainbow show the sunset was pretty tame but still colorful and lovely. There was a lot more ray action in the real deal.


April Sunset by Kinsey Barnard

Oh, what a dull boring place in which I live. It's a rotten job but somebody has to do it! ;)

©Kinsey Barnard Photography


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SCOUTING LOCATIONS-SUNSETS- MONTANA TEA

I got a call from Montana Woodworks saying my stool was ready. I have, for sometime wanted to try and get some shots of the Koocanusa from the west bank. I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone. It never ceases to amaze me that after seven years I still find trails I have not been down before. This day I found a new one that was just the ticket. Below is a photo of the bridge that spans the lake to the West Kootenai.

REXFORD BRIDGE

The day was not good for photography. It was very hazy. Most likely due to a fire somewhere. Although, as fire seasons go this year was a very light one. The important thing is I found a promising place to return to when conditions are more favorable.

LAKE KOOCANUSA

KOOCANUSA THROUGH THE PONDEROSA

You can see that the leaves have already begun to change. It never ceases to amaze me how fast the sun moves north and south here in north Montana. We've already lost well over an hour of sunlight. I don't know why it is but I always seem to get the best shots of Lakota in the Fall.

LAKOTA

Fall always seems to bring with it the best sunsets of the year and they have started already. Pleas note there has been no color enhancement of these photographs. This is the true color.

SEPTEMBER SUNSET


SUNSET OUT MY WINDOW

This summer I have invented a new drink. Normally, I don't mix alcohol with mixers. I drink it either neat or with water. But, I found something to which I am well and truly addicted. The great thing about it is it's fantastic without the alcohol! Now please keep in mind I live in the woods and what's new to me may be old hat to you. It's Lipton White Tea Peach Papaya. I mix it with gin and it's the most refreshing drink I think I've ever had. I dubbed it Montana Tea. Seriously, if you haven't tried it you must. It's diet so no wasted calories and as I mentioned straight is delicious too which is actually how I discovered it.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

KICKING AROUND THE KOOCANUSA

Here in Northwest Montana we are still trying to get into spring. Having a darned hard time of it too. If you are planning a trip to Glacier I'd hold off on that. Here is a recent photo of Going to the Sun sent to me by my friend Kevin. I think the photographer was one of the road crew.

Glacier Park May 2009

It hasn't been very warm but it's always beautiful here at the ranch. Mother Nature seems to have a choice bit for us nearly everyday. This cloud formation reminds me of some kind of gigantic insect.

KOTY BEAR THEATER

Our western sky is very special and offers a never ending kaleidoscope of color and shape shifting. Below is a sunset we had this week. I love the dark moody colors. They seem to reflect the mood of those of us who are still waiting on spring! :)

KOTY BEAR SUNSET

We took a trip over to Rexford and the Koocanusa this week. There is a nice trail that follows the bluff above the lake all the way to the marina. The view is always lovely, looking north into the distance at the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia. I don't think I have ever seen as much snow this late in the year.

LAKE KOOCANUSA & CANADIAN ROCKIES

I was on the look out for any wildflowers but only came across these two:

OREGON GRAPE


PHLOX

The lake continues to await the run off season so the water level is still quite low. Down at the marina the docks aren't even in the water yet. I reckon marina boaters are getting kind of antsy.

MARINA BUOY SITS IN THE SAND

I'm never near water that I don't try to capture some type of reflection. I just think they are so beautiful and artistic. If I could paint I would want to paint this.

KOOCANUSA REFLECTING

And, of course, Koty was enjoying the day as always. I have never known a creature as happy as this dog. He is nearly ten years old now, I have had him since he was eight weeks. He is now older than I am and still have ten times the energy. I think of him as my fountain of youth. If it weren't for him I'm sure I wouldn't get half the exercise.


KOTY BEAR AT KOOCANUSA

©Kinsey Barnard

MARGARITAVILLE

Ok, boys and girls, it's the weekend. It's been a tough week for a lot of people as the stock market swooned and thousands lost their jobs. Take a deep breath. Forget your worries. Enjoy yourselves. And remember, sunsets are free!

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

MT. TUCSON PARK AT SUNSET

Only about 10 miles from Tucson this park is a lovely place to watch Mother Nature paint.

Make someone else's day. Send them some beauty and a PERSONAL NOTE.

Have a wonderful day. It's Mother Nature's gift to you!

SOLITARY SAGUARO AT SUNSET

©KINSEY BARNARD PHOTOGRAPHY

A solitary saguaro cactus watches the passing of another day in the desert.

*It is not possible to make the photograph any larger at this blogging site, at least I can't figure out how to make them larger. If you would like to see it larger and with higher resolution please CLICK HERE

More Friends Come to Call

Mom continues to try and get herself organized. I don't know what her problem is. I was settled in the minute my paws hit the ground.

The thing I missed most about our ranch was seeing all are friends. We have so many. It's a never ending parade and feast for the eyes. It would be a never ending feast for my tummy, if I had a death wish! So, I content myself with watching. :)

The big news? We were finally able to get Clementine up the mountain. I think mom felt only half way home until we could get Clem home too. Course, now there is the unloading, cleaning and what have you. I'll be supervising.

And, then there's getting the ranch equipment up an operational. So far she's got the four wheeler on line as well as the ranch truck. If she doesn't hurry up she's going to miss the open burn season which is over the end of this month. I have a feeling we may miss it this year. One of our ongoing projects is cleaning and thinning to manage our forest for it's optimum health. You should see mom out there with the chainsaw. She even splits our fire would by hand. Usually about five cords worth.

One of the many great things about our place is that when the workday is done we as often as not have a sunset like this one to relax with. Man it is good to be home!

©Kinsey Barnard Photography

WILLITS, CRESCENT CITY & THE DREDDED TURNAROUND

Well, thank goodness. The tax stuff is done and we are on our way again. Our first stop was at Willits. We were going to spend some time there but it was too wet and rainy so we spent the night and pushed on to Crescent City.

Crescent City is the last town on the California Coast before you get back into Oregon. The town itself is not so much but it is surrounded by some of natures best. There's a harbor, we love those, and there is access to forests. We love those too.

We thought we had a place picked out to stay, Hiouchi, but mom didn't pay enough attention to the location and in route she realized it was going to be a long way from the harbor. We were headed up 199 when she decided to turn around. She picked a road thinking there would be a place to turn around. Well, she picked one and it wasn't a good one.

When you tow a car on the ground you can't back up. So, you need to be careful you've got room to execute your turn. Well, mom picked a loser and she jack knifed little Shadow who ended up sitting in the road. Thank goodness it was a road less traveled. It had rained all the way up here so everything was wet and muddy. She had to unhook Shadow, move Clementine and then hook Shadow up again. But, good old mom, she just got out there and got after it.

We went back to town and found a place to stay. Over the weekend quite a storm went through and we were without power for about 7 hours. We've done a little exploring as you can see from the photos. Last night's sunset was pretty cool.

©Kinsey Barnard Photography