I'm back home after 28 days of driving and camping from our home in Virginia to the West side of Glacier and back. It was an amazing trip as we saw SO MUCH beauty that this country has to offer.
I am just now recovering after driving 19 hours yesterday to push to get home a day early. I have only glanced at the images that I shot as I am SO tired and didn't want to rush my editing process while tired..BUT, this image I just had to work on and post. When I shot this scene it was almost dark. When I was taking this image I felt like this was made my most impressive frame(s) I have ever shot. I remember thinking at the time, "If I never take another image I can rest easy after capturing this scene".
I will catch up with everyone SOON! I still have some things to tend to before I go back to work next week.
Thanks for looking and reading!!
Tags: #MontanaTourism Glacier National Park Montana Reflection Mountains MichaelBesantPhotography.com
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One of my goals that I set for myself was to try to photograph the 'Iconic" Landmarks in ways that I haven't seen before. Over the years I have usually tried to crop out people in my shots, but in places like this it IS all the people that help make the place interesting. So I decided that instead of cropping I would use them to add a needed compositional element in an unusual way.
**This is a handheld shot of (I think) 1/8 sec as I had left my tripod back in the car.
Tags: #blackhIllstourism #sdtourism #southdakotatourism Mount Rushmore National Park Tourism South Dakota MichaelBesantPhotography.com Nikon
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At 57 years old I have driven over 1 million miles since I first got my license at 16 and I have seen many beautiful scenic roads, especially since I grew up near the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. On this trip I had my mind blown by the sheer size of the mountains in Glacier National Park and thought that was the pinnacle of the trip...until I drove up Needles Highway in the Black Hills of South Dakota! All I can say is "WOW"!!! This road is probably the most beautifully scenic road I have ever driven. The rock formations are spectacular to say the least. My words and my images I don't think do it justice because you really have to experience it to fully have your brain comprehend it all.
Sticking with my pre-trip plan of including people in some of my shots to give the viewer a sense of size, here I captured a motorcycle coming through one of the many S-turns along the road.
Tags: #blackhillstourism #SDTourism #SouthDakotaTourism Needles Highway South Dakota Tourism Eye of the Needle Motorcycle Scenic Highway MichaelBesantPhotography.com
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This is probably THE most photographed scene at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, and as much as I told myself before heading out on this trip that I would be looking to find something unique, I still couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a shot of this. Now that's NOT to say I didn't find a different take on this scene...*wink*.
Tags: #MontanaTourism Glacier National Park Montana Boat Lake McDonald MichaelBesantPhotography.com Nikon D850
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What an amazing four weeks it has been, but unfortunately this vacation has come to an end. I saw some amazing sights and wish I had more time to have stayed in certain places longer to catch them in good light..maybe in three years when I plan to retire I can make that happen. For now though I am gathering my thoughts and getting ready to head back to the daily grind and I thought this shot was a perfect send off as I work for an Electric Company and this is of the Hungry Horse Dam in Hungry Horse Montana.
With the top of the going to the sun road not opening until July 13 (We were there from July 1-11..and no one knew exactly when it would open) that gave me plenty of time to explore the western outskirts of Glacier. I happened upon the Hungry Horse Reservoir and was truly amazed by all the beauty there. To top it off, I about had the place to myself in the mornings as everyone else was racing to try to get on the Going To The Sun Road, which again was closed about 10 miles in on both directions.
My Zenful thoughts here.. Don't get discouraged by what light (situations, closures, weather, etc..) you wish for and aren't there, but take the light that is given to you and make the most of it. Then you will never be disappointed with your images.
Tags: #MontanaTourism Hungry Horse Dam Montana Electricity Water Hungry Horse Reservoir MichaelBesantPhotography.com Nikon D850
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