No, I haven’t. I’ve seen lots of other things though that I didn’t notice when I took the shots. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if I missed seeing an animal, but I’m always very aware of the presence of wildlife. Usually before I see a large animal I see signs of its presence that alert me to the likelihood of an encounter.
The way you were able to capture the light in your photographs is stunning — a really soft lighting, it seems. The array of colors doesn’t stay that way for long.
Thanks Jack. Yes, light is so important. I tend to operate on the principle of “even a blind squirrel will find a nut sometimes”, and am pretty content to take what Mother Nature gives. I increase my odds by being outdoors a lot of the time.
Annie, I’m constantly amazed at the scenes that nature prepares. It’s as though they were especially designed with form and color and light and texture. I’m delighted to stumble upon them. Makes me wonder.
I’m not sure what the yellow ones are in these, but probably not aspen. There are aspens in the second photo (with the white trunks) but they hadn’t yet turned yellow.
I knew I would like your blog…your photos bring back so many memories. A friend of my wife’s brother is a Salish indian from the reservation and took us on a private tour for 2 days…incredible. Another place he took us for the day was all over the Nine Mile. Not bragging…it’s just no one around here can relate to the grandeur of Montana. We have, as you do I am sure, so many great stories. I am so glad I found your blog!!!
I love the Flathead Reservation, and buy one of the tribe’s conservation permits every year so I can roam there pretty much at will, especially on the prairie parts of it in the winter when the high country is almost inaccessible. I like the Nine mile also and usually get into it every year, making the drive from I90 up the Nine Mile valley to Siegel Pass and down to Montana 135. It should be getting very pretty right about now as the larch turn color.
As far as I know they do not do that now. They do have some wonderful beliefs though that I also share with them. There’s a quote on their website that I really like:
“Our stories teach us that we must always work for a time when there will be no evil, no racial prejudice, no pollution, when once again everything will be clean and beautiful for the eye to behold – a time when spiritual, physical, mental and social values are inter-connected to form a complete circle.” ~ Salish Culture Comm.
They do. I’m surprised that I don’t see an artist painting the scenes in that area. Last year on a hike about 20 miles from there, when I reached the trail head on the return, an artist had set up along the little road and was painting a scene there.
Flathead Indian Reservation – to me it sounds so exotic and reminds me from some Western book I have read during my life. First and second photo appeals to me most of all. The landscape seen from far away seems to be so easy to access, but how it is really?
I think you would enjoy seeing that reservation. There are many elements of the old west still there. It’s a very large place and ranges from an arid place as in these photos to rocky mountains over 9,000 feet high. The landscape looks easy, but those hills are very steep in places. Once day I hiked to the top of one of those ridges and the fog came in: it was very difficult and dangerous when I descended.
Beautiful scenes and the colors gorgeous! I really like the grasses.And what is the silver-green little bushes or plants growing in the grasses? Looks almost like wild sage.
That is Rabbit-brush Chrysothamnus nauseosus. I has very pretty yellow blossoms in late summer and is a valuable food source for rabbits (from which it got its name), deer and sheep.
I love this area too. It’s in what I suppose can be called a “rain shadow” from the mountains immediately to the west and is quite arid compared to the surrounding forests.
have you ever looked through photos you took and discovered a potentially dangerous animal that you did not see originally?
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Comment by Sandy — October 27, 2011 @ 12:37 am
No, I haven’t. I’ve seen lots of other things though that I didn’t notice when I took the shots. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if I missed seeing an animal, but I’m always very aware of the presence of wildlife. Usually before I see a large animal I see signs of its presence that alert me to the likelihood of an encounter.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 8:24 am
The way you were able to capture the light in your photographs is stunning — a really soft lighting, it seems. The array of colors doesn’t stay that way for long.
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Comment by Jack Matthews — October 27, 2011 @ 4:05 am
Thanks Jack. Yes, light is so important. I tend to operate on the principle of “even a blind squirrel will find a nut sometimes”, and am pretty content to take what Mother Nature gives. I increase my odds by being outdoors a lot of the time.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 8:47 am
Stunning palette of colors and beautiful light. Really, really nice.
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Comment by anniespickns — October 27, 2011 @ 6:14 am
Annie, I’m constantly amazed at the scenes that nature prepares. It’s as though they were especially designed with form and color and light and texture. I’m delighted to stumble upon them. Makes me wonder.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 8:52 am
The landscape is absolutely stunning – with just little spots of remaining yellow. Are they aspens?? Whatever – they’re gorgeous!
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Comment by Marcie — October 27, 2011 @ 11:25 am
I’m not sure what the yellow ones are in these, but probably not aspen. There are aspens in the second photo (with the white trunks) but they hadn’t yet turned yellow.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 8:50 pm
Such gorgeous colors! Thank you for sharing..
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Comment by Roberta — October 27, 2011 @ 11:38 am
Yes, the colors are very nice this year. I hope to catch more, certainly of the larch anyway.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 8:51 pm
I knew I would like your blog…your photos bring back so many memories. A friend of my wife’s brother is a Salish indian from the reservation and took us on a private tour for 2 days…incredible. Another place he took us for the day was all over the Nine Mile. Not bragging…it’s just no one around here can relate to the grandeur of Montana. We have, as you do I am sure, so many great stories. I am so glad I found your blog!!!
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Comment by dhphotosite — October 27, 2011 @ 1:29 pm
I love the Flathead Reservation, and buy one of the tribe’s conservation permits every year so I can roam there pretty much at will, especially on the prairie parts of it in the winter when the high country is almost inaccessible. I like the Nine mile also and usually get into it every year, making the drive from I90 up the Nine Mile valley to Siegel Pass and down to Montana 135. It should be getting very pretty right about now as the larch turn color.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 8:55 pm
That first one takes my breath away – stunning! In a quiet sort of way. I just love it. Bravo!
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Comment by Kim — October 27, 2011 @ 3:59 pm
Thanks Kim. That’s just up off the river a half mile or so. There’a a stretch of about 30 miles there that is very photogenic.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 8:59 pm
I totally understand wanting to go out and lay down when they know life is over… do they still do that? I find such peace in this series of photos.
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Comment by kcjewel — October 27, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
As far as I know they do not do that now. They do have some wonderful beliefs though that I also share with them. There’s a quote on their website that I really like:
“Our stories teach us that we must always work for a time when there will be no evil, no racial prejudice, no pollution, when once again everything will be clean and beautiful for the eye to behold – a time when spiritual, physical, mental and social values are inter-connected to form a complete circle.” ~ Salish Culture Comm.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 9:07 pm
Beautiful landscapes- these photos almost look like paintings!
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Comment by Watching Seasons — October 27, 2011 @ 8:04 pm
They do. I’m surprised that I don’t see an artist painting the scenes in that area. Last year on a hike about 20 miles from there, when I reached the trail head on the return, an artist had set up along the little road and was painting a scene there.
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Comment by montucky — October 27, 2011 @ 9:10 pm
Flathead Indian Reservation – to me it sounds so exotic and reminds me from some Western book I have read during my life. First and second photo appeals to me most of all. The landscape seen from far away seems to be so easy to access, but how it is really?
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Comment by sartenada — October 28, 2011 @ 1:35 am
I think you would enjoy seeing that reservation. There are many elements of the old west still there. It’s a very large place and ranges from an arid place as in these photos to rocky mountains over 9,000 feet high. The landscape looks easy, but those hills are very steep in places. Once day I hiked to the top of one of those ridges and the fog came in: it was very difficult and dangerous when I descended.
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Comment by montucky — October 28, 2011 @ 8:43 pm
Beautiful scenes and the colors gorgeous! I really like the grasses.And what is the silver-green little bushes or plants growing in the grasses? Looks almost like wild sage.
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Comment by Anna — October 28, 2011 @ 12:03 pm
That is Rabbit-brush Chrysothamnus nauseosus. I has very pretty yellow blossoms in late summer and is a valuable food source for rabbits (from which it got its name), deer and sheep.
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Comment by montucky — October 28, 2011 @ 8:48 pm
It doesn’t make a good flower for the vase, though. I picked some once and it really stinks, hence the name “nauseosus”.
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Comment by Kim — October 29, 2011 @ 5:33 pm
That’s funny! I have never picked those flowers and now will know better!
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Comment by montucky — October 29, 2011 @ 7:57 pm
Superb landscape and great photography. I low the variety of vegetation and the way it all blends in so well together. Nature !
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Comment by isathreadsoflife — October 29, 2011 @ 12:52 am
Nature creates some incredible scenes, doesn’t She!
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Comment by montucky — October 29, 2011 @ 7:58 pm
You have such varied landscapes there. I love the long, blowing grasses.
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Comment by Candace — October 30, 2011 @ 11:01 pm
I love this area too. It’s in what I suppose can be called a “rain shadow” from the mountains immediately to the west and is quite arid compared to the surrounding forests.
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Comment by montucky — October 31, 2011 @ 10:24 am
Your color and light is outstanding in these photos.
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Comment by Preston — November 11, 2011 @ 7:15 am
Thanks Preston. These were just the result of being there at the right time, when the light was just right.
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Comment by montucky — November 11, 2011 @ 11:12 pm