BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK - May 10

The visit to Badlands N. P. began early this morning. We left our motel in Wall, S. D. at 0430.

We were on location in time to see and photograph the Belt of Venus which precedes sunrise. The belt is the pink band of light that appears above the Earth's shadow before sunrise or a short time after sunset. This phenomenon appears in the sky opposite to the sun.

BELT OF VENUS

As you can see sunrise provided some beautiful light on the Badlands. 

After sunrise we drove further into the badlands and experienced it's harsh geology. 

Even so there was wildlife along the way - white-tail deer.  We continued to explore the area. The different colors are a result of the different minerals in the soil.

BACK LIT TREE

Around mid-morning we returned to Wall for breakfast, and some "down Time".
This included breakfast at the Wall Drug Cafe. Here you get free ice water, and a cup of coffee is five cents. The drug store is really a number of specialty shops within the building.

We still had plenty of time for a nap, and a quick review of pictures before heading off in the afternoon. About 1600 we gathered up our gear and were off to an early dinner, and then a visit to the Park. Dinner was at the Red Rock Saloon.

The Badlands Geology is full of different colors and shapes. 

In the afternoon as we were finding a suitable place for sunset light when we came across some  big horn sheep ewes browsing in the grasses. 

Storm clouds were in the sky on the horizon mostly to the North of us. As is always the case, one should always look around to see where the light is hitting. Most of  the action was to the West,

 but for a short time there was great light hitting the formations to the East. 

We lingered and for the first time, I really enjoyed photographing the "Blue Light" which occurs after the golden light of sunset. 

Often times it is a nice phenomena but not striking. This time I really enjoyed the light in the clouds and sky.

CUSTER STATE PARK - DAY 2

CUSTER ART

This morning I woke to about a half inch of wet snow on my car. So, another wet and cool day ahead.  The forecast was once again overcast with possible snow showers. As there was no rush to get out the door, I finished packing, and enjoyed another motel breakfast. Then I was off to Custer State Park once again.

Basically I drove the same route through the park starting with the Wildlife Loop and then doing the Needles Highway afterwards. Before seeing any wildlife I stopped at an overlook to see into the valley, and enjoyed a short walk to do some close-up photography of the environment. 

Along the Wildlife Loop Road today I saw more variety of wildlife, starting with white-tail deer. The doe was quite close to the road, and again I used the car as a blind for photographing it.

Soon I came across some bison with calves. Some of the calves frolicked about while others stayed close to their mothers. 

Then pronghorn came on the scene. These are beautiful animals with unique horns. They are quite shy and are generally located along ridge lines. They are quite fleet of foot. 

There was a lot of open range to drive through and it was quite beautiful.  

I again drove the Needles Highway, this time in the opposite direction. The weather was about the same as yesterday with snow flurries to add to the mood of the area. 

CATHEDRAL

 As I approached the Needles Eye Tunnel a car came along that helped to show the size of the tunnel. 

EYE OF THE NEEDLE

It turned out it was being driven by a local guide so I had the benefit of his services indirectly during a stop in the area. I had not seen the "Eye" of the Needle yesterday, but I did see it today as I wandered about the area thanks to the guide having taken his clients to see it. When driving I think it is impossible to see it unless you have a clue as to where to look.  I also got a picture of the "rock duck". 

MR. ROCKY DUCK

It was late afternoon as I exited the area and I decided it was time for my late lunch/early dinner. I had read about Sylvan Lake Lodge and decided that it would be a very pleasant stop. It is located in a spot suggested by Frank Lloyd Wright. The hotel and cabins sit in a hillside forest of pine and spruce, in harmony with the rugged landscape. It is similar to other park lodges built in the early 1900's.

The two pictures flanking the chimney are by Albert Bierstadt, a German artist who painted romantic interpretations of the west. 

On the way back to Rapid City I made a slight detour to photograph the Crazy Horse Memorial from a distance. As you can see, it is still a work in progress.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

It was now time to head back to Rapid City, turn in my car rental, and wait to meet my fellow photographers for our visit to Badlands National Park. The weather delayed our meeting, but eventually I was met at the airport at about 10:00 rather than 8:00 p.m. It was an hour drive to Wall, S. D. where we were staying. So, again it was a bit of a short night as we would be off to photograph early in the morning and sunrise would be about  o530.  We would be off from the Motel about 0430!

HIGHWAY ARCHITECTURE

CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA

In early May I was off to South Dakota to photograph in Badlands National Park. Before I went there I visited Custer State Park for two days.

I flew into some weather which greeted me in Salt Lake City as I transferred to a flight to Rapid City, S. D. All seemed to be going fine, until we were informed that we were landing in Casper, WY, instead. The ceiling for landing in Rapid City was too low.

In Casper we were given the option of 1) de-planing and being bussed to Rapid City. The bus trip would be about four hours. The other option was to try to return to Rapid City, and if we could not land, we would be flown onto Minneapolis. We would then be put up for the night, but the flights on the next day were a bit of a c--- shoot. I opted for the bus ride back to Rapid City. We go to Rapid City about midnight. I then had an hour drive to the town of Custer in drizzle and snow flurries.
It was a short night, and an early morning followed.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8TH:

The weather was rainy, with snow flurries, and very gray skies all day. After breakfast at the Motel, I headed off to visit Mt. Rushmore first. As I drove into the area I was greeted by two mountain goats that were browsing right alongside the road. They were not disturbed as I stopped and photographed them while using the car as a blind. I was able to get out of the car and photograph from the backside of the car.

MOUNTAIN GOAT

HERE IS LOOKING AT YOU

Mt. Rushmore was impressive though the weather was not conducive to dramatic photography. I enjoyed visiting the museum to see how the artist created the large figures to scale. There was a lot of geometry and blasting to create the monument.

AVENUE OF FLAGS

MT. RUSHMORE

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON

Afterwards I was off to Custer State Park. I had read up a bit on the area, and had hoped to do a sunset shoot in the area of Sylvan Lake. However the weather was not going to cooperate, but I enjoyed the visit to the lake area. What caught my eye was the large granite boulders. This day it was foggy with a low cloud cover which created a mood but not promising light. As you can see there was a thin layer of fresh snow on the shore line.

It was then onto Wildlife Loop Road which is about about 18 miles in length through open grasslands speckled with pine trees. Again the traffic was very light and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The only  wildlife that I saw on this road today was bison. Custer State Park has one of the largest publicly owned bison herds which is maintained at about 1300 head. 

Every fall they round up the herd to inoculate them, and get a count on the size of the herd. Animals deemed to be in excess are then separated and eventually auctioned off. Some of these go to meat producers, but the majority go to bison ranchers as breeding stock. This allows the range to sustain the herd and not allow it to be overgrazed. It was a beautiful drive, and I enjoyed photographing the bison safely from my car. I used a borrowed bean bag to help stabilize the camera and lens.

Dinner was early as I wanted to visit the State Game Lodge which had been the summer home of President Cleveland, and also visited by President Eisenhower. It is one of the traditional summer lodges/Park lodges of the early 20th century. I had a
delightful meal before heading back to the City of Custer for the evening.

STATE GAME LODGE