Swimmin’ Hole

Cascade Falls, SD - 2022 A local told us about a "swimmin hole", 40 miles north of Fort Robinson, just inside South Dakota. After 3 days of high 90's and low 100 temps we were ready to cool off. A spring-fed stream flowing behind a little-used rest stop provided the perfect ending to our four-day …

Tradition

I have a long standing tradition of having my picture taken with wooden American Indian sculptures, sometimes referred to as "cigar-store Indians".  For some reason, in the Old West, they were always situated outside tobacco stores. This "fetish" of mine started on my honeymoon in the late 60's.  We were in Deadwood, SD and my …

Old Friends

I have an old friend who now lives in South Dakota; we met the other day after a long span of texts, e-mails and an occasional phone call.  Like an old sweater with thread-bare elbows, our relationship was showing signs of wear and tear ... but still comfortable.  It was great to catch up, and …

Digital Magic

My ten year old granddaughter was practicing her gymnastics on the dock of our lake in Nebraska on the July 4th weekend.  That was three years ago. The sunset is a scanned copy of a 1968 photo of a sunset on the Oahe Reservoir near Pierre, SD.  I made a composite of the two digital …

Whiteclay, Nebraska

A sad story, Whiteclay.  The northern city limits of Whiteclay, NE is the state line between Nebraska and South Dakota.  The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, on the SD side, abuts Whiteclay's northern city limits.  Alcohol consumption and possession is prohibited on the reservation. The 2010 census lists Whiteclay's population at 14.  There are 4 liquor …

Follow the Leader

This image reminded me of simpler times, when you played all day and into the night, with few worries.  But, this image is a "fabrication", a composite of six different photos merged to create a visual image of distant memories.  The sky was taken 45 years ago in South Dakota.  The dead tree is from …

Future Paparazzi

I was at Mount Rushmore last summer when I noticed this young photographer snapping pictures.  I asked him what he was shooting.  (That's photographer jargon for either what equipment are you using or what is your subject.)   "The Men!", he exclaimed, pointing to the four faces carved in the mountain.   He looked to be less than 3 …

Donkeys

I was driving through Custer State Park in the Black Hills, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play.  I had read about wild donkeys being in the park, but that wasn't my main interest; I really wanted to see a buffalo up close in its natural habitat with no fences.  But …

Black Hills, South Dakota

Altogether, I was in the Black Hils area for a week, five days with the fam and two days visiting our friends, Chuck and Karen, who now live in South Dakota.  Chuck and Karen took us along the Needles Highway through Black Hills State Park. It was such a pretty stop, we had our picture …

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is one of my favorite National Parks; I've been there several times in my life and never get tired of it. I get goose bumps every time I visit Mount Rushmore. Our family vacation (reunion) was in the Black Hills this year, so we all went to Mount Rushmore together.  The group picture …