Thompson Photography Photo Blog

Chariots for Charity

2011-11-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

It's time to bring my blog back to life! I have been so busy with senior and family pictures, I have been neglecting my blog, so I am going to make a dedicated effort to start blogging regularly! I will try to keep it interesting, with local events, photography tips, photoshop tips, places to photograph, etc.!

To start things off, Sunday I headed to the McCreery Ranch just outside of Gillette, Wyoming, for the Chariots for Charity fundraiser event for the Gillette Shriners. With only a $5.00 admittance, this was an exciting way to spend an afternoon! For anyone who has never attended chariot races, a team of horses are attached to a homemade chariot and they are raced in a match race style on a quarter-mile straight track.

It is a winter event, held regardless of the weather, so dress accordingly! However, the nice thing is that you park right along the track, so even if you choose to bring lawn chairs or a tailgate, your heater is always close by! It's a very exciting, action-packed event and a great way to spend the day with the family!

All of the images from the races on the Sunday can be viewed at Thompson Photography ~ Chariots for Charity . All of the profits from the November sales in this gallery will be donated back to the Wyoming Shriners!

NOW OPEN!!!! Green Acres Dog Grooming!!!

2011-08-04T17:22:00.002-06:00

Did you spend the weekend at the lake and your dog smells like he brought a dead fish home with him? But you HATE trying to give him a bath? Or does he have shaggy, matted hair and is in desperate need of a cool summer clip? Give Theresa a call at Green Acres Dog Grooming and she will get him all cleaned up for you!

Ahhh, feeling MUCH better!

Now it's Tucker's turn!

Tucker's favorite part...he was such a good boy, he gets a play date with his girlfriend, Bomber!

Call Theresa at 641-4404 to schedule an appointment to have your pooch pampered!

It's Time for Seniors Portraits!

2011-08-02T17:11:00.003-06:00

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2012!!!! Fall is rapidly approaching, and school will be starting before you know it! It's time to start thinking about those senior portraits!

Brooke - Class of 2012

August is completely booked, but there are still many sessions available for September and October. Call 605-641-2335, or email Jana at jmthompson@spe.midco.net for details or to schedule a session!

Wyoming Ranchland

2011-07-29T16:38:00.001-06:00

The mule deer are in full velvet this time of year, so I have been yearning to go out and look for some trophy mule deer showing off their beautiful velvet racks! Last night, my husband took me out to a friend's ranch outside of Moorcroft, Wyoming, to see what we could find. It was still a little too hot for the big deer to be coming out, although we did see quite a few does, but we had a wonderful drive and found plenty of other interesting stuff to put in front of my camera!

I love finding old homesteads!

This juvenile redtail hawk was perfectly willing to pose for us!

The Gatekeepers!

I don't know what it is about cows, but I have a hard time going anywhere without taking at least one picture of a cow!

The Wyoming Golden Hour

Time to call it a night!

I guess I will have to go back again and keep trying for my buck silhouette at sunset, but with beautiful scenery like we found, I don't have a problem with that (as long as we can find him before hunting season!)!

Butte-Lawrence County 4-H Horse Show

2011-06-23T09:06:00.000-06:00

Tuesday was a day for bringing back wonderful memories, as I spent the day photographing the Butte-Lawrence County 4-H Horse Show, held at the beautiful Besler's Cadillac Ranch just outside of Belle Fourche, South Dakota. As a child, my entire summer every year was spent preparing my horse for the 4-H show in August. Then, when the first week of August finally rolled around, my Mom and Dad would haul our camper into the fairgrounds and I would get to stay in town for an entire week, having fun with my horse and my friends! Tuesday's show reminded me so much of those days, with all of the smiles, laughter, and all of the kids and parents cheering each other on and offering constant encouragement and support...such a terrific way to spend the day!

The entire gallery can be viewed and images can be purchased at Thompson Photography. If you know of an event coming up that you would like covered, call Jana at 605-641-2335 or email at jmthompson@spe.midco.net and I will get in on my schedule!

Spearfish Booster Club Athletic Banquet

2011-05-09T11:23:00.000-06:00

Last night was the annual awards banquet for the Spearfish Spartan high school athletes, and I was honored to be asked to photograph this special occasion! After missing the banquet last year due to my cancer treatment, I was thrilled to accept this request this year! All of the banquet images are online and available for purchase at Thompson Photography ~ Events, and 50% of all sales from this gallery will be donated back to the Spearfish Spartans Booster Club.

Opening Night of Little League!

2011-05-05T08:18:00.001-06:00

You know spring is here when baseball starts! Tuesday night was the opening night of Spearfish Youth Baseball at the Pope & Talbot Youth Sports Complex in Spearfish, with a Majors game between the Spearfish Blue and Spearfish Green teams. If you want to get out and enjoy a beautiful spring evening, come out and relax at the Pope and Talbot fields, where a youth activity can be found almost every night of the week!

More images from Tuesday night's action can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography. If you have an upcoming game that you would like photographed, don't hesitate to give me a call or send an email to jmthompson@spe.midco.net and I will get it on the schedule!

Lions Club Ladies' Night Out!

2011-04-26T14:51:00.000-06:00

Vendors, food, drinks, door prizes, a guest speaker, and a prom dress review were all packed into the Queen City Lion's Ladies Night Out at the Spearfish Holiday Inn on Thursday night! Guest speaker Michelle Kane, from Black Hills PR spoke about "Social Media for Power Women", which was followed by a review of stunning prom dresses from Kathleen's Unique Boutique in downtown Spearfish, and modeled by several beautiful young ladies from Spearfish High School!

Donated door prizes!

Beautiful center pieces!

A wide variety of vendor booths!

And beautiful dresses and models!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this fundraiser a success for the Queen City Lions! If you missed this night out, don't fret...another Ladies night is in the works for this fall!!! All of the proceeds go to local charities!

Spring in the Black Hills!

2011-04-19T09:03:00.001-06:00

Well, although spring is officially here, it sure feels like winter! With the temperature hovering around 35 degrees F and a foggy drizzle in the air, I thought I would pack up my camera and see if I could find a bald eagle or a hawk out looking for some lunch. After making the loop around Hwy. 14 and Crook Mountain Rd., to no avail, I decided to drive toward St. Onge, which always seems to be a photography jackpot! A deep fog had settled in, along with a light "slush" falling from the sky, not ideal photography conditions, but I wasn't one to give up easily! And I was glad I didn't, because after testing out the 4WD in my 4Runner on a couple of very muddy, "not maintained" roads, I finally found what I was looking for!

Okay, so they aren't raptors, but it was still a very peaceful and beautiful scene!

Then, back out on the highway and heading home, I stopped and got a picture of this old house...

I have driven past this house at least 100 times thinking there has to be a picture there, but no matter how many times I stopped, I just didn't like it...the light was wrong, the surroundings were wrong, etc. FINALLY, this was it! I'm not sure what has more mud on it, the 4Runner, me, or my camera...but it was all worth it for a great morning of photography!

All of these images can be purchased as matted and framed prints. View more images at Thompson Photography ~ The Black Hills of South Dakota . All custom matting and framing is done locally in Spearfish by Focus West Gallery.

Spring School Portraits!

2011-04-04T12:10:00.000-06:00

Are you tired of those same old boring school portraits? How about a 20-minute mini session for only $35.00! All images are professionally retouched and uploaded to a password-protected gallery for ordering...you are not obligated to buy packages full of unneeded prints!

Call 605-641-2335 or email Jana at jmthompson@spe.midco.net for details!

Sharp-Tailed Grouse

2011-01-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

It has been a lot of fun watching some new visitors to the neighborhood recently...several sharp-tailed grouse have been foraging through the trees looking for berries, spending quite a bit of time in my crabapple tree right outside my office window.

Once a sharpie sets up a territory, they are usually a permanent resident, so it will be interesting to see if these beautiful birds stick around for a while! Several more game bird images can be viewed at Thompson Photography ~ Game Birds. All of these images are available as fine art prints in a variety of sizes and can be ordered with mats only or matted and framed. All custom framing and matting is done locally by Les Voorhis of Focus West Gallery, using a variety of American hardwoods, so you can be assured you are receiving a high-quality product handmade by South Dakota artists!

A Couple of Black Hills Raptors!

2010-12-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

It was so beautiful out this afternoon, I had to get out of the house and go for a short drive! Every morning, my husband is seeing at least 10-15 ferruginous hawks near St. Onge and Whitewood, so I headed that direction to see if I could get some good pictures. I had only gone a couple miles when I found my first hawk, but he didn't stick around long as soon as I started to slow down!

Just around the corner, there was a kestrel having some lunch!

I got some great photos of him enjoying his lunch, and then headed towards Whitewood to see what else I could find. Although I saw at least 10 more hawks, they were all busy hunting and most of them were too far from the road for photos. That's okay though...it was a wonderful afternoon to get out of the house and go for a short drive!

A Visit from a Flock of Bohemian Waxwings

2010-12-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

Every year, I get a visit from some of my favorite birds, a huge flock of Bohemian waxwings! Although everything I read says they are rare in the Black Hills, they are a yearly visitor to my crabapple tree...usually stripping it bare within about 15-20 minutes and then traveling on. But during their brief visit yesterday, I was fortunate to be at my desk with my camera ready, and I was able to take more pictures of waxwings than I will ever need!

These birds are so much fun to watch as they frantically eat every berry in sight, taking flight as every car drives by, then flying back in as a flock minutes later. They had my tree stripped in no time and then were gone...leaving me with a memory card full of the antics of these colorful, entertaining birds!

Basketball Season is Upon Us!

2010-11-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Winter is here, and that means BASKETBALL season!!! I started out the season with an 8th grade girl's game Thursday night at Spearfish Middle School between the Spearfish Spartans and the Douglas Patriots. Some game highlights are below, but all of the images can be viewed and purchased on my website at Thompson Photography.

My Third Day in the Park

2010-11-02T12:56:00.000-06:00

Today was terrific! Full of bears, otters, swans, elk, and more bears! I started off before daylight heading to the West Entrance, hoping to possibly catch some bull elk in the morning light in the Madison River or on Gibbon Flats. I did find some big boys, but they weren't doing much; evidently they had been up most the night and were already down for the day. The hot days were really messing things up for us photographers, with most of the wildlife not becoming active until after the sun was going down, and bedding down earlier in the morning than usual. They were already sporting their winter coats, and they were not enjoying the 80-degree days! I did luck out and find one beautiful park inhabitant that wasn't affected by the heat...a trumpeter swan out for a morning swim!

Trumpeter swan in the Madison River

After getting a few shots of the swan, I headed back towards the center of the park. I hadn't gone far when I saw quite a few cars stopped by the river, so I pulled over to see what they were watching. River otters! However, it appeared the show was over, as everyone but two guys were heading back to their cars. I went ahead and grabbed my camera and headed over to where they were, and they said the otters had headed into the grass on the other side of the river. Well, I sat down with them, and it wasn't a couple minutes later and the otters were back, quite a ways downstream. We grabbed our cameras and the chase was on! The three of us proceeded to photograph the two little clowns for about 20 minutes, probably packing our big lens about half a mile downstream, but it was worth it to watch their antics!

Pair of river otters in the Madison River

After hiking back to my truck, I heard on my scanner that there was a grizzly on a kill in Hayden Valley, so I headed that direction, hoping to get some good grizzly shots. However, once I got there, even my 600mm lens with an extender wasn't enough for a good shot, as she was still just a brown lump in the picture. Oh well...there were a lot of spotting scopes set up and it was still cool to watch her! While there, the park ranger said there was another grizzly on a kill that he had just taken from some wolves at Indian Pond, and he was a lot closer, so I loaded up and headed off once again! I only made it to the edge of Hayden Valley when I noticed a little coyote hunting right on the side of the road, so I had to stop and watch him for a while. He was so pretty in his winter coat!

Who has the beer and pizza?

Now this was more like it! He was still pretty far away, and when I first got there, he was lying in the shade, so the light was terrible, but I set up camp with all of the other bear watchers, and we waited for the show to begin! As the time passed, so did the sun, and the light moved onto the bear...eventually warming him up, and waking him up!

After moving into the shade a couple of times, standing and watching us, as we were watching him, he finally decided to go for a swim to cool off. He played in the water for about 20 minutes, splashing, diving, and swimming!

He finally got out of the water, headed around the pond, crossed the road, and wandered off through the trees.

It was getting late, and since I was almost to the east entrance and had to go all the way back to Mammoth, I decided it was time to call it a day and head back to camp. With over 600 pictures on my camera from the day, I figured I had made up for barely taking any yesterday! As I drove back to Mammoth, I passed a bear jam at Petrified Tree, but seeing it was the scruffy little yearling, I just drove on by, figuring I would get more of him the next day! As I pulled into Mammoth, I stopped before heading down into the campground to call Tom, as the signal is stronger, but I had to talk over the bugling elk to be heard! I finally gave up and headed to camp!

Day 2 in Yellowstone Park

2010-10-31T09:02:00.000-06:00

After fighting the crowds in the park on Saturday, I decided to head out of the park and take a drive to Cooke City and up to Beartooth Pass. I was fairly tired from my last few days, and I figured a day of relaxing and just taking a beautiful drive (and not packing around my 600mm lens!) would get me rested up for a few days in the park! I think this was the day I took the fewest pictures, as I was just enjoying the day, relaxing, and taking in all of the sights of the breathtaking drive on the Beartooth Highway. This is one drive that I never tire of, no matter how many times I make it!

After spending some time in Cooke City, I stopped at a beautiful little pond near Colter Pass for a short hike, some lunch, and a nap. In spite of the signs warning of grizzly bears, with myself and my cooler safely in the cab of my truck, I fell asleep rather quickly!

Fall colors on Beartooth Highway

I took a short hike to Chain Lakes

Crazy Creek Cascades

I turned around at Beartooth Pass and headed back to camp, happy and well-rested after spending a day just relaxing and wandering around aimlessly!

The Black Lab, Toma

2010-10-24T14:43:00.002-06:00

Anyone who knows me knows that my absolute passion is animals, especially furry, slobbery, tail-wagging ones! So I was thrilled to spend some time this Sunday morning shooting some portraits of 12 1/2-year-old Toma! She is such a sweetheart!

A layer of dense fog made an interesting backdrop!

Sitting by the creek where she spent her summers playing with her family!

Such a beautiful girl!

Toma's pal ~ I had to be quick to get a shot of her!

What better Christmas gift than a portrait of a loved one's cherished pet? Pet sitting fees are only $35.00, so call 641-2335 or email jmthompson@spe.midco.net to book an appointment!

First Day in Yellowstone!

2010-10-22T11:29:00.000-06:00

I have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to edit many of the pictures from my trip; however, I decided to take a little while this morning and at least get a few from my first day in the park finished!

I had hoped to get up early and be in the park by sunup, but sleeping in my truck in the Cody Wal-Mart parking lot proved to be a lot more comfortable than I thought, and it was almost 7:00 when I woke up...whoops! But I quickly got on my way and headed along the beautiful Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway to the East Gate of Yellowstone. As I was driving, I realized that it was probably the first time I have ever made that drive in the daylight, as I have always tried to be in the park right at dawn, so I just took my time and enjoyed the beautiful scenery!

Full Moon over the North Fork of the Shoshone River

I was thrilled to come across a pair of moose having some breakfast just outside the gate of the park...

Then a grizzly bear out for a stroll at Mary Bay...

As I was putting my lens away, a coyote paused during his morning travels...

I had decided to camp at Mammoth Campground for at least a couple of days, so I figured I better head that direction first thing and get my campsite, as I knew the campgrounds would fill up quick, so I headed north towards Tower and Mammoth. I got to Mammoth Campground just in time, as they only had two sites remaining! I got checked in, set up my tent, and headed towards Lamar Valley hoping to spot some wolves or another grizzly. I was almost to Tower Junction when I came across a young black bear, who I would return to photograph almost every day during my visit.

He was pretty scruffy, but he sure was fun to watch!

After spending about an hour with this bear, I headed to Lamar Valley, but with no luck. Tired, but happy with the results of the day, I headed back to camp, ready to do it all again tomorrow!

McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Range

2010-10-01T12:03:00.000-06:00

Morning light over the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Range

Well, I was hoping to be up in time to catch the sunrise, but I don't think I have slept so good in months! I woke up to the morning sun beating down on me, and, much to my delight, a couple of curious colts staring at me!

I got my coffee going and had a bowl of cereal, as I took pictures of the herd grazing around me. I think I would have been happy just spending the entire day right there! But I wanted to see more of the range and other herds, so I packed up and headed out!

"Hey, I'll have some Raisin Bran Crunch!", but the stallion decided she was getting a little too close and drove her back!

After spending the entire day in the range, I found two other small bands, covered a lot of beautiful, rugged country, and had a fantastic day! I had spent over 24 hours in this area and had not even seen another vehicle!

One of two wells installed by Friends of a Legacy (FOAL) volunteers and BLM

As I was working my out of the range, I saw a big band of approximately 15-20 horses grazing a few miles away. It took about an hour to work my way to them, but I finally found them near a small pond.

Curious mares coming to visit...until something else catches their eye...

A herd of about 30 mustangs on the run to the water hole about a mile away...

The band I was watching wanted NOTHING TO DO with the larger band coming in.

The stallion wasted no time rounding the mares up and heading out!

And these are the reason why...two very large and healthy bachelor studs trailing along with the two separate herds that came in...

And so began my best couple hours of the day! I was too late getting to the water hole to see the horses lying down in it, rolling in it, and drinking, as I had been photographing the other band and it took me a while to hike back to the waterhole, but just watching their interaction as they rolled, soaking wet, in the dirt, and then spent the evening socializing and grazing, was so much fun!

The family unit!

Sharing the waterhole!

Typical guy...loves to get dirty!

At least he stayed clean on one side!

I contemplated spending another night in the wild horse range, but I wanted to get an early start into Yellowstone the next morning (and I also wanted a shower!), so I headed into Cody. I stopped at the KOA Campground on my way by, where you can get a terrific shower, clean with lots of water pressure, for only $3.00, and then headed to the Buffalo Bill Reservoir to catch an incredible sunset to end my day!

Sunset at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir...a beautiful close to a terrific day!

Heading to Wyoming!

2010-09-30T10:52:00.000-06:00

My cancer treatment is finished, I am getting my strength back, and after spending over nine months cooped up in the house, it's time for a road trip! First heading to the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Range just outside of Cody for a couple of days, then to Yellowstone to spend some time with the bears!

Usually when we head over the Big Horns we are in a hurry and don't have time to stop and enjoy the scenery. This time, I had as much time as I wanted to take, so I played tourist and enjoyed a leisurely drive over Highway 14 from Sheridan to Shell, which is absolutely beautiful this time of year!

Some horses relaxing on a beautiful fall day!

It was late afternoon when I reached the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Range, so I figured I would just head in and do a little bit of exploring and then camp where ever I happened to be when it got dark. For anyone who has never been to McCullough Peaks, I highly recommend a Jeep or short wheel-based SUV, NOT a one-ton crew cab 4x4! I can't count the number of times I had to back up (sometimes for a LONG ways to find a place wide enough to turn around) because the little 2-track I would be following would come to a washout that was too steep for my truck, but a shorter vehicle would handle it with no problem! I have been telling my husband for a year now that I "need" a Jeep...maybe this will convince him! This place is definitely the "Badlands of Wyoming", very rugged, and very beautiful! I had been exploring for a couple of hours when I found a small band of horses and stopped to take some pictures.

The stallion was curious, but he wasn't too worried as long as I kept my distance.

This mare is seeking some reassurance from the band stallion.

After she figured out everything was okay, she brought all of her girls to say hello!

A group of lovely ladies coming to say hello!

As the sun started to set, these two little guys still weren't too sure about me!

It was starting to get dark, so I figured this was as good of place as any to camp. I started heating some water for some soup, and these two little colts kept circling my camp and getting closer each time...very curious yet not quite as brave as the big horses!

As it started getting darker, the coyotes started howling.

That sent the babies scurrying back to the herd!

Moonrise over the McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Range

The sunset was incredible!

My camp guard...the stallion keeping watch above my camp

I fell asleep listening to the coyotes serenade to me and the wild horses grazing just outside my camp, counting my blessings and being thankful for the incredible day, and looking forward to what tomorrow would bring!

Fall in the Black Hills

2010-09-16T14:54:00.000-06:00

I decided to head out this morning and capture some of the beautiful fall colors that take over the Black Hills this time of year. I started with a drive up to Mount Roosevelt, where the aspen and the ferns along with the brilliant blue sky made for some wonderful contrast!

From there I headed to the Iron Creek Trail, which is one of my favorite areas to hike. Since I had my dog, we didn't spend any time photographing along the road in Spearfish Canyon, but we did spend quite a bit of time in Iron Creek!

The colors should be reaching their peak just in time for the first Black Hills Photo Shootout this weekend, and there should be some fantastic photo opportunities for all of the participants! This will be my first photo workshop, and I am really looking forward to having a fun weekend and meeting so many other photographers!

Muskrats in the Rain!

2010-09-15T15:18:00.000-06:00

I have been so busy with senior and family portraits lately, I have been having a wildlife withdrawal! Although it was a little wet and cold this morning, I had to take a break from picture editing and venture out with the big lens. I called up a friend who I know also has an affinity for cute, furry little critters, and we headed out to hopefully find a muskrat family out playing in the rain!

Not doing much playing, must have been breakfast time!

Hiding...someone had to show up with their dog to see what we were taking pictures of...

I will be heading to Wyoming next week to spend several days in Yellowstone National Park and the Tetons, so I should be able to get my wildlife fix!!!

Are You Ready For Some Football?!?

2010-09-11T20:53:00.000-06:00

It was an exciting night of football at Lyle Hare Stadium as the Spearfish Spartans played their first home game, hosting Rapid City Central. The fans came out in force to support the teams, and the boys played hard and put on a terrific game! Although the Spartans lost their lead and fell to the Cobblers in the last eight minutes of the game, they were a force to be reckoned with the entire game, and the future is looking good for what has been a struggling team! If you are looking for an exciting way to spend Friday night with the family, Friday, September 17, the Spartans will host Sioux Falls Roosevelt at Lyle Hare Stadium!

More images can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography.

The Fall Sports Season is Here!

2010-08-29T11:14:00.000-06:00

The days are getting a little shorter, and the evenings are cooling off, a sure sign that fall sports are kicking into high gear! I am so excited to be finished with my cancer treatment, having finished radiation therapy last week, just in time to start regaining my energy and getting fired up for the fall sports season! I started my season with an exciting high school boys' soccer match between the Sturgis Scoopers and Vermillion Tanagers in Sturgis Saturday afternoon, culminating in a tie score of 1-1. Here are a few highlights from the game.

The entire gallery can be viewed at Thompson Photography. If there is a sports activity coming up that you would like covered, give me a call at 605-641-2335 or email me at jmthompson@spe.midco.net and I will put it on my schedule!

Time for Some Kool Deadwood Nites!

2010-08-27T08:21:00.000-06:00

Although the days are still hot, the nights are cooling off, which means it's time for Kool Deadwood Nites! Classic car buffs anxiously await this weekend, as classic cars from all over the country pour into the area to convene in Deadwood for a weekend of fun including poker runs, BBQs, and free concerts! We headed to Deadwood for a little while last night to check out some of the cars, and are definitely planning on several more trips throughout the weekend!

Adam ~ Class of 2011

2010-08-22T08:24:00.000-06:00

The senior portrait season is really picking up as summer is winding down and the kids are gearing up for an exciting school year! Here is a sneak peak of my session with Adam, a senior who keeps busy in sports at Spearfish!

Formal portraits are also available for scholarship applications!

To view more portraits by Thompson Photography, visit Thompson Photography for a slideshow showcasing more of my work!

Jamie ~ Class of 2011!

2010-08-15T19:47:00.000-06:00

I had a very quick shoot with Jamie on Friday...I am looking forward to getting together again when she has more time!

The weekends through September are booked, but there are still plenty of openings during the week!

Call 605-641-2335 or email jmthompson@spe.midco.net to schedule your senior pictures now!

Alyssa ~ My Senior Spokesmodel!

2010-08-11T19:15:00.000-06:00

My cancer treatment is coming to a close and I am excited about scheduling senior portraits again! Alyssa is not only a terrific assistant, but she is one of my senior spokesmodels this year, and we have been having a great time building up her portfolio!

Call Jana at 605-641-2335 or email at jmthompson@spe.midco.net for information regarding senior portraits by Thompson Photography!

Days of 76 Rodeo

2010-08-04T17:23:00.000-06:00

Although I wasn't able to stay for the entire performance, I had a great time photographing part of Thursday night's Days of 76 PRCA rodeo in Deadwood! I can't wait until I recover from my chemotherapy completely and can actually cover entire events again! Here are a few favorites from the night...

The complete gallery can be viewed at Thompson Photography ~ Days of 76. Thank you for visiting my blog, and comments are always welcome!

Days of 76 ~ WPRA Barrel Racing Slack

2010-07-30T10:58:00.000-06:00

It's time for the 8th Annual Days of 76 Rodeo! Voted the PRCA Midsize Rodeo of the Year the last six years in a row, the Days of 76 Rodeo is not one to miss! Since I am receiving radiation therapy every morning in Rapid City, I missed most of the timed slack events, but I was able to make it to the WPRA barrel racing slack Thursday afternoon.

There is a parade in Downtown Deadwood on both Friday and Saturday, and evening PRCA rodeo performances both days, with an afternoon performance on Saturday as well. Lots of cold beverages are available, and the grandstands provide plenty of shade in the evening, so get out and enjoy this terrific family event!

More images from the WPRA barrel racing slack can be viewed at Thompson Photography ~ WPRA Barrel Racing Slack.

Looking For Moose!

2010-07-13T16:09:00.003-06:00

Spent the last week in the Pinedale/Big Piney area photographing wildlife and the beautiful Wyoming Range. Found plenty of moose, but this young cow was my favorite. Since she was not of breeding age and did not feel threatened, she showed no aggressiveness and was merely curious as I kneeled on the other side of the willow bush from her (wish I could say the mosquitoes were only curious also)!

Her curiosity got the best of her and she had to come and see

what was on the other side of the willows!

Checking me out while her ears are flicking back and forth like crazy!

She decided I probably wasn't too much of a threat!

These images and many more nature and wildlife images are available at Thompson Photography ~ Nature and Wildlife. I also have an extensive portfolio of wildlife images that are not in my gallery that are available as stock images for advertising and design purposes. Please contact Jana at jmthompson@spe.midco.net or call 605-641-2335 if you have any questions.

DockDogs in Deadwood!

2010-06-23T09:10:00.002-06:00

On Friday, June 18, the National DockDogs competition came to Deadwood during Wild Bill Days. The timing couldn't have been better, as I received my last dose of chemotherapy on Thursday and the day after chemo I always feel great, so I grabbed my camera and headed to Deadwood for this fantastic opportunity! I love watching DockDogs on TV, and was familiar with the format of the events, but I had never had the opportunity to see these incredibly athletic dogs perform live! I cannot say enough about the atmosphere of this event! Between the event presenters, Royal Canin, and the dog owners and handlers, they make sure to make everyone feel completely welcome. It was terrific to see the locals with novice dogs who were making their first jump getting advice and support from the seasoned pros! I was also given plenty of advice and tips as to what kind of photos the owners like to see, the best places to stand around the pool, etc., all of which were immensely appreciated!

Phog takes a leap in the DockDogs Big Air!

Needing a little guidance on his first effort!

David with Jet discussing their strategy for the Extreme Vertical!

Stacy showing Bo where to jump for the Extreme Vertical,

but he has it all figured out!

Jet, a Belgian malinois, shows some focus in the Extreme Vertical!

Jet, with handler Dave Smith of Sit Means Sit Dog Training, swept the competition of the day,

winning the Big Air, the Extreme Vertical, and the Fan Favorite!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it back to Deadwood on Saturday due to the chemo effects setting in, but I had a great time on Friday watching these dogs and their handlers have so much fun at this event! If anyone missed this opportunity to see these dogs in action, they will be competing at the Laramie County Fair on August 7th & 8th in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a great time for a road trip!

The complete gallery of images from Friday's competition can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography ~ Events.

Storm Chasing in Hot Springs, South Dakota

2010-06-18T20:45:00.001-06:00

Wednesday, June 16, was a day of extremely active weather in the Northern Hills area. My good friend, Kristi, was at a welding class in Hot Springs, and since there was some storm activity building up that direction, I decided to head that way and pick her up after class so we could go see if we could find some lightning or clouds to photograph. With the Doppler showing two very active storms in our area, we found some great clouds, got hail on my new car, and even ran into Reed Timmer and the Dominator!

It was a great evening of storm chasing and we saw a lot of beautiful country! These images and many others of South Dakota weather can be viewed and purchased in my Weather Gallery at Thompson Photography.

Spearfish Post 164 Legion Baseball

2010-06-14T09:14:00.000-06:00

I FINALLY made it to a ball game! All spring I have been getting more and more bummed because on the days it was raining, I would feel good and the games would be postponed, and the days directly after my chemo when I felt horrible, it would be nice out and I wouldn't feel up to shooting the games. Everything finally came together, and on Wednesday night, June 7, at 5:30 Spearfish hosted Belle Fourche for a double header. It was wonderful to make it back out to a baseball game!

Images from the 5:30 game can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography - ALB Baseball. After this game I headed over to the Pope and Talbot Youth Sports Complex for an 8:00 PM Majors game between SP1 and SP4. More images from this game can be viewed at Thompson Photography - Majors Baseball.

Black Hills Sunset

2010-05-28T09:31:00.000-06:00

Usually I don't get too excited about the sunsets in the Black Hills area, but with all the humidity in the air yesterday, I knew we were likely in for a spectacular show last night...and I wasn't disappointed!

More images from this beautiful sunset as well as other images from the Black Hills area can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography ~ The Beautiful Black Hills.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing Memorial Day Weekend!!!

Greater Dakota Conference Track Meet

2010-05-18T10:46:00.001-06:00

Although the forecast called for a 40% chance of rain, Saturday proved to be a perfect day for a track meet, with an overcast day and perfect temperatures for the athletes. Although, due to my chemotherapy, I still got too tired to make it through the entire meet, I lasted for almost two hours and definitely enjoyed being outside and back behind the camera! Here are a few highlights from the events I covered...

Abby Albers broke her old state record with a new jump of 19'3"!!!

More images can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography.

Baby Buffalo in Custer State Park

2010-05-10T12:02:00.001-06:00

After being away from my blog for a while as I underwent surgery for breast cancer and then started treatment with chemotherapy, I am starting to feel better and am hoping to begin venturing out a bit more with my camera! After many days of rain, snow, wind, and overall dreary weather, Mother's Day on Sunday was a beautiful day for a drive to Custer State Park for my husband to do some fishing in Stockade Lake and to hopefully find some baby buffalo.

After my husband spent about an hour catching a couple nice largemouth bass in Stockade Lake, we headed out on our quest for some baby buffalo! We were in luck, and we found a small herd grazing and resting in the afternoon sun on the south side of the park. Although it was a little early in the afternoon for the babies to be up and playing too much, there were a couple who woke up from their naps to provide some entertainment!

Chasing prairie dogs...

Bad itch!

Best of friends...

Lunch break!

Telling us it is time to go!

The coyotes were out in full force looking for dinner in the prairie dog towns!

We had a great day and it was nice to get out of the house and back behind the camera!

One Last Trip to the Black Hills Stock Show!

2010-02-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

Well, the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo is over for one more year, but I was able to make it to Rapid City to spend one more day taking in the sites, the smells, and the crowds! While there I spent the entire morning visiting with vendors, photographing several of the bulls, took in the second go of slack barrel racing, and of course had to visit the petting zoo!

I had a lot of fun with the barrel racing, taking "nonstandard" barrel racing shots, focusing more on the power and beauty of the horse rather than the standard image showing the front of the horse rounding the barrel.

The stock show may be over, but if you have any upcoming spring rodeos or horse shows that you would like covered, call Jana at 605-641-2335 or email at Jana at Thompson Photography. Thompson Photography is also available for custom livestock photography and sale catalogs...call for details!

It's Time For The 2010 Winter Olympics!

2010-02-02T20:44:00.022-07:00

Be a part of Olympic Team USA! In just a few days, 216 athletes from the United States will represent our country at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. Many of these athletes having been striving for this goal their entire life, and they are on the road to accomplishing their dreams. There are many ways to show support for these Team USA athletes and to help them achieve their dreams.

America’s athletes depend upon National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to help them reach their dreams in Vancouver. NGBs support athletes at all levels, from grassroots to Olympic and Paralympic, by providing opportunities to compete and helping them reach their potential, achieve their dreams and represent their country. You can show your support by contributing directly to the sports of your choice, U.S. Paralympics or the U.S. Olympic Committee!

There are several other ways to show your support for Team USA! Follow this link to Support Team USA! You can also stay up to date on Olympic news in the days leading up to the start of the Olympics, follow along as the Olympics unfold, see exciting videos of the action, and follow the latest Olympic news.

The Black Hills Stock Show is Here!

2010-01-27T06:44:00.004-07:00

It's time for the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo! I absolutely love this time of year, when I can go hang out with the horses and the cows, and take in the the sights (and yes, the smells!) that bring me back to the days before family and responsibility, when it was just my horses and me, spending our time together traveling on weekends to shows and rodeos and spending the week riding in the mountains or on friend's ranches. Those were the days of my carefree youth...and the stock show is my time to be immersed in those terrific memories!

I spent a little time at the Rapid City fairgrounds yesterday at the BHSS Winter Classic AQHA show, photographing the amateur heeling event. I am more impressed with the low-light capabilities of my Canon 1D Mark III every time I use it at a high ISO without flash. The fairgrounds arena is very dark, and there is an on-site photographer set up to sell photos of the event, so I didn't want to use flash and risk interfering with her photos, so I photographed without flash (by the way, my photos of this particular event are not for sale...I was only shooting for fun and for practice). I have had several requests to photograph some of the local team roping events around the area, so I am excited about my increased low-light capabilities with this camera, although I am still in the market to buy some strobe lighting!

As the Black Hills Stock Show gets underway, many of my images will be available in the "Events" category of my website at Thompson Photography. A schedule of events for the stock show and rodeo can be found at BHSS - Schedule.

2010 Governor's Conference on Tourism

2010-01-23T21:31:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Governor's Conference on Tourism was recently held in Pierre, and I was thrilled to be one of 18 vendors selected to have a booth exhibiting "Made in South Dakota" products during the conference. This was my first time showing my photography, and it was a lot of fun and a great experience!

I was fortunate to find myself next to Trina and Charlie Wheeler of Wheeler Farms Candy Company, who are seasoned exhibitors at the Governor's Conference, and Trina graciously shared many helpful marketing tips and ideas, as well as some delicious pecan butter brittle! Next time you are in Sturgis, I highly recommend stopping at their store and sampling their delicious candy!

I came home from the Conference full of ideas for expanding my market. Now, if I could just fit a few more hours into the day....!!!

It's Time for Sno-Ball!

2010-01-18T07:02:00.005-07:00

Saturday night was the annual Sno-Ball Dance for Spearfish High School, and what better setting for Sno-Ball pictures than out in the snow! I met Alyssa, Jamie, and Jake in the park for some quick shots before they headed to dinner and night of dancing and fun!

I was having a great time, and could have spent all evening taking pictures of these terrific kids, but I was also wearing a coat and boots, and didn't have a dinner and a dance to go to! I hope all of the students attending the Sno-Ball this year had a great time and a safe night!

Spearfish 14th Annual Holiday Classic

2010-01-13T20:33:00.002-07:00

I spent most of this past weekend at the Black Hills State University, photographing the Spearfish 14th Annual Holiday Classic indoor soccer tournament. Teams from all over the region participated in the tournament, with ages ranging from U10 to U19. I was anxious to try out my new Canon ID and test its low-light capabilities at this tournament, as the field house is extremely dark, and I don't like using a flash for soccer. After shooting for 12 hours straight on Saturday, I was glad I didn't have the added weight of a flash on my camera!

Results from the tournament can be seen at Spearfish Soccer. Images from all of the games I covered at the tournament can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography.

Blue Jays at 10 Below

2010-01-09T05:35:00.004-07:00

The birds felt the effect of our recent cold also, and these blue jays were frequent visitors at my feeder, anxiously awaiting the peanuts I would put out for them every morning!

It's supposed to be in the 40s this weekend...that is going to feel like the tropics! I hope everyone gets a chance to get outside this weekend and enjoy some beautiful winter weather!

The Fresh Air Fund is Looking for Runners & Sponsors for 2010! NYC Half Marathon

2010-01-06T18:02:00.010-07:00

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from disadvantaged communities. Each year, thousands of children visit volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or attend one of five Fresh Air Fund camps. For more information on this terrific program, and how you can help, follow this link, Fresh Air Fund.
On March 21st, the Fresh Air Fund-Racers will take to the streets at the NYC Half-Marathon! Thank you to the Fresh Air Fund-Racers and their supporters for participating in this world class event. You are making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Fresh Air children! There is limited availability for this amazing race. If you would like to run, please register at Run the NYC Half Marathon with Fresh Air Fund! right away.

The summer of 2009 was amazingly successful thanks to the generous support from all of The Fresh Air Fund volunteers and donors. With your help, next summer will be wonderful too.

2009 Summer Highlights:

Nearly 8,000 children enjoyed their best summers yet!
* 370 students participated in the Career Awareness Program
* 11 counselors-in-training spent three days on the Appalachian Trail
* 168 young people were Leaders-in-training

Light the Lamp Tournament at the Rushmore Thunderdome

2010-01-03T11:17:00.010-07:00

I have had several requests from parents in the past to photograph youth hockey, but up until now I have been too busy carrying a two-job workload to fit hockey into the mix. However, 2010 is bringing an exciting new change, with me taking on photography full time. I am very excited about this endeavor, and the exciting new opportunities and challenges it is going to present!

I have always loved the excitement of hockey but have never photographed it before, so I figured the Light the Lamp Tournament, a high school varsity tournament sponsored by Rushmore Hockey, held this weekend at the Rushmore Thunderdome was a great opportunity to start. Due to a full weekend schedule, I could only make it to one game, but it is definitely going to be the first of many!

For more shots of the Richland Rangers vs Gillette Wild visit my website at Thompson Photography

Call Jana at 605-641-2335 or send an email to jmthompson@spe.midco.net if there is an upcoming game that you would like covered. Thompson Photography is also now providing sports team and individual portraits ~ call for information!

Wild Horses of Wyoming

2010-01-03T10:42:00.010-07:00

We spent a few days at my in-law's in Big Piney, Wyoming, after Christmas, and took one day to look for some wild horses. My father-in-law works in the natural gas fields and knew where a few bands had been hanging out, so I had an advantage in the vast expanse of BLM land where they winter!
We found this small band, consisting of a stud and a mare, with an old bachelor stud tagging along, in the Jonah natural gas field.

This bigger herd was near Pilot Butte close to Rock Springs. These horses are extremely flighty this time of year and it took me about 30 minutes to get close to them, and with it being near zero out, I didn't stay out for long!

While I was lying on a small bank of sagebrush photographing this small band, I saw a truck slam on its brakes and back up into the ditch on the side of the road. I then heard whistling going past my head, and realized I was being shot at. They had a silencer on the gun, so I never heard any shots, but could hear the bullets going past me. After they saw me take their picture, they took off. My husband & in-laws were around a bend in the road and couldn't see or hear what had happened, but had seen the truck stop and back up. By the time I ran all the way back to our vehicle, the truck was long gone. I don't know if they actually saw me, as I was wearing brown & white, and they were just trying to scare the horses, or if they were trying to scare me...but I was done photographing the horses after that!

Wishing everyone a blessed and healthy New Year full of love and laughter!
Jana

Senior Shoot with Amy

2010-01-01T11:34:00.009-07:00

I have been looking forward to some winter senior shoots, so I was excited when Amy called just before Christmas to schedule a shoot. Although we were a few days early for the fresh snow from the blizzard, we were able to get some beautiful outdoor shots!

The deadline to get senior pictures to Mrs. Sukstorf for the Spearfish High School Yearbook is January 15, 2010...so there is still a little bit of time you don't have your pictures yet! Call me at 605-641-2335 or email jmthompson@spe.midco.net if you would like to schedule a senior session!

Stevens Raiders Basketball

2009-12-21T20:18:00.009-07:00

Friday afternoon, I headed to Rapid City for some past-paced basketball action as the RC Stevens Raiders hosted the Huron Tigers at the Carold Heier Gymnasium. The gym is a photographer's dream to shoot in, with plenty of light, lots of room on the sidelines, and fantastic hometown support and crowd participation!

Images from Friday night's JV, sophomore, and varsity games can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography ~ High School Basketball - Boys

Winter Birds

2009-12-10T15:56:00.003-07:00

With the temperatures near and below zero this week, my bird feeders have been busy, providing plenty of entertainment while I am sitting at my desk working hard to get all my Christmas orders out in time. Once in a while though, I just have to take a break and pick up my camera! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the week.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time preparing for a Christmas filled with lots of love and laughter!

Thanksgiving in Wyoming

2009-11-28T12:13:00.010-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! My husband, my son, and I made a quick trip to Story, Wyoming, to spend the evening at my cousin's house, and although we weren't in time for dinner, we made it in time for the best part...pie! Friday morning, I got up in time to catch the sunrise at Lake DeSmet, and then we had to turn around and head back home.

However, rather than hurry back on I-90, we took a short detour on Highway 14-16, as we are looking for some acreage to buy in the Buffalo-Gillette area, hopefully something with a few of these deer on it!

This little guy certainly isn't a trophy, but he was definitely the cutest deer we saw on the entire drive!

More of my nature and wildlife images can be seen at Thompson Photography ~ Nature and Wildlife

Black Hills Arena Racing ~ Winter Motocross Series

2009-11-18T18:52:00.009-07:00

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, I spent most of the day at the Rapid City Fairgrounds shooting the qualifying heats of the Black Hills Arena Racing winter motocross series. Motocross is definitely one of my favorite sports to photograph, as there is nonstop action and all ages and skill levels are competing.

High-flying action!
This little guy is studying the layout of the track while he waits for his turn at the jumps!

All of these images and many more from Saturday's qualifying heats can be purchased at Thompson Photography

The Fresh Air Fund Partners with OneSight!

2009-11-08T18:33:00.006-07:00

Earlier this year, I wrote about the Fresh Air Fund, which is a non-profit agency that was created to allow children living in the disadvantaged inner city communities to get away from the crowded city life and enjoy a summer in the country with a host family or at a camp. Since the Fresh Air Fund was established in 1877, it has allowed over 1.7 million New York City children the opportunity to spend a free summer in the country and away from the danger and influence of some of New York's toughest neighborhoods.

The Fresh Air Fund is very proud of a partnership they have with OneSight. For the fifth summer in a row, OneSight has brought their traveling optical clinic to all five Fresh Air Fund Camps to provide free eye exams and eyewear to needy children. "This summer at Fresh Air camp, OneSight's staff screened 3,295 children and counselors, gave 1,757 eye exams, and made 1,629 pairs of glasses, with 1,458 of them on-site and 171 specially driven in. The team stayed at Camp Hayden-Marks for two camp sessions, to make sure every child who needed the gift of sight was screened."

To learn more about the Fresh Air Fund, how to become a host family, or how to donate to this wonderful cause, follow this link ~ The Fresh Air Fund.

Spearfish Junior League Basketball

2009-11-08T08:04:00.007-07:00

Spearfish Junior League boys basketball has started! I spent Saturday morning at West Elementary photographing the 1st & 2nd grade games as they started off the basketball season. For many of these little guys, this is their first taste of organized basketball, and it is quite entertaining as they learn the basics of ball handling and sportsmanship under the watchful guidance of their coaches!

It's all about teamwork!

The entire gallery of images from the Spearfish Junior League basketball season can be seen at Thompson Photography ~ Junior League Basketball

Deadwood Marriage Ceremony

2009-11-07T20:36:00.005-07:00

On October 20, I had the pleasure of photographing an intimate marriage ceremony at the Celebrity Hotel in Deadwood, South Dakota. Ken and Nancee were traveling through the area and wanted a small ceremony in the Deadwood area. Jerry Dunn of Deadwood Wedding Services took care of all of the details and arranged just the ceremony they were looking for.

Congratulations and best wishes to Ken and Nancee!

R.J.'s Senior Portraits

2009-10-30T21:23:00.006-06:00

Scheduling an outdoor senior shoot in the Black Hills in the fall can be quite a challenge, but we were lucky and were able to meet on the one absolutely beautiful Saturday before the snow hit! It was a terrific day to be outside, and R.J. was a lot of fun to work with.

Visit my website at Thompson Photography for more senior portraits!

First Team Shoot!

2009-10-18T18:25:00.007-06:00

As many of you know, I shoot a wide variety of local sports; however, I hadn't ventured into the area of photographing sports teams yet. When I was contacted by the Spearfish Junior Basketball League to see if I was interested in doing some team photos for them, it was just the chance I had been waiting for! The conditions weren't exactly optimal, as the only area we had to take the photos was in the narrow hallway at East Elementary, since both gyms were being used for games, but everything seemed to go well in spite of the crowded conditions and the kids really seemed to enjoy it. I definitely look forward to doing some more team shoots!

If you would like information on scheduling a team shoot, please call me at 605-641-2335, or email at jmthompson@spe.midco.net

I can offer a variety of packages sizes, including die-cut wallets, and a variety of gift items are also available, including mugs, water bottles, mouse pads, key chains, etc.

A Beautiful Wedding in Hill City ~ Gina & Bryan

2009-10-14T17:56:00.008-06:00

Last Saturday, October 3, I had the privilege of sharing Gina and Bryan's special day with them and their family and friends. With Bryan being an accomplished photographer himself (Bryan Konechne Photography), I was fairly nervous by the time the wedding date rolled around. However, everyone was so wonderful and having so much fun, I quickly forgot that I was photographing a photographer! Here are just a few of my favorite images from the day...

Thank you, Gina and Bryan for letting me share your beautiful day!

Visited by Cedar Waxwings!

2009-10-10T21:08:00.003-06:00

This afternoon as I was working in my office, I was lucky enough to be looking out the window daydreaming when a mama cedar waxwing and her two juveniles landed in my tree for about 30 seconds. As luck would have it, I had just put my 400mm lens on my camera and had it sitting right in front of me, waiting for a blue jay to come back to my feeder, so I was able to get a couple quick shots before the family took off again!

The cedar waxwing is one of my favorite birds, with their little masks and their "always in a hurry" attitude, and I eagerly await every fall when they pass through the area. A flock usually lands in my crabapple tree and strips it bare within a matter of about 10 minutes, and then they are on their way again! Hopefully these three weren't my "flock" this year!

Saying Goodbye to the Fall Foliage

2009-10-09T18:54:00.007-06:00

Monday afternoon, I had to take one more quick trip down Spearfish Canyon and see if I could get a few more shots of the vibrant colors before heavy, wet snow took its toll. In spite of intermittent snow and rain, and the lately ever-present wind, I bundled up, and the dog and I headed out to see what we could find. It was snowing fairly hard driving up the canyon, so I only made a couple of stops, hoping the weather would be better on the way back down.

Having fun on the Iron Creek trail!

In retrospect I should have stopped more going up, because the leaves were already falling off the trees when I turned around and headed back home!

However, it had quit snowing and the wind had died down, and as I waded out into Spearfish Creek to photograph the last of the fall foliage, I was so glad I had ventured out into the arctic weather that day!

Jessica & Dan's Engagement Shoot

2009-10-07T18:28:00.005-06:00

I have been falling way behind with my blogging lately, as it has been an extremely busy week with engagement shoots, a wedding, and sports. With the fall colors coming on fast...and leaving just as fast...the window for fall scenery in photo shoots is limited!

I had my first engagement shoot as part of a wedding package on Friday, and although it was cold and windy, it was a beautiful day, and with Jessica and Dan being from Cheyenne, the wind was just a slight breeze to them!

I really enjoyed this opportunity to meet the wedding couple and have the opportunity to photograph them in a natural, stress-free environment away from the time demands of the wedding day, and I look forward to doing more engagement shoots!

Brittany & James Sneak Peak!

2009-09-30T14:58:00.008-06:00

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, I had the privilege to photograph James and Brittany's outdoor wedding ceremony at the Chapel of the Hills in Rapid City. The day was absolutely beautiful, and it couldn't have been a more perfect day for an outdoor fall ceremony! Here is a sneak peak at just a few of my favorite images from a terrific day!

Congratulations to Brittany and James, and thank you both and your wonderful families for allowing me to share your special day!!!

Cleaning out the Sports Archives!

2009-09-29T06:07:00.003-06:00

Fall Colors in Spearfish Canyon

2009-09-28T10:50:00.012-06:00

The upper view of Roughlock Falls
Since I have some engagement shoots coming up this week, my husband and I decided to take a drive down Spearfish Canyon this weekend and scope out some locations while checking out the beautiful fall colors. If anyone is waiting for the leaves to turn, now is the time, as they will soon be gone as the cool fall nights set upon us!

Preparing for winter!
Iron Creek

These images and many others can be seen at The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota

If you would like to have your family or senior portraits taken at any of these beautiful locations, call me at 605-641-2335, or email at jmthompson@spe.midco.net for details!

Fall in Yellowstone National Park

2009-09-24T11:16:00.031-06:00

This past week, I decided to take a few days and go visit some friends who have been working in Yellowstone National Park. Pat and Cindy Bonish of Every Miles a Memory have been job sharing a position for the Yellowstone Association working at the bookstore at the West Thumb, and having a blast photographing the park during the days when they aren't working...sounds like a photographer's dream! Last Wednesday, I packed up my truck with my tent, two sleeping bags rated for way below zero, as I knew it was getting COLD in the park at night, and, of course, my cameras and lenses, and off I went to enjoy some fall colors and rutting season in the Park!

I wasn't disappointed as I began my drive heading over the Big Horn Mountains on US Hwy. 16 from Buffalo to Tensleep, also known as the Cloud Peak Skyway Scenic Byway, which I consider one of the prettiest drives in Wyoming. Of course, growing up in Story, Wyoming, I am a little prejudice!

Fall colors just past Powder River Pass
Since I have been to the park numerous times, this was mainly a trip to explore some backcountry and see some of the less explored areas of the park. When I arrived to the park, we took a short hike to the Natural Land Bridge that is near Fishing Bridge to look for a Great Grey Owl that Cindy had seen earlier, but we weren't lucky enough to find it again. We then retired to camp to plan our hike for the next day. We were planning on driving into the Bechler area, which is in the southwest corner of the park, and hiking to Union Falls, the second highest, and possibly the least visited waterfall in the park. To reach the trailhead for this waterfall, you have to drive out of the park to the Flagg Ranch, and then follow Grassy Lake Road towards the Idaho border for about 10 miles, before parking right before the border at the trailhead. The map said it was then about 6.5 miles to the waterfall...okay, sounded good! We were going to leave at about 4AM the next morning, and Cindy promised to have the coffee ready! I headed off to my tent and listened to the bugling elk serenade me to sleep!

Sunset over Yellowstone Lake
The next morning, September 18, we all piled in the truck in the pitch dark and headed off to the Bechler Region, also known as "Cascade Corners" due to the numerous waterfalls and cascades that are located in this area. This area receives almost 80" of annual precipitation, and is almost inaccessible prior to August due to the high water and the number of stream crossings that are required. When we arrived at the trailhead, it was still fairly dark, and with temperatures in the lower 30s, we had to bundle up, but we were prepared and anxious to be on our way!

Pat and Cindy photographing Cascade Creek as the steam rises up in to the cold air
Cascade Creek early in the morning
I am going to save everyone the details of our hike, but what started out as 6.5 miles on the map, turned into 7.2 on the trail sign, AFTER we had already been on the trail for over an hour! AND we had started out on the wrong trail, so we had been boondocking for about an additional mile or so trying to locate the trail! Oh, and did I mention that this is the most heavily saturated bear area in the park? So it was fairly important that we make it back to the truck before dark!!! All in all, it ended up that we did 18 miles in and out over extremely rough terrain, and ALMOST made it back before dark. We probably would have made it, but I hurt my foot at about Mile #10, and had to hobble for the last 8 miles, and even 3,000 mg of Extra Strength Tylenol didn't do much for the pain. Was it worth it? After a continuous climb for about the last half-mile up to the waterfall, I was starting to wonder, especially when the trail turned and went away from the sound of the water, but then when you come around a corner and see this view, the agony of the hike vanishes, and you forget how far you have to go back to the truck!

The view at the top ~ Union Falls
We did have to take a 1.5 mile detour just below the falls and take a swim in some absolutely incredible hot springs that someone had told Pat about. I would've loved to spend an hour there, but unfortunately we only had about 10 minutes, as we knew darkness was on its way, and we had a LONG ways to go back to the truck!

Soaking in the hot springs!
If you would like to read two detailed and humorous (and very different!) accounts of the hike, as well as read more information about the area, check out Pat's Blog at Pat's Blog and Cindy's blog at Cindy's Blog.

The next day, we ventured back into the same area, but this time driving further, as none of us were quite up to another hike! This time we drove into Idaho and circled back into the park, heading to Cave Falls and the Bechler River. Since we had drove the entire Grassy Lake Road in the dark the previous day, we were hoping to see some moose today, as it looked like prime moose habitat.
Stream on Grassy Lake Road
We weren't disappointed, as heading home we saw a couple of cars stopped on the side of the road watching something in the trees. We grabbed our cameras and jumped out of the truck, and sure enough...there were our moose!

These two were so funny, as they were both fairly young, neither one knew quite what they were doing, and they were chasing each other all over the place! They provided some great entertainment until it became too dark to take pictures, and then we called it a day and headed to camp!

The next day, Pat and Cindy both had to work, so I decided to play tourist and drive around the park for a while, as my foot hurt too bad to do much walking. I headed out before sunrise and just hit some of my favorite wildlife areas around the park.

Okay everybody, line up by size, and let's go stop some traffic!
Sunrise on Firehole Lake Drive
I saw just about everything today including coyotes, bighorn sheep, black bear (no grizzly, darn it!), elk, buffalo (in Yellowstone...no!), bald eagle, and osprey. Still didn't get wolves though. I thought I saw some wolves in Hayden Valley and I pulled over, jumped out and grabbed the binoculars. A big group of people were watching them, all excited because there were two wolves down on the river. But as soon as I got my binoculars on them, I could see very clearly they were just two coyotes...darn it! I didn't spoil anyone's excitement though, just took a couple of shots and left. Especially after earlier when I had a lady arguing with me that a cow elk was actually a "moosey", because elk don't stand in water, only mooseys do that! Okay.....isn't Yellowstone great for laughs?!

"Wolves" in Hayden Valley ~ littlest wolves I have ever seen!
As I headed back to camp, it was spitting snow, the wind was blowing about 40 mph, and I watched the temperature steadily drop. I knew it was going to be COLD tonight! I visited with Pat and Cindy a bit and headed to bed, after staking my tent back up, as it seems I hadn't prepared well for the strong winds! I was glad I had double bagged tonight, as I had quite a cocoon built and was extremely comfortable once I crawled in, but getting up in the morning wasn't going to be fun! I fell asleep listening to the elk singing their songs with the coyotes backing them up, and once sleep, I didn't stir the entire night!

When I woke up this morning, there was ice on the outside of my tent, and the thermometer read 22 degrees ~ BRRRR! But it was an absolutely beautiful morning! This is quite possibly my favorite time of the year. The cold, crisp morning, the sky was full of stars, and the elk were bugling like crazy. I probably laid in my sleeping bag with the tent flap open just staring at the stars and listening to the elk for half an hour before I convinced myself that I had to crawl out of my cozy nest! I had decided that I probably better head home today, as I wasn't sure how long it was going to take me to get home (I have a tendency to get sidetracked!), and Pat and Cindy had some more company arriving the next day. So I gritted my teeth, crawled out of my bag, and began my day!

I packed up my tent, said my goodbyes to Pat and Cindy, who have become great friends since I first invited them to stay in my driveway during the Sturgis Rally, and promised we would meet again down the road (possibly sooner than we think if we decide to drive the White Rim Trail in Utah in the near future)! Hoping to find some of the bull elk who had been serenading me nightly, I got one last cup of coffee and headed out of Grant Village.

I was in luck! Just as I was pulling onto the main road to head south towards the Tetons, a bull elk walked right across the road in front of the truck. I pulled over and decided to watch him a bit and see what would transpire. It wasn't long before he found a sparring partner!

I watched them for awhile until they got bored with each other and started grazing, and then I headed on my way out of the park. It was a beautiful day for driving, but NOT a beautiful day for pictures, as there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and I LIKE CLOUDS!!!

The construction between Yellowstone National Park and the Tetons was horrible, and then I turned headed toward Dubois and it went from horrible to even worse. I absolutely love the drive over Togwotee Pass, and I had planned on spending most of the day going over this mountain. As it turns out, I spent the entire drive behind a pilot car...and I WAS NOT HAPPY! We were going about 5 MPH, and there was a pilot car in front and one in back, so no stopping for photos. By the time I made it over the pass and through the construction, and I stopped for lunch at a pullover, I decided I had been on the road enough, I was just going to head home. I knew I had loads of work backed up, so I was ready to call it a vacation and get back to work!

The view above Dubois, Wyoming
The entire gallery from my Yellowstone trip can be viewed at Thompson Photography ~ Yellowstone Gallery Thank you for visiting my blog, and I hope you enjoyed sharing my travels!

Meredith & Preston Sneak Peak!

2009-09-13T15:39:00.008-06:00

Friday afternoon my husband and I took a drive through the Black Hills to a beautiful family cabin to take some family portraits. Although there were a few threatening black clouds, and it was cool and a bit windy, the rain held off until we were pulling out of the driveway to head back home! This shoot was a great experience for me, as it was my first time photographing a baby only a few weeks old, and add to that a 3-year-old that doesn't like photographers...it made it quite a challenge! However, it was a challenge I thoroughly enjoyed, and I had no idea how fun it would be to photograph children!

A huge THANK YOU to Jami for referring your sister-in-law and her wonderful family to Thompson Photography for their family portraits!

Spearfish Spartans vs Rapid City Stevens

2009-09-12T12:19:00.007-06:00

Friday night at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish, the Spearfish Spartans hosted Rapid City Stevens Raiders for some varsity football action. In spite of the cool, rainy night, an impressive crowd was on hand to show their support for the two teams as the Spartans lost to the Raiders, 6 - 33.

Below are some highlights of the game, and the entire gallery can be seen at Thompson Photography .

September 11, 2001 ~ Never Forget

2009-09-11T11:31:00.006-06:00

We shall never forget
We shall keep this day,
We shall keep the events and the tears
In our minds, our memory and our hearts
and take them with us as we carry on.

It's back to school...and back to FOOTBALL!!!!

2009-09-11T08:22:00.006-06:00

Thursday evening the Spearfish Spartans Freshman football team hosted Rapid City Stevens at the Spearfish High School field. Between the freshman, JV, and varsity teams, along with 7th and 8th-grade teams, it seems as if there is a football game happening somewhere in the Northern Hills almost nightly, so if you are looking for something to get you out of the house to enjoy a beautiful fall evening, take in a local football game and enjoy the action while showing your support for the boys!

Below are a few highlights from Thursday night's game...

All of these images and many more can be viewed and purchased at
Thompson Photography

SDABA State 10-Ball Tournament

2009-09-09T12:47:00.011-06:00

A beautiful morning at Cow Creek Recreation Area, about 18 miles from Pierre
Usually our Memorial Day Weekend is filled with fishing, but this year we had to try something new. The South Dakota Amateur Billiards Association held their first annual State 10-Ball Tournament in Pierre, South Dakota, with both singles and team divisions. My women's team, the Knuckle Diamonds, couldn't pass up the fun, and my husband was also going to play in both the singles and the team division, so we passed up our annual fishing trip to Tobin Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada, and decided to head to Pierre for a weekend of pool instead!

Tom Thompson
Jackie Gerkin

Full moon over the Chicago and Northwestern Bridge, which was built in 1907.
Not something seen every day!
Pat Thompson making the call...the shot is considered a scratch and the incoming player gets ball in hand.
Doug Gerkin
Vicky Glatt of the Knuckle Diamonds!
Never too young to start the great game of billiards!

We haven't used our camper yet this year, so we thought this might be a good time, and we decided to let our boat tag along too...just in case we didn't do well in the tournament!
Losing isn't always a bad thing, especially if you had the foresight to bring along a boat!
Our next boat! Now, off to buy that lottery ticket....

Photographing the Wild Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

2009-09-01T07:46:00.016-06:00

This last weekend, August 29 & 30, 2009, I went to Theodore Grassland National Park , along with a good friend, Kristi McCoy, and her 9-year-old daughter, Katie. We planned on doing some extensive hiking to photograph the bands of wild horses and various wildlife found in the badlands of the park. Having never been in this area before, I had no idea what a treat we were in for! Being from the mountains of Wyoming, I don't get too excited driving through North Dakota...but this park is absolutely beautiful, and by visiting at this time of year, the crowds were nonexistent.

North Dakota sunrise

This blue roan subordinate young stud came out of a larger band to test his sparring skills with the black stud from a small band that was grazing nearby. They had a short skirmish before the sorrel stud from the band the roan was in came over and broke it up, sending the roan back to his band.

Sorrel stud sending the young roan stud back to the band; the roan is showing submission

The minute this blue roan stud saw us, he took his band and headed out!

This stud couldn't care less that we were there photographing him and his mares, but every time he would notice that we had come between him and the mares as they were grazing, he would nicker and trot over and mount this poor little filly, almost knocking her over! Then he would look at us as if to say, "See, they are MINE!", and go back to grazing.

Tender moment between a stud and his mare!

Sunrise on the Little Missouri River

Just as we came upon these two studs, the roan was chasing the paint away from the mare. The paint proceeded to cross the river and walk past us and off through the trees, but not before stopping to look back at his lost mare!

After a few minutes, the roan stud left his mare and proceeded to follow the paint stud, who was long gone. The roan crossed the river, had his nose to the ground, and was actually tracking the paint. He headed off through the trees with his nose on the ground heading the same direction the paint had gone, leaving his mare down by the river.

Subordinate stud who is not allowed into the herd

All of these images and many more can be viewed and purchased at Thompson Photography

The wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park are a managed herd and are culled annually to prevent excess growth, which leads to unhealthy herds, inbreeding, and starvation. The excess horses are available at public sale, with a sale upcoming in Dickinson, North Dakota, at the Stockmen's Livestock Exchange on the east side of Dickinson on October 23, 2009. For the person who has experience gentling wild, unhandled horses and has the facilities it takes to contain this type of horse until they are gentled, a wild horse can make an excellent companion. These horses are strong, gentle, and they have a strong herd instinct, so they grow very fond of human companionship. One excellent blog I have found for detailed information on these horses is Wild Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, written by a couple who have been logging information on the wild horses as volunteers for the park service since the 1980s.

Derek's Senior Shoot

2009-08-27T08:30:00.011-06:00

With the return of students to school, more and more parents (definitely the parents, because the guys anyway aren’t too fired up about it!), are starting to think about senior pictures.

Here is a small sample of images from my recent shoot with Derek.

Give me a call at 605-641-2335 or email at jmthompson@spe.midco.net if you are interested in booking a session for senior pictures. If you have a favorite location in mind, don't hesitate to suggest it! My session times are not limited, so if we have to drive all over the country to find your perfect location, we will do it! Chances are good in this area that I will find something along the way back home to photograph to add to my image library, and I love to drive! It is important to get your session booked early though, because fall is setting in, and the days ARE getting shorter!

Fresh Air Fund-Racers Raise Almost $80,000!!!!

2009-08-25T14:16:00.008-06:00

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! To the Fresh Air Fund-Racers who raced in the New York City Half-Marathon on August 16 and raised almost $80,000 for the Fresh Air Fund Programs for disadvantaged Yew York City children. Click here to learn more about the Fresh Air Fund Programs.

You can still donate to this year's runners by visiting this site: freshair.kintera.org.

Weekend in the Big Horn Mountains

2009-08-25T09:13:00.033-06:00

I was lucky enough to grow up in Story, Wyoming, with the beautiful Big Horn Mountains right in my backyard. With my husband also being from Wyoming, we both feel the call of the mountains, and every chance we get, we load up the truck and head west to the Big Horns. This past weekend we spent three days camped just below Cloud Peak Reservoir, and while my husband took care of his fishing addiction, I did a lot of hiking and exploring.

Penrose Trail

The first night, there was not a cloud in the sky, and with no moon, I was anxious to try shooting some star trails over Cloud Peak Reservoir. Tom wanted to do some fishing, so I convinced him to stay after dark with me so I wouldn't have to go the three miles back to camp by myself! While he fished, I hiked downstream to Flat Iron Lake, hoping to catch a moose in the lake.

Fishing in Cloud Peak Reservoir
Flat Iron Lake

South Piney Creek running out of Cloud Peak Reservoir, into Flat Iron Lake
Flat Iron Lake
By the time I made it back up to Cloud Peak Reservoir, it was about 8:00 PM, and night was starting to set in. I really wanted to get some star trails over Cloud Peak; unfortunately, that was the brightest part of the sky, and the last part for stars to show up! As we stood there on the dam and the darkness settled in around us, it was incredible watching sky slowly fill with stars! Away from town lights at an elevation of about 12,000 feet, it is amazing how clear that sky is! We sat in the dark and watched the stars and listened to the coyotes for about an hour while my camera did its thing. By then, with both us freezing, and an extremely rough ride ahead of us on the dark trail to get back to camp, we called it a night and headed back to camp and our warm sleeping bags!

Click on picture for enlarged view to see silhouette of Cloud Peak
I didn't quite get the results I wanted, but it was my first attempt and a very short exposure due to the cold, so hopefully next time I will do better!

Saturday Tom wanted to hike (I should say climb) into South Piney Lakes, but I didn't figure I would find any moose there, so I went the other way and hiked into Frying Pan Lake, hoping to run into a bull moose.

Trail to Frying Pan Lake

Didn't find any moose today, but I found out why when I got back to camp. Tom had ran into two other guys at Cloud Peak Reservoir when he got back down from South Piney Lakes. They told him they had seen my 4-wheeler parked at the top of the trail to Frying Pan and there was a cow moose and her calf about 20 feet from it! Guess I should have just taken a nap on my 4-wheeler for the afternoon!

After I got back to camp and had some dinner, I took my camera out to look for the moose that had been so far giving me the slip. Once again, I didn't find the moose, but found a cute little pika!

Just having some fun with my lens!
Our last day on the mountain, we hiked to "Wally Park", where my Dad used spend hours upon hours sitting in a pile of rocks during elk season, for as many years as I can remember. He was crippled with rheumatoid arthritis, so he would go to his "chair" in his rockpile to hunt. Everyone knew where Wally Park was and would stop by and visit and drink coffee with him. Not sure how much hunting actually went on, but my Dad sure looked forward to elk season every year!

My entire Big Horn Mountains photo gallery can be viewed at Thompson Photography. All of the images in the gallery are available in prints as well as a wide variety of gift items.

The Moon, Mars, and the International Space Station

2009-08-18T19:41:00.003-06:00

It was all a matter of being in the right place at the right time...and blind dumb luck! My husband was getting ready for work at about 4:30 this morning when he glanced out the bedroom doors and noticed that the moon and Mars were framed perfectly by the trees off of our deck. He delights in having a legitimate excuse to wake me up that early in the morning, so he of course told me I needed to set up my camera and get a picture because it looked really cool. I mumbled something about it probably still looking really cool in half an hour, and tried to go back to sleep. But within a couple of minutes, my curiosity had me out of bed and looking outside, and sure enough, the moon was absolutely gorgeous. So I grabbed my camera and tripod, threw on some sweats and slippers (my standard work attire!), and headed out onto the deck. For about the next 30 minutes, I proceeded to take a variety of exposures of the moon, but it wasn't until I got back to my office and downloaded my pictures that I realized that I had captured the International Space Station at about 5:10 this morning. Definitely worth getting out of bed for!

Thunderstorms During Rally Week

2009-08-17T20:48:00.006-06:00

Rally week during the Sturgis Rally this year brought some of the most incredible and severe thunderstorms I have seen in this area in a few years. Sure there has been a hail storm here and there with baseball-sized hail, but to have hail and lightning almost daily for several days in a row is not that common! Although I was busy working most of the time, I did manage to get out a couple of times with some friends, photographers Pat and Cindy Bonish of Every Miles a Memory, and my local storm fanatic friend, Kym Reis, and do some storm chasing!

This is the storm that passed through and nailed the Buffalo Chip with softball-sized hail and 70 mph winds.

Rainbow on the back of the storm
Mammatous clouds forming over Bear Butte following the thunderstorm

Glacier National Park - Day 4

2009-08-15T17:35:00.017-06:00

For those of you who have been following our Glacier National Park trip and have been left hanging in limbo...I finally got the pictures from Day 4 edited! I think this may have been my favorite day of all. We didn't see much in the way of wildlife, but we saw a lot of beautiful country and took about 300 pictures! And the best part was Tom cooking our anniversary dinner during a beautiful sunset on the top of Going to the Sun Road at Logan Pass!!! Okay, it was only a Cheddarwurst and a bag of chips...but in a setting like that, it could have a PB&J sandwich and I would have been happy!

We were both tired from hiking about 20 miles the last couple of days, so today we decided to go for a drive up the northwest side of the park, a very sparsely traveled area with a primitive, unmaintained dirt road going to Kintla Lake just south of the British Columbia border. The road went through about 30 miles of burned timber and was prime grizzly habitat, so we were hoping to possibly run across a bear since the area was so lightly traveled.

While Tom was still sleeping, I headed out bright and early to get a sunrise shot from just outside of our campground.

I headed back to the campground and Tom was ready to go, so we packed up camp and headed west back over Going to the Sun Road. One nice thing about camping in Glacier National Park is that when you leave camp, you have everything in your vehicle with you because due to the bears, nothing can be left in camp except the tent, so you always have your food, water, supplies, etc. Today we planned on stopping at all of the "tourist" stops along Going to the Sun road, which we had avoided throughout the holiday weekend due to the crowds. We came to the first stop, The Sunrift Gorge, which had previously been so packed with people there wasn't even a parking spot, and today we were the only people there!
The river running through Sunrift Gorge
The weeping wall going west over Going to the Sun Road

A glimpse of Heaven!
The view from the forest floor!
At least 60 miles of burn and fog...we never would have known if we did drive past a grizzly unless he ran in front of us!

Tom was laughing at me as I was sneaking up on these bucks and they kept going from tree to tree trying to hide from me. One finally decided just to show me how tough he was, and the other one was mouthing off!

One of the neatest tourist stops that we stopped at along the Going to the Sun road was the Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail. It was getting dark when we stopped, and very few people were left on the trail. I could have spent hours exploring on the boardwalk and well-maintained nature trail that winds through the massive cedars.

It was getting late, and we had to race up the side of the mountain (which was kind of fun in a 1-ton long-box crew cab truck!) to make it to the top of Logan Pass in time to catch the sunset, but Tom had promised me a sunset for our dinner, and we made it with just enough time to get my tripod set up! So while I happily snapped away, Tom slaved over a hot stove and prepared our gourmet anniversary/birthday dinner!

It was the perfect ending to finish out an absolutely perfect vacation!

The complete gallery from our trip to Glacier National Park can be viewed at Thompson Photography !

Adelyn Turns One Year Old!

2009-08-14T16:52:00.011-06:00

With all of the beautiful baby portraits I have been studying by photographers who dedicate themselves strictly to photographing babies and children, I have been anxious to see if I have what it takes to capture the personality and individualism of a baby! I got that chance when I received a call from Adelyn's mom, who was interested in some one-year photos of Adelyn. We made arrangements to meet at their family cabin south of Lead late last week. As luck would have it, Pat and Cindy Bonish of Everymilesamemory.com/Bonish Photography, were staying with us through the Sturgis Rally, and Pat volunteered to assist me for the shoot. After spending the morning shooting the pro division of the Jackpine Gypsies Hillclimb in Sturgis, we got cleaned up, jumped in the truck along with Cindy and our friend, Kym (who came along to make sure we found the cabin!), and headed for a beautiful drive south of Lead.

Although the weather was a little threatening, we couldn't have asked for more perfect light for an outdoor photo shoot, and the rain held off until we were done!

I think he has done this a time or two...

Thank you to Adelyn's family for giving me the opportunity to photograph your beautiful little girl! And a special thank you to Pat for all of the tips and wonderful advice you shared with me about portrait photography! Good luck and safe travels to you and Cindy while you continue on your adventure with Every Miles a Memory!!!

Rushmore Ramblers Motorcycle Club to Sponsor Poker Run

2009-08-13T14:06:00.004-06:00

On Sunday, August 23, 2009, the Rushmore Ramblers Motorcycle Club and many other generous donors will sponsor an annual poker run with all proceeds being used for the Northern Hills Forgotten Elderly Christmas Gifts.

The ride will begin with registration in Spearfish City Park from 9:30 to 11:30, with donuts and juice provided to kickstart the riders! The riders will then proceed on a scenic ride through the beautiful Black Hills with six stops throughout Spearfish Canyon, Ice Box Canyon, Vanocker Canyon, and Boulder Canyon. Riders will then return to Spearfish City Park for a dinner of sloppy joes, potato salad, and beverages, all provided by generous sponsors.

A silent auction will also be held with a variety of fabulous donated items, including many overnight motel stays throughout the Northern Hills, jewelry, a variety of motorcycle accessories, and many, many gift certificates.

click to enlarge poster
Even if you don't ride, come for the silent auction, some great food, and to enjoy an evening of fun in park with family and friends, all while supporting a great cause for the elderly of our community!

If you have any questions regarding the ride, contact Stan James at 641-4788 or 5043, or Scott Glatt at 722-5497.

Jen's Maternity Memories!

2009-08-09T11:54:00.004-06:00

With only about eight days to go before our close friend, Jen, was due to have her baby boy, it was time for some maternity shots! Having never done shots like this before, I really wanted the chance, but I also wanted them to be absolutely perfect for Jen, and I knew we weren't likely to get the chance for a re-shoot. Luckily, my husband and I just happen to have a fantastic couple staying with us who are extremely talented photographers! What a coincidence!! Pat was happy to volunteer to assist me, and immediately started coming up with some ideas for the shoot. When Jen called and said her and her mom were going to be in Spearfish that afternoon, we got ready for them to show up, while I sent my husband to the store for a few props. With the corner of my living room transformed into a makeshift "studio", Jen and her mom showed up and we got down to business! Although Pat was controlling the lighting, half the time I wonder if we actually needed it, as Jen was so excited, she was actually glowing!!!

Thank you, Jen, for placing your trust in me to record these precious memories for you! And I cannot thank Pat Bonish, of Pat Bonish Photography and Every Miles a Memory , enough for his assistance and expertise, as well as the loan of his equipment, which resulted in these wonderful memories for Jen and her family!