Thanksgiving in Wyoming

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

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!

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

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

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!