Snow and Sun, Deer Creek
One of my favorite activities is trekking around this valley’s mountains - off the trail. Today the destination was the Deer Creek drainage in the Sawtooth National Forest. With Franconia in tow, Mike and I looped up a small ridge approach and down a nice deep gulch. The snow was deep, light and untouched. Franconia loved it.
Sugarplum Fairy and Prince
The dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is likely the most well-known part of the Nutcracker. (Sun Valley Ballet, 2008)
Clara and the Nutcracker
Clara receives her Nutcracker from Herr Drosselmeyer during the Christmas eve party. (Sun Valley Ballet, 2008)
Children, Stahlbaum’s Christmas Party
This little girl didn’t like my look – but I adored hers. (Sun Valley Ballet, 2008)
Snow Queen, The Nutcracker
At the end of Act I, the Snow Queen and the Prince usher Clara into the world of the Sugar Plum Fairy. (performed by the Sun Valley Ballet, 2008)
Sun Valley Ballet’s Nutcracker
Last December I had the chance to photograph Sun Valley Ballet‘s performance of the Nutcracker. I grew up dancing, and for me the Nutcracker is one of those traditions that really symbolizes the holidays. Over the next day or two I will be sharing a handful of images from last year’s performance.
Mt Massive, Silhouette
I truly believe there is a benefit to looking back through image archives. This image is one of my favorites from 2004, when I was working for the Colorado Fourteener’s Initiative on Mt Massive. It was captured with a 2MP digital camera – which was pretty hot cheese in 2004.
Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain, Skinning
“Skinning” is the act of hiking in snow on skis with backcountry bindings and skins. Today I skinned up Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain. The day was overcast, and I like how there is thin definition between sky and snow.
Ireland
You’ll have to excuse me, I’m currently finding my archives an interesting place to hang out. This image, taken in Ireland in 2003, was scanned from a film negative.
Flooding, Housatonic
I came across this shot in my archives today. In March 2008 the Housatonic River in Sheffield, Massachusetts overwhelmed it’s banks and flooded low-laying fields. This image was published in Northern Woodlands magazine.
Light Splash
I captured this image for 31ish, but had to share it here. I am so intrigued by how it turned out that I’m excited to experiment with the idea more.
Franconia, Slaughterhouse Canyon
I did a lot of activities this weekend which didn’t lend themselves to carrying a camera. The valley received a fresh coat of snow, and the temperatures finally rose to above 20 degrees. This afternoon I headed to Slaughterhouse Canyon for a dog walk, and caught this shot of Franconia running happily in the new snow.
Aspen and Tetons
This concludes my multi-day postings on my time in Jackson. This image was taken from the Gros Ventre, and I can just image how it’d look with the aspens in their fall foliage. Perhaps another trip in September?
Frozen River, Tetons
I photographed this section of the Gros Ventre River while cruising through the Tetons on Saturday. I find the patterns beautiful.
Lemhi at Palisades
My dogs is incredible. Everyone thinks that about their own dog, but Lemhi just makes me laugh. If I have my camera up to my face he seems to know exactly what pose I want each time. Image captured at Palisades Reservoir outside of Alpine, Wyoming.
(Diverson) Big Wood River, Hailey
In a slight diversion from my Jackson posts, here is an image taken this morning along the Big Wood River in Hailey. The temperature continues to be frigid – negative 5 degrees before wind chill – which caused steam from the “warm” water to rise. This image is also posted on the water challenge for 31ish.
The Sun, Palisades
Living in Sun Valley, where almost every day is full of dazzling blue sky and sun, clouds are a welcome sight. Particularly when those clouds allow you to photograph directly at the sun. This misty vapor hung high in the atmosphere while driving through Palisades.
The Wedding Tree
The wedding tree outside of Kelly, Wyoming is the place that Mike and I hope we’d get married. That is not to be the case – we have decided to have the wedding in New Hampshire – but I always love visiting this particular spot.
Burn, Teton National Forest
This intentionally long-exposured shot is composed of burnt pine trees on a snowy hillside. Burn areas can’t help but draw attention with their bare, black trees contrasted against freshly fallen snow. I found this hillside south of Hoback Juntion in the Teton National Forest.
Gros Ventre River
The weather in Jackson this weekend was absolutely frigid, and as such the rivers were rapidly freezing. I took this image on the Gros Ventre River to the sacrifice of my fingers – which took their time in regaining feeling. I can’t help but love the turquoise reflections of silt in ice-fed water.
Warm Springs, Kelly
This warm spring pool is located just north of Kelly, Wyoming. I couldn’t resist it’s rising steam and vivid greens with a Teton backdrop (as the wind was blowing into my face during this shot, the steam isn’t visible). It seems that a pool this warm is a dumping ground for tank fish – it was full of goldfish and other aquarium species that certainly didn’t arrive there via evolution.
Jackson Hole
A spontaneous trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, filled my weekend. It was a chilly two days, with the temperature never rising much above 5 degrees. Over the next few days I’ll post images from this very frigid adventure.
