2412_1829 Wild Prairie in Winter
It wasn't a dark and stormy night; rather, a mild winter day with light sublime. About an hour after photographing a bison herd in the Frenchman River Valley (see yesterday's post), we made it to the southernmost extent of drivable roads in the park. That was not guaranteed, as the remote roads often get clogged with snow in winter. But not yet. We were ecstatic.
Not solo this time, I was with my pal Madonna, the writer, and my buddy George, the videographer. We are all similarly attuned to prairie nuances and we all feel a deep connection to the land - so the company could not have been better. We wandered separately for a bit, and when I caught up with Madonna, she said, "You have to come and see the view over here." I had stood on this spot many times, but it's always different.
Evening was upon us. Last light of the day. We could see for miles in the clear air. This is the view south, across the border hills, toward Montana. The air temperature was hovering around the freezing mark - quite balmy for a winter day on the Canadian prairie. Being outside was not at all uncomfortable. A fantastic evening!
We drove home slowly in the dark, not wanting to hit an animal. Coyotes wailed, mule deer were everywhere, and there were occasional cottontails and hares, one badger, and a raccoon that ran ahead of my car for a while before finally deciding to head to the ditch for safety. Stars spangled the dark sky. A perfect close to a perfect day.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2024 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2412_1829 Wild Prairie in Winter
It wasn't a dark and stormy night; rather, a mild winter day with light sublime. About an hour after photographing a bison herd in the Frenchman River Valley (see yesterday's post), we made it to the southernmost extent of drivable roads in the park. That was not guaranteed, as the remote roads often get clogged with snow in winter. But not yet. We were ecstatic.
Not solo this time, I was with my pal Madonna, the writer, and my buddy George, the videographer. We are all similarly attuned to prairie nuances and we all feel a deep connection to the land - so the company could not have been better. We wandered separately for a bit, and when I caught up with Madonna, she said, "You have to come and see the view over here." I had stood on this spot many times, but it's always different.
Evening was upon us. Last light of the day. We could see for miles in the clear air. This is the view south, across the border hills, toward Montana. The air temperature was hovering around the freezing mark - quite balmy for a winter day on the Canadian prairie. Being outside was not at all uncomfortable. A fantastic evening!
We drove home slowly in the dark, not wanting to hit an animal. Coyotes wailed, mule deer were everywhere, and there were occasional cottontails and hares, one badger, and a raccoon that ran ahead of my car for a while before finally deciding to head to the ditch for safety. Stars spangled the dark sky. A perfect close to a perfect day.
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2024 James R. Page - all rights reserved.