Here’s a bit of a throwback I found as I was going through my archives yesterday. This was an amazing morning we had on Swiftcurrent Lake while I was working with Ken Burns on his National Parks film in Glacier National Park. It was a real privilege to be involved with such an important project and film about our National Parks and also to work with such an incredibly talented group of people.
Fall Colors Montana
Fall has arrived in Montana. Where will you be heading this month?
This shot was taken on my way up the Seeley-Swan Valley a couple year’s back. The lone larch separated from shore was illuminated by late evening light being filtered through the clouds. With the passing clouds, I was patient and waited until just the right moment when they shaded the background and lit up the larch, providing a much more dramatic shot and isolating the tree.
Canon 5d MarkII, 70-200mm 2.8L, ISO100 f8 1/45
Pro Fall Color Hot Spots
Check out “Pro Fall Color Hot Spots” in this month’s issue of Outdoor Photographer to find out where this favorite fall Montana hot spot of mine is located.
http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/pro-fall-color-hot-spots.html
Where in Montana?
Every Wednesday I do a “Where in Montana” post on my facebook page. Winner gets a signed print and props for their awesome knowledge of Montana geography. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Savage-Photography/182683738430817?ref=hl to leave your guess in the comments section. I announce the winner at the end of the day.
Park Lake
Park Lake. © Jason Savage
Noticed my blog posts are starting to space out some…Here are a few shots from close to home. In all the years I’ve lived in Helena, I’ve never photographed Park Lake, which is just about twenty miles south,back in the mountains. Pretty lake and great spot close to town. One thing that is apparent up there is the beetle kill has ravaged most of the trees around the lake. It’s an unfortunate epidemic in the west and especially around this part of Montana. Hopefully we will see a decline here soon.
On a plus note, fall is definitely here and looking fantastic. I hope to have some fall photography shots in the next week or two, so stay tuned…
Park Lake. © Jason Savage
Park Lake. © Jason Savage
Park Lake. © Jason Savage
Spring Birds
Great Blue Heron. © Jason Savage
Out paddling at the Holding Reservoir near Helena last night, I was glad to see the Blue Heron Rookery busy and lots of new babies. The Canada Geese have also hatched some of their young and they were busy with the cute little ones around the lake.
This time of year is great to be out with no Mosquitoes and quiet traffic on the water. Now with the weather improving, it’s a great time for a paddle.
Canada Goose Eggs. © Jason Savage
Helena Holding Reservoir. © Jason Savage
Seeley Lake Photography Workshop
Rainy Lake.© Jason Savage
Just got back from a fall photography workshop I was teaching in Seeley Lake and boy was it a beautiful weekend. The weather was on our side and even gave us some nice bits of light here and there.
No fall colors yet to be found. The record cold temps we had last week have killed off most of the leaves and they’re just a dead brown color. The only trees baring any color were the Tamaracks and we found some nice patches of them in the higher country above Seeley Lake.
Tamaracks.© Jason Savage
The Tamracks or Larch as you may know them, look to be still en-route to their brilliant golden orange, but are a couple weeks behind schedule. Usually this time of year up in the Seeley Lake area, these trees are at their peak and displaying a magnificent scene of fall color. If you’re able to make it up in the next week or two, you should have a really nice show.
I was reminded on the workshop that even without all of the usual fall colors, there is still always something to photograph in Montana. We had some great light, beautiful weather and some fantastic looking Tamaracks. It was a great weekend to be tromping around Seeley Lake.