Slickrock and Shadow

Barren Winter:  yellow stubble for grass and a hidden sun A winter visit to Montana afforded me an opportunity to shoot my little remote cabin in subzero temperatures.  Wind and rain made things cold indeed.  The large cloud did not however spoil the sunset because some golden yellow rays came down between the cloud and the mountains.  Grass was short, dead, awaiting summer temperatures to revive.  

Buachaille Etive Mor with Tall Grass Buachaille Etive Mor is a spectacular landscape, an icon for the entire country of Scotland.  This particular mountain is so unique in its triangular shape as it stands over the Glencoe Valley.  There are few things that are more Scottish than this to a photographer.  The best views are from the South and East which means sunrise is the best time.  I woke up very early in order to visit the Black rock cottage first.  Then I had enough time to go into the fields around the mountain itself, getting a lot closer to it.  Beautiful tiny white flowers are visible in my second shot.  If you click on the shot and get a larger view, these are easier to see and I think they landed nice contrast to the massive mountain in the distance. Buachaille Etive Mor Triangular Shape Black Rock Cottage with Buachaille Etive Mor in background

Yant Flat Sunrise Bursting over Candy Cliffs Yant Flat at sunrise is a dream come true.  The sandstone colors glow in the morning rays of sunshine.  Winter is the best time here because of the southern exposure of this sandstone slope.  I drove out in complete darkness.  I began hiking with headlamp but was able to turn it off after about 45 minutes of walking/hiking because light began filling the sky. Yant Flat is a broad area.  Like White Pocket or Coyote Buttes, you can explore and discover new things in several directions, some quite far away from the main section.  My destination was the so-called "Candy Cliffs" located east and lower than the main area.  I've also heard this called "rainbow ridge."  Hiking down these cliffs is a bit treacherous because there are no trails and some steps are steep and irregular.  Ankle sprains are the type of injury easy to incur.  Using my tripod as a walking stick, I made it down here with...