Blog | Alex Strickland

Lots of driving, some mediocre weather and a lot of fun in the Greatest State in the Union.

I’ve always thought that the highest honor that a place could have is simply becoming “The”. Growing up, my family had a house at “The River” and took our boat on on “The Lake”, no further explanation required. Well, for people in Montana, Yellowstone is simply The Park. It was a lot of fun to get to spend a bit of time there (and Grand Teton) last weekend. A couple of photos from the trip. More post-production that usual, as I try out a few new workflow options.

Glacier National Park was signed into existence by President William Howard Taft 100 year ago today. I had the incredibly good fortune to live at Glacier’s doorstep for two years and not far away at all for another 5. Truly, it’s one of the most awe inspiring places on earth. Below are a few of my modest images of the park from my time there. But for some truly spectacular photos, visit my friend Chris Peterson’s blog here (and subscribe to his magazine, while you’re at it). Chris is the photographer for the Hungry Horse News in Columbia Falls, Montana, and — more than anyone else I can think of — is really the park’s modern-day visual historian.

It’s been 3 weeks now since I left Montana for Salt Lake City (hence the longer-than-usual update delay), but I’ve just now found the time to look back a bit. Things were a blur as I raced to get out of town, but the last 24 hours I was in Montana I tried , as much as time allowed, to make a final few images that captured a little bit of the place. As usual, it took no talent, as my favorite place in the world put on quite a show for me before I left.

Can’t say I was in a good mindset to shoot, but it is fun to watch a rodeo.

Strangely cool and wet for August around these parts. But things like this make me realize how much I’ll miss Montana.

Covering the 4th of July is easy. Taking a photo for a 4th of July preview story was not as easy, especially with business at the local fireworks stands reduced to pretty much nil. Also, you’ll be pleased to know I did not crash my bike while taking the second shot.

Last, my good friend Lido took a photo of a sailboat on Flathead Lake last year that I absolutely love. While extolling the shot’s virtues in my office recently, someone said that it must have been heavily photoshopped. To prove to this individual that it was not (and to try to shamelessly recreate the shot) I went down to the lake in the late evening and shot a similar (though not as good) photo. Sure enough, the blue light is all there all by itself.

Can’t believe it’s come around again already…

Bigfork’s annual fesival of beer… err, I mean kayaking. Yeah, kayaking.

A friend laughed when I told her I was doing a photo story about Easter eggs (Jessica, you know who you are). But nonetheless, there it is…