Blog

For the past six or seven years, I've tagged along with my husband the last week in October as he heads to Green Mountain in Western Wyoming to prepare for his annual elk hunt. One week before he starts his hunt, I go with him to help set up camp and to capture some photos of the wild horses in the area and to enjoy the peace and quiet before the area is flooded with hunters wearing "hunter orange", camouflage, and carrying guns.

October of 2014 was a particularly good time to photograph the horses. The weather was perfect! And the horses were near our camp every day. A photographers paradise!

One evening, as we were scouting the area for elk, a beautiful band of wild horses came into view. As they noticed us, they trotted off out of sight...only to reappear a few minutes later over the nearby ridge. I had my camera ready and was so thankful to capture this image as they stopped at the top of the ridge.

If you have never had the opportunity to watch wild horses, it's a sight to behold. Majestic in their beauty and strength...awe inspiring in their gentle, protective nature of each other. Difficult to express in words.

In the late spring of 2014, I had seen two mule deer fawns with their mother quite often in the same general area on our Casper Mountain property. Unfortunately, though, they'd run off without giving me the chance to capture them with my camera.

After a few weeks, I decided to take a hike and look for the fawns. With camera in hand, I walked to the area where I had seen them. Several tracks were found, but no fawns. Hiking roughly three miles, and almost giving up the search, I decided to go to our meadow and take photos of the vast assortment of wildflowers that had bloomed after a recent wildfire. Just as I came over a slight incline, there in the wildflowers and grass, I spotted one of the fawns. Kneeling down, I was able to snap one quick image before the little guy ran off. He stayed put just long enough for me to get one image...the one you see here. I was happy with that.

Being a photographer plus holding down a full-time "day job", I find it difficult at times to have the hours I want to devote to my passion of Photography. So, with the arrival of springtime and nicer weather, I have been taking what I call "Lunchtime Nature Therapy."

Here in Casper, Wyoming, I am fortunate enough to live where there is plenty of nature to photograph within five or ten minutes from the office of my "day job". Whether it's a pond, river, mountain, wetland, or waterfall...I can generally reach it in five or ten minutes on my lunch break. Therefore...with my camera in hand...including my iPhone camera...I have been taking several photos during a nice relaxing hike or walk on my lunch break at least four or five times a week.

There's so much out there to see...if we just take the time to notice. You, too, can take a "Lunchtime Nature Therapy" break. Even if it's just a walk around the block. I encourage you to do it. You'll be glad you did.

Here are a few photos I've taking during my "Lunchtime Nature Therapy" in just the past couple weeks.