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Photographing prairie dogs

Photographing prairie dogs

Marty’s photo of the day #4110: Last month, in the American Prairie Reserve, I shot almost one hundred prairie dog photos. Ultimately, I will only post two or three of them. Many photos are nearly identical, but since I never use a tripod, a close inspection of a series of shots may have one where […]

Walking on water

Walking on water

Marty’s photo of the day #4107: In this photo Nellie and I have a difference of opinion: I’m trying to teach her how to walk on water, but she’d rather we play with the great stick she found! (Photographed on the Judith River in the American Prairie Reserve)

Pronghorns and antelopes

Pronghorns and antelopes

Marty’s photo of the day #4105: Pronghorns, bison, and coyotes were animals Deb and I saw in both parts of our split American Prairie Reserve (Montana) and Antelope Island (Utah) vacation last month. Of course, the animal in today’s photo, correctly called a pronghorn in Montana, would commonly be called an antelope on Antelope Island. […]

Flowers along the Judith River

Flowers along the Judith River

Marty’s photo of the day #4104: I photographed these unusual flowers last month, along the Judith River in the American Prairie Reserve (Montana). Note that they have both green and purplish petals. My wife and I went through multiple books and websites that featured Montana wildflowers and couldn’t come up with an ID, but I […]

High prairie view

High prairie view

Marty’s photo of the day #4101: The prairie is not always flat. I shot this photo last month in the American Prairie Reserve of Montana. Deb (wife), Nellie (dog), and I hiked rolling prairie that climbed up to this magical spot, where we could overlook a valley that we had all to ourselves. The only […]

Dad! Dad! I can herd them!

Dad! Dad! I can herd them!

Marty’s photo of the day #4100: “This is the moment I’ve been training for, Dad! I can herd them. Just tell me where you want them to go!”—Nellie Since Nellie is one-half Australian cattle dog, she practices herding me all the time. But with real live range cows in the American Prairie Reserve, she really, […]

Little Dog on the Prairie

Little Dog on the Prairie

Marty’s photo of the day #4094: “The Little Dog on the Prairie.” Okay, at 58 pounds, Nellie is more of a medium-to-large-sized-dog, but you get the point. I shot this photo during a long hike in the American Prairie Reserve, after Deb and I discovered that Nellie could successfully dodge all the cactus and gave […]

Nellie and the prickly pear

Nellie and the prickly pear

Marty’s photo of the day #4092: Two years ago, before Deb’s and my first visit to the American Prairie Reserve (now officially called “American Prairie”) in central Montana, we were concerned about our newly adopted dog, Nellie, stepping on the cactus there. So months ahead of time, we patiently tried to get Nellie used to […]

Frogs, frogs, everywhere!

Frogs, frogs, everywhere!

Marty’s photo of the day #4090: There is probably not a better sign of a healthy ecosystem than an abundance of frogs. When I was in the American Prairie Reserve of central Montana earlier this month, I spotted more frogs along the Judith River than I had spotted at any time since I was about […]

The half-moon shot

The half-moon shot

Marty’s photo of the day #4089: When visiting the American Prairie Reserve earlier this month, Deb, Nellie, and I spent all five of our evenings there, lying on our backs, drinking adult beverages, and watching the stars. (Well, as responsible parents, Deb and I didn’t actually let our dog, Nellie, have any of the adult […]

Rolling in cow shit

Rolling in cow shit

Marty’s photo of the day #4086: Remember the children’s stories about leprechauns and how they’d disappear if you blinked? Nellie has the same power when it comes to cow poop. Of all the dogs I’ve had over the years, Nellie rolls in shit less than any of them, so when she does it, she makes […]

This year’s prairie dog

This year’s prairie dog

Marty’s photo of the day #4085: During last year’s vacation at the American Prairie Reserve (in central Montana), I was able to capture some outstanding prairie dog images. Midway through this year’s five-day-stay, I was getting discouraged. The prairie dogs seemed more skittish than the previous year—although having Nellie, a very active actual dog with […]

Walking on water

Walking on water

Marty’s photo of the day #4083: Nellie thinks I can walk on water, and I think she can walk on water too. And when you both believe—anything can happen! My wife, Deb, shot this photo of Nellie and me a little over a week ago, at the American Prairie Reserve in central Montana. We were […]

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl

Marty’s photo of the day #4082: Our vacation is over . . . sigh. First, Deb (wife), Nellie (dog), and I spent six days in the American Prairie Reserve of central Montana. There we stayed in a remote yurt, with no running water, no phone, no internet, and limited solar power. It was awesome! Then […]