Piles of Taconite, a form of iron ore pellets used in the production of steel. Seen at the Algoma Steel Company plant located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada
Kathy & I are currently on a journey through cool, comfortable Michigan. We’ve visited a number of places so I’ll likely be posting images completely out of order as I get to them!
We recently visited Sault Sainte Marie, MI and did a boat cruise (never pass up a boat cruise!) on the Soo Locks. These piles of Taconite are used in the production of steel and were waiting alongside the Algona Steel Company on the St. Marys River. The black piles made me think of the opposite of something like White Sands, NM.
Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
We thought we had a pretty good idea what to expect. But when we rounded a curve and caught our first glimpse of the formations of Mammoth Hot Springs, our first thoughts were “is that snow???”
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
The first impression of Mammoth Hot Springs is that it can’t be real. It is so different from anything we’ve ever seen that it just doesn’t register. And when one gets closer it looks even stranger, as the patterns, colors and textures of the various deposits defy the logic of our memories.
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
After spending a little time studying the springs, it becomes a little more clear what is happening and why. Eventually it begins to make a little sense, although looking at these photos a month later I still have a hard time comprehending what I saw. It was quite an experience and one I’ll remember for a long time.
Canary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkDryad Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkMinerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkCanary Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkDryad Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkGrassy Spring at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkPalette Spring. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkView of the Mammoth Hotel and visitor complex from the Main Terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Bison in Snow. Yellowstone National Park near Biscuit Geyser Basin
Yesterday afternoon the thermometer on our patio (in the shade!) read 100 degrees. The month before we were taking a photography tour in Yellowstone. In the snow at 30 degrees!
Still processing photos and a bit behind, but couldn’t resist commenting on the temperature differential.
Stay cool, wherever you are! 😉
Pine trees in Snow. Kepler Cascades overlook, Yellowstone National Park near Old Faithful Inn
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
I’m kind of used to people looking at me funny when I am stooped over my tripod composing a scene instead of taking the ubiquitous ‘selfie’ with my phone. I was reminded of that while visiting the Mormon Row Historic area of Grand Teton National Park. While everyone else’s lenses were pointed at the Moulton Barns, I was facing the other way looking for compositions on the other side of the road.
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Kathy is often reminding me to “turn around.” But this time I remembered it on my own!
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
The Chapel of the Transfiguration is a small log chapel in Grand Teton National Park, in the community of Moose. The chapel was sited and built to frame a view of the Cathedral Group of peaks in a large window behind the altar. The chapel, which was built in 1925, is owned and operated by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson. The church is open daily, and still hosts services on Sunday. On the day of our visit, an organist was playing in the chapel.
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
The chapel was built to serve guests and employees of the dude ranches that stretched north of Jackson along the base of the Teton Range. The land was donated by Maud Noble, owner of nearby Menor’s Ferry, predating the establishment of Grand Teton National Park in 1929 and its expansion into the Moose area in 1950. The chapel played a primary role in the movie Spencer’s Mountain, which was filmed in Jackson Hole in 1963, and featured Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara.
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National ParkChapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
The chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1980.
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National ParkChapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS
Yes, I’m sort of working backwards through my (4,888!) photos from this trip, because there are so many from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. It’s gonna take me a while to get through them all!
Hoping for extra credit in Professor Curto’s History of Photography class 😉 Kathy & I visited Fort Scott, KS to see the Gordon Parks Museum. We had previously been to Fort Scott in 2020 to visit the Fort Scott National Historic Site, but the museum had been closed.
The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS
From the Museum website:
After Gordon Parks attended the first-ever Gordon Parks Celebration in 2004, he gifted the Gordon Parks Center with 30 of his photographs. This spectacular group includes many of his iconic works such as American Gothic, Tuskegee Airmen, Flavio, Ali Sweating, Ingrid Bergman on Stromboli and many others.
In 2006, after his death, his personal effects and other memorabilia, per Gordon’s wishes, were given to the Museum. This valuable collection included many of his awards and medals, personal photos, paintings and drawings of Gordon, plaques, certificates, diplomas and honorary doctorates, selected books and articles, clothing, record player, tennis racquet, magazine articles, his collection of Life magazines and much more.
Since that time, more gifts have been given by his family and friends such as his camera, gifted by his daughter Toni Parks; his film camera and tripod, donated by his son David Parks; a collection of photographs of Gordon donated by Patricia DuBose Duncan, and much more. These gifts have made this collection substantive and significant and we are proud of Gordon’s faith in us to preserve and protect his legacy.
The museum houses a nice collection of Parks memorabilia, including a number of prints, some cameras, numerous awards and displays chronicling Parks’ life and work. I knew him as a photographer and film maker but didn’t realize that he was also a talented musician, composer, writer and poet.
Photos of Gordon Parks on display at The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSSelected prints of Gordon Parks’ photographs. The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSSelected prints of Gordon Parks’ photographs. The Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSThe Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSThe Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSThe Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSThe Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSThe Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSThe Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KSThe Gordon Parks Museum at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS
Prairie Dogs at Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado
After our two weeks exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, we started our journey home with a quick stop in Fort Collins, CO to see our buddy Monte. We packed a lot into a little over a day!
Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, ColoradoMonte photographing at Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado
 Monte met us at our motel and we had fun catching up over a nice dinner. The next morning while Kathy slept in, I met Monte at Pine Ridge Natural Area, one of his usual haunts. After an hour or so of burning pixels, we retreated to Cups, one of Monte’s regular coffee shops.
Salsify blossom. Pine Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins, Colorado
We went our separate ways for the rest of the morning, then met up after lunch for a drive out to the Pawnee National Grassland just east of Fort Collins. High winds from an approaching storm system made for challenging conditions on the ground but gifted us with some very interesting skies.
Interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoInteresting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoInteresting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoInteresting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoInteresting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoInteresting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoInteresting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoMonte photographing the interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, Colorado
We had a second dinner before signing off and getting packed up for the rest of the journey home. It was great to see Monte again and catch up in person instead of just virtually through our blogs!
View of the Teton Range from Mormon Row Historic District, Grand Teton National Park
We wrapped up our western swing with a 2 day visit to Jackson, WY and Grand Teton National Park. This is a classic view of the Teton Range from an area called the Mormon Row Historic District. The photo is a bit of a cliche but I can’t imagine a photographer passing it by. Some photographs just need to be taken! We had some pretty nice clouds on this day, which helps a lot.
Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a beautiful location, where the Yellowstone River has carved a magnificent canyon with several waterfalls. We were fortunate to time a visit to Artist Point to photograph a rainbow that occurs at the Lower Falls at certain times of the year.
Artist Point was originally named in 1883 by Frank Jay Haynes who improperly believed that the point was the place at which painter Thomas Moran sketched his 1872 depictions of the falls. Later work determined that the sketches were made from the north rim, but the name Artist Point stuck.
