John Batdorff Photography

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Reflecting in Yellowstone

August 17, 2015 by John Batdorff 1 Comment

I have great affection for the West which is renewed with every trip I make to Montana. Even after 20 years of visiting Montana, I’m still caught off guard by it’s vastness and endless beauty. I never truly understood why people referred to Montana as Big Sky country until I saw it with my own eyes for the first time.

The large, open, mountain fields…

Big Sky Country

The sweeping vistas…

Montana Mountain Vistas

Montana Mountain Vistas

There are places, while in disrepair, feel as authentic and isolated as they probably did 100 years ago.

Old Ranches left vacant

Old Ranches left vacant

There's a ruggedness to the land and the way people lived. Before “tiny home” became a buzzword,  a smaller homestead was a reality born of necessity.

Three Dollar Ranch Cabin

Three Dollar Ranch Cabin

Then there's the  famous 3 Dollar Bridge in Madison County where I first learned to fly fish on the Madison River some 20 years ago with my best friend Monte.

Three Dollar Bridge, MT

Three Dollar Bridge, MT

But in the end what draws me back to Montana is Yellowstone National Park. It has an illusion of simplicity, but in reality nothing is simple in Yellowstone. It's a complex ecosystem that pushes and pulls to find its balance.

Reflecting in Yellowstone

Reflecting in Yellowstone

It’s this balance that I envy as it serves as a reminder that my own creativity can only thrive when family, friends, and work are in balance.

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Filed Under: General, Travel

Comments

  1. Romus says

    August 18, 2015 at 1:29 am

    I love the openness of your black and white photos here. Each tells me a story of how nature wins out in the end regardless of what marks humans makes on the land. Thank you

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