Photography From the First Week in January
As I have the past few weeks, today I am posting five photographs from the first week in January. These photos date from 2007 through 2019, covering most of the range to date of my photography. I hope you enjoy the show. Should you see any image that truly speaks to you, all five are available in a variety of formats on my Red Bubble sales gallery. The images and their captions link to that gallery. You can revisit my photography from the fourth week in December here.
A Faded Rose From Days Gone By: A Rose From the First Week in January
One of the advantages of living on the northern California coast is the ability to photograph roses in January. I have several beautiful images of roses in full bloom from my father’s rose gardens, but this one speaks to me. The rust on the petals puts me in mind of Delta Dawn and her wedding gown. Somewhat dingy, and definitely past its prime, but none-the-less out there for everyone to see and admire. If only for her courage.
Rattlesnake Creek in January
Formerly the principal water source for the city of Missoula, Montana. But after numerous cases of Giardia showed up among Missoulians, the city stopped using this creek. It flows out of the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area, and there are several hiking trails in the canyon and beyond. In the winter, the area becomes a favorite spot for cross-country skiing. It was at the end of a day of skiing, that I took this photo using a Nikon Coolpix L3 camera–my first Nikon digital camera. As you can see, it was a beautiful day to be outdoors during the first week of January.
The Milwaukee Caboose, Alberton, Montana
January 3rd, 2010, found me in Alberton, Montana. Alberton was built as a railroad town for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad–AKA The Milwaukee Road. The Milwaukee was unusual in American railroads in that for over 400 miles across central and western Montana and northern Idaho, the road was electrified. Unfortunately, the railroad ran into financial difficulties in the early 1970s, and by 1980, the western lines were abandonned. Idaho and Washington State are making rail-trails out of the old road bed, but Montana did not have the foresight to do that. Still, towns where the railroad played an important role have memorialized the line in city parks across Montana, including here in Alberton.
Now That’s What I Call a Coffee Pot
What part of water tower don’t you understand. Just because someone in Spirit Lake decided to dress up their water tower, doesn’t mean that coffee comes spewing out. But it sure does look like a coffee pot, don’t ya think? One of the photographs taken during the first week of January, 2012, when my cousin Ron and I were heading back to Missoula from the coast. When I saw this, I just had to stop and take the shot. Wouldn’t you?
The Old Charlo Grain Elevator–Taken During the First Week of January 2019.
One of my favorite subjects, grain elevators are ubiquitous around the Midwest and West. Many of them are no longer in use, but still stand sentinel over the farming communities they served for many years. The trains no longer run through Charlo, Montana, and there’s no new grain in this elevator. But still it stands, shining against the backdrop of the Mission Mountains during the first week of January, 2019.
In Closing
I hope you have enjoyed these five photographs, at least as much as I enjoyed taking and sharing them. Again, if any speak to you, visit my Red Bubble sales gallery and see all the great products you can find with these images. And if there’s anything in particular you’d like to see or have me address, please leave me a comment. I promise to get back to you. Till the next time,
TTFN
