Blackfoot River Rainbow Bend–the Story Behind the Shot
Missoula County, Montana
A Winter’s Tale: Capturing Montana’s Blackfoot River on New Year’s Day
Photography is often about being in the right place at the right time, and sometimes, those moments find you, even on the Blackfoot River.
January 1, 2018, began like many winter mornings in Montana: cold, crisp, and breathtakingly beautiful. My partner Kevin and I had just wrapped up a wonderful holiday visit with friends in Seeley Lake. After days filled with laughter and cozy gatherings by the fire, it was time to head back home. Little did I know the journey would offer me the perfect opportunity to capture one of my favorite photographs.
We set off from Seeley Lake, navigating snow-laden roads under a soft gray sky. Deep tire tracks carved into the snow were evidence of Montana’s winter grit. The trees lining the road were dusted with snow, resembling something out of a holiday card. With my camera bag tucked safely in the back, I hadn’t planned to stop for photos—until fate intervened.
Seeley Lake, Montana
Trouble on the way
About halfway through our drive, traffic came to a halt on Highway 200. Ahead, emergency vehicles from the Missoula Rural Fire Department, along with tow trucks, an ambulance, and highway patrol cars, blocked the road. A serious traffic accident had left the highway impassable. As responders worked tirelessly to clear the scene, Kevin and I, along with a growing line of cars, waited. Hours passed.
Rather than sit idle, I grabbed my Nikon D810, knowing that moments like this often hide their own kind of beauty. Stepping into the crisp, biting air, I began to explore the area.
At Rainbow Bend, the Blackfoot River curved elegantly, its icy banks glowing faintly under a fading sun. This stretch of water, immortalized in Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It, carried a tranquil stillness even in the midst of winter’s grip. Using my Sigma 50mm lens, I framed the scene, letting the river lead the eye through a forest blanketed in snow. The contrast of the golden light on the far hillside against the deep blues of the icy river was mesmerizing. I set my camera to ISO 200, aperture f/6.3, and shutter speed 1/320th of a second. I relied on Shutter Priority mode and pattern metering to balance the dynamic light conditions.
Click.
The Photo Itself
The moment felt timeless, the river carrying both the past and the present in its flow. The photograph was captured as a RAW file, ensuring I could preserve its depth and detail during post-processing. Later, in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, I brought out the rich blues of the river, the warm glow of the sunlight, and the intricate textures of the snow-laden trees.
As the hours wore on, the responders managed to clear the accident scene, and we continued our journey. Darkness had fully descended by the time we reached home. But the day wasn’t done offering its gifts. With the full moon high in the sky, I couldn’t resist stepping outside one last time to capture its luminous glow—a fitting end to an unexpected adventure.
Looking back, I’m reminded of the unpredictability of life and the moments of beauty it offers when you least expect them. This photograph, taken in the midst of a delay, has become a favorite not just for its visual appeal but for the story behind it—a New Year’s Day I’ll never forget.
To read about another fraught trip home from Seeley Lake, read Introducing Jacqueline.
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