photography

The View From Here

20 Apr posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

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It snowed all day yesterday, and by the looks of things this morning, another couple inches (at least) overnight.

Here’s what it looks like this morning:

This photo is brought to you, courtesy of Instagr.am and my new iPhone. The phone gets turned on tomorrow, so in the meantime, I’m making it mine, and getting used to the interface. It’s just as cool, if not cooler than the droid I’ve had since January.

I know that I mentioned on Friday I would have lots of blogs this week, but the best laid plans…There’s lots to share and say and photos to see, but I am behind so I don’t know where to start. Just be patient. There’s calving photos and snow photos and icy river photos, and running horses, just to name a few. There’s a shredded beef, green chili enchilada recipe to share as well, so you can see that there’s plenty of fodder. I just gotta take the time.

Happy Hump Day and Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: photography, ranching, winter weather

A Photo Contest

19 Apr posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Last week I entered a photography contest at Beef Magazine, for Calves and Cowboys. The photo I entered won’t come as any surprise to y’all:

Needless to say I was thrilled to have been selected as a finalist!

Now, what I need you to do is go vote!

And by the way- you know that old saying, “April showers bring May flowers?” I think it’s probably true but here in South Dakota this week it has been “snow” showers instead of rain!

Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: art, photography

Spring Contest

5 Apr posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Ok folks.

I promised I’d get this done yesterday and then, well, life just got away from me! So here I am! I’ve decided that I had so much fun with the last contest, I’m going to do another one! This one might be even better, because I am going to give away THREE (3) 11×14 prints of your choice from the photos you can see here. And if a photo you’ve seen on the blog isn’t at that site and you want it, just let me know what photo it is and we’ll get ‘er done!

There will be 3 winners total, and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment here (on this post- and I’ll even make it sticky for the week), say hello to me on my Facebook Page, or mention me on Twitter (@thesdcowgirl) using the twitter hashtag #sdcowgirlspring. I am not going to run this contest through Facebook, as they have some rather interesting rules for contests, but if you drop by and write on my wall (To say How MUCH you LOVE me!) beginning today, I will count those entries. And, if you invite your friends to drop by, just tell them to tell me who sent them, and you’ll both get an entry. The person with the most entries is going to get something (I’ve not decided what yet- and I’m open to ideas) so you really have 4 ways to win! Awesome, right? The contest will close at noon on Friday and winners will be announced Monday. I’ve got a busy, busy weekend, folks.

In the meantime, I photographed this cute bird the other day and I’d love to know what kind it is!

Happy Trails and Happy Tuesday!

XOXO

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Filed Under: contests, photography

After All These Years

31 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

My parents were nice enough, ~~or rather I twisted their arm~~, er um, talked them into doing some portraits while I was “home”. They haven’t had any photos of just the two of them in several years and last year was their 35th wedding anniversary. My dad still looks at my mom with love in his eyes and she does the same to him. It’s sickeningly sweet in a good way of course, because who wouldn’t desire to have what they have? They still sit on the couch and hold hands.

The following are some of my favorite shots from the afternoon.

I don’t know what dad said here and mom said I didn’t want to know. Yeah, she’s probably right!

I was giving mom a hard time about something here:

Yes, they’re still in love. Ain’t Life Grand?

Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: family, photography

Cute Kids

30 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I mentioned, Sunday, that I got to take some photographs of a couple cute kids. We’ve already seen one of them- Annabelle and her mare Tequila. But this time, we added her little brother to the mix, and I have to say- he’s got to be one of the most photogenic little boys ever. And he’s fun to be around.

I should say, I’m glad I’m not their mom and have to choose through the photos to pick the ones I want, because honestly, I had a hard time narrowing it down too. There are so many great photos that either I’m getting better as a photographer, or these kids are just uber photogenic, or both, I suppose. That’s a possibility too!

Without further ado, enjoy these shots. I know I enjoyed taking them!

Happy Hump Day and Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: family, photography

A Slice of Life

27 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

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While I was in Texas, I got to take some awesome photos. My schedule didn’t permit me to get shots of everything and everyone that I wanted to but I did get some awesome shots nonetheless. I picked this one, to enter in this week’s competition at “i heart faces”. It’s about capturing a “slice of life”, and I think this embodies the kids I saw in Texas on their Spring Break. It was really warm there for the two weeks I was back. It was in the 80s!

This was taken at The Shops At Highland Village. I’ve always wanted to shoot there and as an urban setting, it delivered!

Check out more entries at this week’s I Heart Faces, Challenge!

Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: photography

Ducks in the Pool

18 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

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It’s definitely Spring in Texas. And from what I hear, it’s beginning to look (and feel) a lot like Spring at home too! Finally. Can I just tell y’all that winter was rough? I know why I spent the winter in Texas last year! While I’m here, I’m getting to ride with friends and just generally hang out- which is super nice. Wednesday I had been out riding with my friends and when I arrived back at my parent’s house, my sister showed up. We were chatting and she turns to me and says, “um, look what is in the pool?!” I looked and what do you expect that I saw? You got it. A Mallard drake and his hen, just happily swimming away! Like the great photographer that I am, I had my camera with me (I can hear the snickering now- you didn’t carry it ALL winter, but you have it now? It’s warmer now. And that’s all I have to say about that!).

I snuck over to my pickup, swapped to a 300mm lens got my settings like I wanted them and snapped a few photos. Here’s the results! As per usual, just click one photo, and scroll through using the arrows on each photo.

[flickrset id="72157626168364867" thumbnail="square" overlay="true" size="medium"]

And as I finished writing this post, the ducks arrived back to the pool. Isn’t Spring just grand?

Happy Friday and Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: photography

A Girl and Her Horse

17 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

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I had been in Texas for less than 24 hours, and it was time to get to work taking pictures. I use the term “work” lightly because frankly there’s nothing about taking photos that is “work”. Some of you may have already seen my latest work, but if you don’t follow me on Facebook, there’s a good chance you missed this pretty little girl and her ridiculously photogenic horse! I’m just gonna share my absolute favorites with y’all but know that it was pretty dang hard to narrow this list down! Let’s just say I’m glad I’m not her mom. I’d hate to have to decide which ones we’re purchasing!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: horses, photography

Spring Has Sprung

15 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

But not at home!

Only here in the southern state of Texas is it green and blooming and otherwise colorful!

Sunday afternoon I ran around with my new 50mm lens and took some photos of what’s blooming. Here’s the results:

Wisteria:

A blooming pear tree:

Berries on an Oak Tree:

A Red Maple in Bloom:

Green grass, blue skies and a tree:

I hope that spring is in bloom where you are! I think it’s starting to be spring at home, because yesterday we had our first foal of the year born. And when I get some photos (ZACH!) I will be sure to share them with you. But I can tell you it’s a filly and it’s palomino and she’s mine! All mine!

Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: photography

It’s All in The Details

14 Mar posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I’m going to give a you sneak peek at one of the photos I took this Saturday of a pretty girl and her gorgeous horse. I plan to share a few with you later this week, but I wanted to enter this one into the “Love That Shot“, It’s All in the Details photo competition this week. Which means you get to see my favorite shot sooner, rather than later!

Without further ado, here you go:

To see more of beautiful shots, head over to Love That Shot!

Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: photography

The View From Here

A Photo Contest

Spring Contest

After All These Years

Cute Kids

A Slice of Life

Ducks in the Pool

A Girl and Her Horse

Spring Has Sprung

It’s All in The Details

South Dakota Cowgirl Art

I Recommend:

Current Pastures

Grazed Pastures

The Herd

What I “tweet” about!