Loving One Another

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Thoughtfulness


Top of Mt Baldy

Yesterday Bob & I took our ATV, our dog, our lunches, and our stamina on a ride with friends up to the top of Mt Baldy in the Tobacco Root Mountains. From my sanctuary window, I can see the snow-topped mountain off to the north-west of us.

Mt. Baldy out my sanctuary window

Hard for you to see, with the sunlight reflections on the glass, but it’s out there through the angels in the distance… the tallest of the snow capped mountains.

What does all that have to do with thoughtfulness? Well, without the help of our friends, we wouldn’t have ventured up there!

First of all, some of the trails were really, really rocky and rough. We wouldn’t chance it alone!

Rocky trail up to Mt Baldy

Secondly, I could not have made that climb up from the trail where we left the ATVs without the help of my buddies!

Jan, Caroline & Penny on top!

With kind thoughtfulness, they each took one of my arms and climbed with me. They stopped to rest when my breathing got to panting instead. God bless ‘em!

View from Mt. Baldy’s top

At the 10,788 ft. level, the view was spectacular and the air coming off the snow on the peaks beside us was crisp and fresh.

I hope you’re as blessed as we are to have such thoughtful friends!

Rex in top of Mt. Baldy

Our buddy/neighbor/guide was Rex, who (with his wife, Penny) led the way. We’d have been lost without him!

Bob, Jan & TazE

Have a thoughtful day, my friends. Who can you help with his/her climb today?

See ya tomorrow

Category:

blessings, friendship, Gratitude, Love, Montana, nature, photography, Travel

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Montana Adventure


Today was a perfect day to take Lucille (Our ATV with a red head who is a Ball), And go up into the mountains – Up on Mt. Baldy, more than 10,000 feet tall!
On our way up to Mt. Baldy (10K ft ahead of us)
Lucille is a trooper with Bob at the wheel. TazE loves riding with us on the mountain trails. Some of the roads are so rough, I cringe, But I am happy to have an “Oh My!” bar instead of wails.
Hang tight to the “Oh My!” bar. Secure TazE with her leash.
TazE crowded me as she leaned out the window of Lucille
Going with friends makes it extra fun; Five guys and three gals in five 4-wheelers. The area in the Tobacco Root Mountains Is full of rough terrain, rocks and squealers.
Me (Jan) with Caroline & Penny
Bob, Rex, Gene, BW and Chuck
The views from up on top of Baldy Are breathtaking to be sure. The sky was a little hazy today, But the air was clean and pure.
Gene, with a recent new knee, made the rigorous climb from our ATVs to the top of the mountain (a steeper climb than it looks here!)
We were above the snow level Where the clouds seem so close We felt like we could touch them. I have more pictures than I can post!
Our lovely, protected setting for lunch on top of Mt. Baldy
The view from my lunch spot
Dilapidated old mining building
Over my right shoulder a dilapidated mine Indicated that people once lived and worked In this place miles from civilization – For gold, lead, silver and copper – no one shirked.
Old mining site on Mt. Baldy
Old mines dotted the trail as we headed down. I wished those old beams and rocks could talk. They would have wonderful stories to tell – Lived through many a death and untold shocks.
Jan in Bob’s fishing cap
On down the mountain on rocky trails, We were careful to not tip over the edge. The paths were narrow with no side rails – I held TazE and tried not to look at the ledge!
Bob driving Lucille – in a rocky spot with a wider ledge than most
Bob, Jan, TazE – top of Mt. Baldy
Old mine on Mt. Baldy
Ennis Lake from the Tobacco Roots to the Madison Range
We tried to stay in view of the Polaris Traveling on the trail in our lead, But we didn’t want to be too close To eat his dust as he picked up speed. That’s our Madison Valley and Ennis Lake In the middle of this view. As we headed back, the sun was warmer And we wished we could share this trip with YOU!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek Come back soon for more adventures and inspiration.

See Ya Tomorrow!
See ya tomorrow!

Category:

friendship, Love, Montana, nature, photography, Poetry, Travel

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Don Urban – A Worthy Reblog


How to Improve your photography

by Don Urban | Aug 12, 2019 | Equipment, Rambles and Rants, Uncategorized | 0 comments

How to Improve your photography

Why Reblog? Well, Don is my 600th follower!! I want to honor him and his blog and invite you to see his work. I love his photography. I think you will, too. Thanks, Don, for visiting and following JanBeek!!

Gear DOES Matter

One of the best ways to improve your photography? Buy gear. Yes, that’s right. Buy gear. You are a photographer. It is your passion (hopefully!) so why not buy gear?

Gear motivates, inspires and allows you to realise your vision.

I would recommend though, buying gear only if you really need it. Buy second-hand gear off eBay or Gumtree (Australia). Cameras, lenses, flashes and bags are tools- if you need them, buy them.

Branded portrait, headshot and model test photography, Inner West Sydney portraits

Some will make you a better photographer because you will be able to capture what you envisage. Some purchases will be duds. Avoid the duds. Don’t make impulse buys. Research the hell out of each purchase to guarantee you get a good bargain and you know why you are getting that new piece of equipment.

I have only just bought my first speedlight flash with softbox and umbrella. Continuous lights served me well for a long time, and I still use them, but they are limiting when it comes to travelling and I needed stronger, directional lights, so I bought a cheap but highly regarded flash- a Godox flash. I didn’t by a Nikon one at four-times the price with less features. I shopped around, weighted up options, put it off until I felt limited in my photography.

Don Urban portrait photography Newtown, Sydney studio photography

Same with lenses. I bought a Tamron 90mm 1:1 Macro lens. My other lenses, a 50mm and 28mm, I bought second hand off eBay. I mostly photograph people, still life and flowers- 90mm becomes the most useful lens. I shoot a few landscapes, so a second hand 28mm suits me well.

It has to be justified.

If you are struggling to achieve a look with your equipment, then it is time to buy gear. The sad thing is, I see so many photographers buying gear thinking it will make them a better photographer. It wont.

But having gear, suitable for what you want to create, will make you a better photographer.

Buying the right gear will elevate your photography. And no, there are no affiliate links here. I never recommend gear, because what is good for me, may not be suitable for you.

Buy gear for yourself, not for others.

Until next time, best wishes, Don

Category:

Awards, blogging, Gratitude, Love, photography, writing

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