Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge Reservation | Wounded Knee, South Dakota

Posted by admin | Filed under Landscape, Native American Culture, Specialty

December 29, 1890 was a dark day in US history. For on that day the US Army 7th Cavalry detachment under Major Samuel M. Whitside surrounded an encampment of 300 Lakota Native Americans that they were escorting to waiting trains and proceeded to disarm them. Confusion quickly ensued and the end result was the Wounded Knee Massacre. More than two thirds killed were women and children. I, as an American citizen, was compelled to visit this site. To actually see it and talk to the wonderful hostess, LaTosha, helped me visualize what truly transpired on that spot. I visited the site where the men were buried in a mass grave and where other tribesmen were buried. What I hope is that this bit of darkness will bring some light in the format of education, understanding, and tolerance.

Tags: indian, native americans, pine ridge reservation, south dakota, wounded knee

Read more | Comments (0) | December 18th, 2011

Badlands | Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Posted by admin | Filed under Landscape

Unmistakable beauty that is the Badlands. I journeyed through the Badlands National Park in South Dakota on a recent December afternoon. It was absolutely brilliant. The light was perfect, the cold breeze off the high plains left me feeling alive and the desolation of the empty park let me take it all in on my own terms. One of the more memorable shoots for sure! I had with me my new workhorse, the Canon 60D. All post processing was done in Photoshop CS3.

Tags: badlands, badlands national park, Landscape, south dakota, sunset

Read more | Comments (0) | December 10th, 2011

Rip Curl Pro Search- Somewhere in San Francisco | San Francisco, California

Posted by admin | Filed under Sports, Surfing

I was fortunate enough to be at Ocean Beach, San Francisco during the Rip Curl Pro Search surfing competition. Being land locked most of my life, I have always had a suppressed desire to be a surfer. Well, that window is long closed and all I have is a faded shark tattoo on my arm. Being able to stand on the beach and watch the best of the best in the surfing world compete in San Francisco took me back to those not so distant days of eternal optimism. It really made me appreciate my passion for photography all the more. If it were not for my camera I would have never been standing there on that breezy beach on a Sunday morning in November. This was one of those events I will never forget and I have the pictures to carry forever. I hope you enjoy.

Tags: 2011, Ocean Beach, Rip Curl, San Francisco California, surfing

Read more | Comments (0) | November 11th, 2011

Sturgis Dragway- Sturgis, South Dakota 2011

Posted by admin | Filed under Motor Sports, Sports

Sturgis, South Dakota is known for the biggest biker rally in the world but, all summer long there’s plenty of noise coming from the Sturgis Dragway. On the weekends that they are running there is no shortage of thunder pumping drag races. I tried some new techniques in post production to get the retro vibe that the vintage muscle cars that were racing emitted. This was my first outing with my brand new Canon 60d. The camera was everything I had hoped for and more!

Tags: drag racing, muscle cars, south dakota, sturgis dragway

Read more | Comments (0) | September 25th, 2011

Bennett County Fair Rodeo 2011- Martin, South Dakota

Posted by admin | Filed under Rodeo, Sports

Mid-August in Martin, South Dakota means the Bennett County Fair is up and running. Along with the fair comes the SDRA sanctioned rodeo. The rodeo was held on Saturday evening under the lights. The cowboys and cowgirls were as formidable as ever from the roping to the bull riding. It was a great rodeo and will go down as one of my favorites. I didn’t get as many shots as I usually get. As they say “I didn’t get my 8 second ride.” Well, there will be another rodeo down the road soon and I’ll get the shots once again. I would like to mention this was most likely the last rodeo with my tried and true Canon 20d. I upgraded to the Canon 60d and it should be arriving any day. It’s exciting getting a new camera but, it will be bitter sweet when I have to put my 20d on the shelf. It’s like putting away an old friend. You can purchase prints on my print services website Dakota Action Photography. I have many print options available at very reasonable prices.