Badlands National Park, South Dakota, Part 6

I returned to the Yellow Mounds area of Badlands National Park for sunset golden hour photography on my third full day in this area.

Yellow Mounds, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

I had to watch closely to keep my shadow out of a number of my late day images.  Looking closely, one can see the shadow of that foreground Rabbit Bush on the far side of the ravine.

Yellow Mounds 2, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Yellow Mounds 3, Badlands Np, South Dakota
Yellow Mounds 4, Badlands NP
Badlands and Grasslands, Badlands National Park, South Dakota

That’s it for this shoot,

Ken

 

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, Part 5 – Scouting

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, I did not get out early for morning photos on the third full day in the Badlands NP area.  Instead, I drove through more of the park in the morning hours, scouting more potential shooting locations.

Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, AM, iPhone Photo 1
Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, AM, iPhone Photo 2
Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, AM, iPhone Photo 3
Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, AM, iPhone Photo 4
Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, AM, iPhone Photo 5
Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, AM, iPhone Photo 6
Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, AM, iPhone Photo 7
Cloud Tracks, Badlands NP, September 17, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

I checked out many locations along SD Route 240 this morning, shooting many iPhone photos, most of which were uninspiring.  The few posted here are the ones I found most interesting and showing potential for golden hour photography.

As I backtracked out of the park, I spotted a couple of Bighorn sheep high up on a ridge.  I stopped, put my big zoom lens on my camera and shot a few images.

Bighorns, Badlands NP
Bighorn blending into the background, Badlands NP

Until today’s sunset shoot,

Ken

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, Part 4

After my morning excursion into Badlands National Park, I returned to the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands Campground Area, picked another campsite, had lunch and waited until it was time to go out again for sunset photography.

Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 1
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 2

As the afternoon progressed, like yesterday, storm clouds began gathering.

Visitors, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota
Praire Storm
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, Campsite 2

Rain soon began to fall with gusty winds.  It was apparent that the storm was too fierce for me to venture back out for a late day shoot.  Now I have to look forward to another morning shoot.

Until then,

Ken

 

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, Part 3A, Scouting Photos

After my early morning sunrise session, I scouted other areas along SD Route 240 for potential sunset today and/or sunrise locations tomorrow morning.  As typical, I used my iPhone for the scouting photos, so that I could move around more easily, unhindered by heavy camera gear.

Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 1

My first scouting stop was a viewing area designated as “Yellow Mounds Overlook”, where I climbed a steep slope to check out the views from a higher elevation, after scanning the area from the parking lot.

Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 2
Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 3
Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 4

I continued along SD 240, stopping to check out the views from other pullouts.

Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 5
Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 6
Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 7

At each location, I made a number of images, testing compositional variations.  This post contains a few selected images from a few of those stops.

Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 8
Badlands NP, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 9

Until next time,

Ken

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, Part 2

I had decided to shoot at one of the overlooks in Badlands National Park my first morning here, but when I arrive at that destination, I did not like the view and proceeded down the roadway to another pullout.  That pullout was intended as an overview of an area to the north, but I climbed a grassy slope on the opposite side of the roadway, anticipating better sunrise lighting on the features on that side of the roadway.  That is, if there was a sunrise this heavily overcast morning, after a storm came through during the night.

Sky Notch
Overcast Ridge
Dark Morning
Into the Badlands

Looks like no golden hour this morning, but the clouds are dramatic.

Into the Badlands 2

With the sun just barely peeking through the heavily overcast horizon, I decided to move on down that roadway and look for other photographic opportunities.

Clearing Storm Clouds over Badlands
Hitchhiker
Pastel Morning
Morning Spotlight
Morning Color
Badland Morning
Badlands Meander
Mirrored

To be continued,

Ken