Best Photos of 2015
Posted: December 31

At the end of each calendar year I go through the photos I have taken during the year to identify those I think are my best efforts.

A number of these photos will be "permanently" included in the appropriate Gallery on this web site. Others will not be worthy of permanent status but are very good photos and thus are included here.

If you would like to view the Best Photos of the Year from previous years, click here.

B&W Photos of the Tetons
Posted: November 21

I have taken a number of photos in Grand Teton National Park over the years and, even though I liked them in color, I decided to try them in black and white.

Fall Colors
Posted: October 25

Rick Scheussler and I decided on a photo outing to Shaw Nature Reserve and Lone Elk Park along the Highway 44 corridor.

Mackinac Island
Posted: October 15

We drove from Harbor Springs to Mackinac City today then took the ferry to the island for the day.

- About Mackinac Island -

Drive to Harbor Springs MI
Posted: October 14

We drove up to Harbor Springs MI today. We saw some beautiful fall colors.

Drive to Traverse City MI
Posted: October 13

We drove up the western portion of Michigan today on our way to Traverse City MI where we spent the night.

Meijer Garden
Posted: October 12

We took the day to tour Meijer Garden and some of the town of Grand Rapids.

Grand Haven MI
Posted: October 11

I arrived in the Grand Rapids area a day early and decided to take a drive to Grand Haven and Holland for the day.

In Grand Haven I found the public beach area. It was pretty windy and there were quite a few folks who were kite surfing just off shore.

From there, I went to the home of my good friends Liz and Mike Margulus in Grand Rapids.

Grand Teton National Park
Posted: September 07

Today we went over to Grand Teton National Park for some sunrise photos.

More

Teton Valley Sunset
Posted: September 05

Rick Schuessler and I went out tonight to catch the sunset here in Teton Valley.

Teton Valley ID
Posted: September 04

Today we spent most of the day working on home improvement projects and watched part of the first Washington University volleyball match which they won 3-0.

After those were completed, we drove the west side of Teton Valley as Rick had not seen that before.

Grand Teton National Park
Posted: September 03

We drove over to Grand Teton National Park today and hiked the String-Leigh Lake trail and then hiked to the Old Patriarch Tree.

Grand Teton Valley National Park
Posted: September 02

I had an airport pickup today and I thought I would drive over early and try to catch some early morning light.

While driving west on the inner park road, I noticed a road going off to the north that I had never taken before. There was no signage but I decided to drive it. It ends at the north shore of Jackson Lake but offers some interesting photo opportunities along its length. As I am always looking for photo ops that I have never seen before, this road fit that bill quite nicely.

After the airport pickup, Rick Scheussler and I drove to Schwabacher Landing. In case you were wondering, yes we did eat lunch at Dornan's.

Folks Who Have Visited
Posted: August 23

Over the years I have had many folks visit me at Casa Budde West... 137 to be exact.

Pictured above are my godson Jim Scharff, his wife Tiffany and his kids Emma, Ben and Lily.

Sunsets Over the Years
Posted: August 22

Over the years I have experienced some very nice sunsets here out West. I have even been able to capture some in photographs.

The past few weeks we have been having a lot of smoke from the western forest fires which makes for some pretty miserable landscape photography. But there is a "silver" lining: we have had some nice sunsets here on the west side of the Tetons that have been enhanced by the presence of the smoke.

This photo inspired me to dig through my archives for my best sunset photos to accompany it in a blog post.

Music on Main
Posted: August 13

Tonight was the last Music on Main for the summer.

The music was provided by Niki Blum & The Gramblers. Good job!

Bluegrass Festival
Posted: August 13

This weekend was the 28th Annual Targhee Bluegrass Festival.

Cascade Canyon
Posted: August 02

Today my guests, the Alberts family, and I hiked Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park.

This was Dean and Shari's 35th wedding anniversary.

On the way to the hike we drove the Moose-Wilson Road and saw a moma bear and her cub. Unfortunately, I only had my 24-70 mm lens so the photos were not all that good and had to be heavily cropped.

Same for the moose pictures taken in the canyon.

Yellowstone Visit
Posted: July 30

The Alberts family, Dean, Shari, Megan, Alli and Ian, are making their second visit this week.

This was daughter Megan's first visit as she was not able to make the trip six years ago.

Today we visited Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Adventure
Posted: July 27

My guests, Rich, Rosemary and Anna Bryniarski, and I decided to do Yellowstone today.

Scharff Visit
Posted: July 22

Jim, Tiffany, Emma, Ben and Lily Scharff drove up from their place in Granby, CO to spend some time with me.

During their visit, we hiked in Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park, drove through Yellowstone National Park and spent some quality time at Casa Budde West.

A good time was had by all. As they drove away, six folks were observed to have tears in their eyes.

Targhee Fest
Posted: July 19

I attended Targhee Fest this weekend. The weather was kinda funky but I had a good time anyway.

The music was great (as usual) and there were many photo opportunities.

Of special note: on Friday, Taj Mahal was scheduled to perform the second to last set of the day. They had to cancel so Warren Haynes of Government Mule played a solo acoustic set before the whole of Government Mule closed out the night. Quite a treat!

Other notable performers were:

Bruce Hornsby, Mavis Staples, James McMurtry, Amy Held, Martin Sexton and Jackie Green.

Music on Main
Posted: July 16

Tonight the New Dubliners were the feature band. They were great and the crowd loved them.

Victor Fourth of July Parade
Posted: July 04

Today was the annual Fourth of July Parade held in Victor Idaho.

There were a lot of parade participants as well as spectators. There were marchers, horses, old cars, local activity groups and merchants in the parade. The oldest resident in the valley was also featured and got a great ovation from the spectators.

It seems everyone had a good time especially the kids. They scrambled to pick up candy being thrown by folks on the floats.

Music on Main
Posted: July 02

Music on Main had more folks in attendance than last week. Unfortunately the musical group didn't "grab" me.

I had a nice conversation with actor Eric Christian Olsen's dad. Eric will be arriving in the valley tomorrow but his wife Sara and young son are on location filming a movie (American Made) in which she will play Tom Cruise's wife.

Music on Main
Posted: June 25

This was the first Music on Main concert for the summer.

The attendance was great. Everyone was having a good time. The band, Todo Mundo,  was great.

Raptor Fest
Posted: June 21

I attended Raptor Fest in Wilson, WY this afternoon.

This is an annual event that is held on Father's Day. The birds are on display along with music, food and drink.

Arches National Park
Posted: June 03

I spent three days in Moab, UT. On May 21 and May 23, I photographed in Arches National Park. 

I had been to Arches some twenty years ago but that was before I owned a camera.

Dead Horse Point State Park
Posted: June 03

I photographed in Dead Horse State Park in the morning of May 22.

Here is a link to an article I ran across regarding Dead Horse Point Start Park.

Canyonlands National Park
Posted: June 03

I photographed in Canyonlands National Park the afternoon of May 22.

Bryce Canyon National Park
Posted: June 03

I photographed in Bryce Canyon National Park on May 25.

Capital Reef National Park
Posted: June 03

I photographed in Capital Reef National Park on May 24.

I was very impressed with Capital Reef. I did not expect to be. The drive through it was a winding drive with each turn presenting another fantastic view.

- About Capital Reef National Park -

Utah Highway 128
Posted: June 03

I photographed along Utah Highway 128 (just north of Moab) on May 23.

This drive was quite a pleasant surprise. There was some very nice scenery along the road.

Red Canyon
Posted: June 03

I photographed along Red Canyon UT on May 26.

Red Canyon is on Utah Highway 12 on the way to Bryce Canyon National Park. It is a very stunning drive that include a short tunnel.

I spent quite a bit of time there working the various features for nice compositions.

Kolob Canyon - Zion National Park
Posted: June 03

I photographed in the Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park on May 27 and May 28.

- About Kolob Canyon -

Big Lee Birthday Celebration
Posted: May 09

The St. Louis Chapter of BARF, Inc. gathered to celebrate the birthday of one of its founding members.

St. Louis Zoo
Posted: May 05

Went on a Zoo outing today. My good friend, Lee Phillion, wanted to get together to discuss photography. She has an old Canon 30D and wants to get a bit more into photography.

We talked photography in the Living World building and then went out into the Zoo for a quick photo tour.

Teddy Scharff 1st Birthday Party
Posted: April 12

Today a party was held to celebrate the 1st birthday of one Teddy Scharff.

Teddy was wide awake all afternoon and seemed to enjoy himself immensely.

New Harmony IN
Posted: March 15

On the way back from Crestview Hills, KY we stopped by New Harmony to see the town and take some photos.

- About New Harmony Indiana -

Photographing the Milky Way
Posted: March 15

I found a link to a very detailed and well written article on the topic of Photographing the Milky Way. I hope you benefit from it as much as I have.

Cincinnati OH
Posted: March 15

Cincinnati, OH is just across the Ohio River from Kentucky so we decided to kill some time and take some photos of Cincinnati as I had never visited before.

A Step Back in Time
Posted: January 17

Awhile back I had driven through the neighborhood where we lived until I was nine years old. The apartment buildings were blighted but seemed to offer some bit of character to them.