Forgot how much I loved it!

I have been doing research for a photo project I am working on. I just plain forgot how interesting gut level down in the trenches research could be. I am only begging on what I see as a three to four year project.

Those of you who are friends on facebook may have noticed the posting of some pictures and the words that they were part of a project. I am working with the idea that I am going to photograph the trails in the Tri-State area. The stage route from Miles City to Deadwood being one of those routes.

My research has begun with an over view of western history. I know the history of the entire west is a pretty broad subject, but it is amazing even at this point how often names come up in the places that one would least expect them to. As time goes on I want to pull the focus into a much tighter area. One center of attention will be the trails that went into Deadwood and the Black Hills during the gold era. Another focus will be cattle drives into the area. Belle Fourche was once a rail head to ship cattle.

I am excited to move forward with this project. I think it has the ability to provide material for books of images from the area. Landscapes that tell a story - not just pretty pictures. It will I hope also help me with the business of my Gallery. Over time i will at least in theory become able to answer questions about the history of the area while offering images for sale that tell an important story.

I will have the opportunity to get some pictures of wagons and teams later this summer. A reenactment of a trail ride will be within 30 miles of my gallery for five days. My hope is to find some wagons that meet a degree of historical accuracy on the prairie.

This project could be a great deal of fun. The above photographs are from Stoneville In the present town of Alzada, Montana. Stay tuned for the story as it develops.