Hidden Treasures in Idaho + Photoshop tips

Stoddard Campground was a hidden treasure in Idaho. It was supposed to be a one night stopover on my way to elsewhere. A lot of these little out of the way campsites are becoming surprisingly pleasant. I was apprehensive because the review said ATV campground – read – NOISY!

But surprisingly not. It was quiet and lovely. I ended up staying a few nights instead of the one night stop over I had planned. All the ATV campers were in one area and had strict rules for while they were in the campground. And the ATV trails were far enough off to not be heard. Walking around the park provided me with these beautiful restful scenes.

One of my readers gave me insight into this particular forest. David Robinson let me know about the Aspen forests. “Did you know all those trees share a common root system as one huge organism. If you want to thicken the stand of trees you cut a few down and it sends up twice as many as replacements.”

Aspen tree groves are all linked to each other. I had no idea about this hidden network of root system that is tied to the healthy community of aspens.

Campground beauty in the trees and foliage.

Aspen Grove at Stoddard Creek Campground, Idaho

I approached both of these shots with a different eye. I liked the one above because it had the textures of the foliage on the ground, the dark evergreens to strengthen the image and the pattern of the aspens throughout. Because I cropped it with the rule of thirds it gave it more dynamic interest. Next, I brought it into Photoshop for a bit of post processing. I strengthened the color intensity of the ground foliage and brought the whites in the aspen bark back to where it should be.

Sometimes cameras don’t give you what you saw in the original scene, especially cell phones.

The second image to the left is much different to me. I positioned the leading line of the dead tree in the middle to bring the viewers eye into the scene.

Again, a short stop in Photoshop strengthened the greens and gave the white bark back its beautiful white contrast. If you don’t have Photoshop, and would like to get it, please follow this link.

You can have a subscription to it for under $10 per month for personal use and it is well worth the price if you are interested in making your photographs better.

If you use this link when you purchase, it helps support my blog and travels at no extra cost to you.

Great evergreens in Stoddard Creek Campground, Idaho

This third image I liked because of the size and strength of the evergreens. The circumference of the trunks was a stark contrast to the aspens. The bit of brightly colored fungi on the side of the trunk gives a bit more interest.

I positioned the tree so that the viewer could get grounded by seeing the bottom of the tree trunks and enough of the branches to get a sense of the scene.

By positioning the aspens in the back, it shows that they are secondary to the true focus of the image, instead of competing for center stage.

Next, a quick edit in Photoshop was done to strengthen the bark texture, the intensity of the greens and the yellows. Crisping up the whites again gave this image what it needed to turn from snapshot to an image that your eye wants to linger over.

Hidden treasures in Idaho – Opal Mining

While I was here, I tried my hand at mining. Ha ha ha!!

I always have loved opals. The colour variations, the way they catch the light and the beauty of the gem had always made it a favourite. So when I found the Spencer Opal mine not even 20 minutes from camp, I made it a priority to visit.

You don’t actually get to go into the mine, that it too dangerous for them apparently. But there is a great big pile of rocks that contain raw opal and you pay $20 to go in and mine for however long you want. Armed with a bucket, a water sprayer, gloves, and a shovel, in I went.

They give you a five-minute lesson on finding opals in the pile.

I think I needed more like an hour.

I was one of the first ones in, found a promising spot on the pile and sat down to dig. One of the workers came by with a sample of raw opal to help guide me in finding my hidden treasure.

Next, I dug down two feet. I was intent on finding a magnificent piece of opal! Digging, examining and spraying bits of rock with water to bring out the shine occasionally, afforded me nothing more than wet gloves. By using the water, you are apparently more able to recognize the opal in the rock. Still nothing.

Moved to another spot. Repeated procedure. Nothing.

Meanwhile around me was a younger couple, maybe mid 30’s and they were chest high in their rock digging. All the while letting each other know that they “found another one!”

Even young teenagers were finding opals.

But for me – NADA. Zip. Zero. Nothing.

When my backside wore out from sitting on rocks and my back gave in from bending over, I went with my measly 4 small rocks that I knew deep down were nothing and went to check out.

Yep, I was correct. Nothing.

I went to give back my sample opal piece and I think they took pity on me. They told me I could keep it.

Ugh. Pity Opal. Yes, here it is:

Hidden treasures – treats in Dell, Montana

Onward to a small town , Population 53, (yes, that is not a typo) to get a treat I had heard about from a fellow traveller.

He told me to be sure to stop in Dell, Montana at the little schoolhouse turned restaurant, for a cinnamon bun.

Well, after my opal mining fiasco, I figured I deserved a treat. So I stopped here and got one of the largest sticky buns I had ever layed eyes on. Almost 6” in diameter and at the outrageous price of… wait for it… $2.00! It really was a hidden treasure!

Apparently this little restaurant is quite a thing in the area. You should check it out if you are near there.

Calf-A Restaurant, Oregon Shortline Rd., Dell, Montana

Onward to my next gorgeous adventure!!

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Thanks for reading. I hope I expand your view of the world and give you a few tips for creating your own gorgeous images.

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Questions? Please let me know and I will answer!

August 5, 2019August 6, 2019

Craters of the Moon, Idaho

I had never heard of this place before. But here I am in Idaho, exploring, and discovered Craters of the Moon. It is a large volcanic area from millions of years ago. A very stark landscape, unlike anything I had ever seen. Hot and arid. I was determined to hike at least some of these trails. I advise early morning or late evening, if you are hiking in July!

Craters of the Moon, ID, early morning hike — Early morning hike

This was a morning hike up the Inferno Cone. It is made up of lava cinders entirely. Pretty much straight up into the sky. I captured this image of the hiker in front of me, as he got to the ridge line of the mountain. I waited for him to come into the right place to get a silhouette against the morning light.

Craters of the Moon, Idaho, Sunset — Sunset at Craters of the Moon

Compare the sunset image of Craters of the Moon National Monument with the first one in the morning. The colors of sunset light are a lot different. A warmer, more golden light, lit this area of rocks. Combined with the dark blue of the passing storm clouds, the colors are beautiful!

Look for the light

When you are out on your travels or even on a walk around the neighborhood, get used to looking at the light. The intensity, the color temperature and even how the sun lights up an object can bring out a very different look than even 10 minutes before.

Remember to compare contrasts. Light against dark, delicate foliage against hard and flat rock. I found this image interesting with the comparison here in this very stark landscape.

And then, in regard to hiking … know your limits…

I just said no…

I had climbed the North CraterTrail Hike up about 1/2 mile, (yes, UP) and then was faced with this downward climb and then up again. I just said no. But for those of you more fit than I, it was probably a spectacular hike!

The image below is the other end of the same trail, North Crater Trail. I got here just in time to catch the beautiful light of sunset and the clouds. No, I didn’t hike it. I drove the loop to the other end and caught this at the last minutes of daylight.

The ground is all lava; lava flow, lava cinders, lava splatters…etc. The plants you see are very tiny and are spaced out as if someone planted them. Very curious! Their roots go quite deep and they spread out in a 3 foot radius from the original plant. You never know what you are going to find when you explore!

Thanks for reading. I hope I expand your view of the world and give you a few tips for creating your own gorgeous images.

If you would like to see more of my travels and hints for creating better travel pictures, please subscribe to this blog below.

Questions? Please let me know and I will answer!

July 25, 2019June 11, 2020

Landscape Photography Tips While Camping In Idaho

Photographing after a tremendous rainstorm

I went through a tremendous rainstorm yesterday as I drove through Idaho. On my way to Black Foot Reservoir, Idaho I could hardly tell what the landscape looked like until I came out from the downpour. Then … after the storm…

Lovely deep colors create striking photographs…

All around me were the most lovely deep colors of the landscape and then a wonderful pop of bright yellow. In the distance were dark mountains with the shadow of the clouds still on them and the bands of gentle colors in the foreground. Every once in awhile the bright pop of yellow interspersed the lovely blues and greens.

What a treat!!

When I was in a safe area, I stopped and created these images quickly as I was still on a road, (albeit pulled to the side).

I just love the rolling hills, the pop of yellow flowers, the ribbon of highway on the left, the mountains in shadow, and the rain streaks coming from the clouds in the distance. All of these elements are important in creating a visually appealing travel photograph.

Let’s take this image apart so that you can see why these matter in composing a stunning photograph.

The yellow pop of flowers against the shadowed mountains brings into play the color wheel and contrasts. The two colors, the bright yellow and predominately blue, dark shadows are not only in opposition to each other on the color wheel, but also provide a great deal of contrast. This is a totally different technique than I described here, about using coordinating colors or just one dominant color in the photograph.

When you compose a photograph, look for contrasts not only in light and dark but in opposing colors on the color wheel. If you are lucky enough to have both in the same photograph… winner! The deep blues of the clouds in the stormy sky also stand out opposite the yellow fields.

The ribbon of the highway on the left adds interest and leads your eye to the horizon. Remember the leading lines the art class teacher told you about in 4th grade? Yea, that applies here!

But there are even more leading lines.

The sun rays coming through the clouds end almost in the same place as the highway does and this only reinforces the pull for your eye to look here.

Did this photograph happen by accident? No.

I walked around until I saw the lines converge. I needed to use a high viewpoint to make sure the tiny bit of the highway was still visible and work quickly to capture the sun rays.

Once you know the rules, you can use them and strengthen just about any photograph.

Take a look at the photo below. This was taken at the same time, about 100 yards away from the first and behind me… Nice, clean, tells a story but not nearly as striking.

Take a little time to think about what you are photographing and walk around a bit if you are able. You might just be surprised at the difference a little thought can make in your final images.

These are all taken near Soda Springs on the way to Black Foot Reservoir.

Fileds near Soda Springs, Idaho — Fields after a rainstorm in Idaho

The image below was taken at sunset over the reservoir. Notice the purple clouds that are on the opposite side of the color wheel from the greens of the foliage.

Also, the visual weight of the green grasses on the left balances the weight of the dark purple clouds in the sky on the right. Look for balance in your composition as you photograph and you will be much happier with your final images.

Moonrise over Blackfoot Reservoir — Sunset over Blackfoot Reservoir

The image below was just from a different angle and minutes before the one above. The light is different and by shifting the grasses to the right of the image it produced a different feel. Again, the white clouds in this image on the upper left are balanced visually by the grasses on the lower right. Look for balance and opposing visual weight in your photographs when you compose them.

Camping provides so many opportunities for photography.

You are able to study the landscape and the light over a few days and plan your shots. Weather can always disrupt those plans, but sometimes the change in weather can be a happy surprise.

Camping here was great. The peacefulness of the campground, the lake view and the quietness of the area all lent to the wonderful feel of the campground.

I walked around the lake on the first night and was well rewarded with the full moon rising over the lake. Just gorgeous!!

For those that like to boat, camp or fish, this is an excellent area. Camping is peaceful with electric hookups available. The sites were larger with sufficient space between them so as to not feel crowded.

When I look at the first photograph, I like to remember that after I go through a trial, even if it is just a rainstorm, that we are often rewarded with seeing the mundane everyday things of life in a new and fresh way.

And hopefully, we remember that they always were that gorgeous, we just couldn’t see them.

Thanks for reading. I hope I expand your view of the world and give you a few tips for creating your own gorgeous images.

If you would like to see more of my travels and hints for creating better travel pictures, please subscribe to this blog below.