A cacophony of cows bellowing, cattle chutes operating, and voices mingling combines with a visual chaos of movement, color, and expressions. I love this image because it is all of this in a single frame. It speaks of ranch life without having to say one word.
When I view this image, I can feel the silent symphony of the night– a stillness, broken by the single sound of a car whooshing by. The scene has a lonely, almost melancholy feel to it, though still beautifully peaceful. Such is a rural Nebraska nighttime.
These dogs, of course, were very hard not to fall in love with. But what I really enjoy about this photo is the microcomposition between one dog’s nose and the steering well in addition to the hay bales creating a background layer.
Seeing the small town of Dalton was an unexpectedly joyful surprise on the road trip to Chadron. Although this image seems simple at first sight, the textures, colors, and small details are what really make this image to me. They contribute to a great overall mood of the photo, something that is easier to feel than explain.
We went to Sioux County Public School where I found the teacher’s workroom pictured here. The combination of the empty desks and the sticker saying “we want you back” really struck a chord with me.
This image reminds me of the unforgiving winds that buffeted me as I sought these horses. I feel that there is a great sense of movement with the grasses as well as the herd walking by in the background, contrasted well by the solitary white horse looking straight at the camera.
Photographing the West 