GROUNDED FISHING BOAT Reedville, VA 1975

LOBSTER SHED NOVA SCOTIA 1988

To enjoy a larger view, left click on above image.

TOM LUCAS DUBOIS, WY 2011

If you ever happen to pass through central Wyoming heading west toward the Wind River Range, stop by the Silver Sage Gallery in Dubois and say howdy to Tom Lucas. He and his partner own and operate this neat western gallery.

When we made our Wyoming trip back in mid September, I made it a point to stop by, and there sat Tom working on another new western painting. Tom is a realist, and his paintings are just astounding; displaying exquisite detail. I will have to admit, this is the first time I have ever seen an artist working with their favorite pal tucked under their arm, but Tom made it look easy.

Our paths crossed early on when we lived in Wyoming, and what immediately drew me to Tom was his skill in flintknapping. He is a real pro when it comes to making stone arrow heads and other primitive implements. But his greatest accomplishment, in my opinion, are his horn bows. I first saw him on Wyoming Public Television, and he went through the entire process of making and shooting an original horn bow. Now, folks, that takes real skill and countless hours of patience. The horn for his bows comes from the Big Horn Sheep which live in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming.

Making wood bows and arrows was also one of my favorite pass times over the decades, and I still do a bit of leather work in my spare time. Small stuff compared to the days when I was making quivers and arm guards from steer hides.


Visit Tom's web site at: http://www.silversagegallery.com/

Left click on the illustration above to view a large image of Tom.

COLORADO BARN AND THE CHANGING OF THE LEAVES 2011

The Uncompahgre Valley, in and around Montrose, Colorado, is now in full color.

This neat little shed, west of town, is on it's last legs, so I decided to stop alongside the road and save it for posterity. It can now be enjoyed by others who have access to the Internet. The change of color, the fencing, and the shed itself reminds me a lot of those many landscapes I captured several decades ago back in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and well into the highlands of NW Virginia.

To view a larger image, left click on the photograph above.

THE LAST DAY OF FALL COLOR FOR 2011

This image is a fine example of why it helps to live in an area for a year or so prior to making a major photographic documentary. It gives you a chance to scope out the area. I first spotted this location overlooking the Uncompahgre River and San Juan Range two years ago, and last year about this same time, I thought I had it nailed to the wall, but the color just had not quite reached the point where the image could equal this one which I made two days ago.

It was one of those landscapes which was waiting for me several miles south of town, and that gave me a chance to observe the various color changes over a period of time. I arrived at the site about ten in the morning and here is the end result. All of the elements came together as I had previsualized them.

Many of the images which I posted on this blog were made under similar circumstances, and there are quite a number of landscapes which required me to wait for several years before the lighting and subject matter were as close to perfect as I could ask for.

My trusty fifty-year-old tripod, which has been through many a great adventure over the decades, made it possible to capture this image as planned. And yes, I used a polarizing filter which helped to hold the sky and a few soft clouds together in the background.

Left click on image for larger view.

CRABTREE FALLS VA Circa 1979

This was one of my most memorable hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and the best time of the year to take this jaunt, in my opinion, would be in the spring. Head up during the morning hours when the temperature is still comfortable and count on about a four-hour round-trip hike. The trail begins just off route 56 east of Montebello where the highway parallels the Tye River.

You have a 1,380 elevation gain with numerous cascades ranging from small to large. The foot trail is the most common means of reaching the top, but for photography purposes, I always elected to take the direct route by following the stream to the top. The upper falls is quite dangerous, so do not step out into the stream at that point, because people have been killed by taking a bad step on to the slippery rocks.

Things have likely changed since I made my last trip thirty years ago, but for all I know, there is probably a chair lift to to the top. Hopefully, this pristine area of the Blue Ridge has not been altered over the years.

I led a troop of Boy Scouts up to the upper level back during the late sixties, when things were a bit more rustic. All I can remember is that we got a late start and ended up making the climb in total darkness. We camped in a lovely meadow above the falls, and I am sure there are many grown men who still remember that weekend adventure.

There were quite a few flashlights that ended up glowing dim on that trip.

FALL- COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY

WYOMING COWBOY 2011

JACK JEFFERS, WYOMING ADVENTURE Sept 2011

Things have been so hectic around these parts that I have never gotten around to posting anything from our recent Wyoming trip. So, what we need right now is a good cowboy photograph, and this one should do the trick.

Pat goes to Dubois every September to attend the SKB ( Susan K. Black Foundation) fine art workshop, and I go along for the ride. Actually, my primary objective is to make new images because Dubois is right in the heart of some of the most beautiful and wildest country you have ever stepped into. A number of my Wyoming images are posted on this blog, but you may have to dig way back to view the lot.

TWO NEW BOOKS ON CD

I published a CD book earlier in the year titled MY WYOMING OUTBACK, and I never did get around to plugging in any of my new cowboy images. To answer the WHY question--I did not have any. This most recent trip took care of that situation, and I quickly updated that publication, and it now includes several cowboy and cowboy-related images. The total number of pages is 151, with almost as many photographs and short essays. By any count, this is a good size book.

It will only cost you thirty bucks to find out how good this documentary really is, ( shipping is included) and the images are equal to any table-top book you might have. It does help to have a flat, high-resolution screen to view this work, but CD books are becoming more and more common these days.

You can get in touch with me by using: jack@jeffersfineart.com

Book number two was completed in 2010, and it covers nearly sixty years as an artist. It is titled: FROM THE BLUE RIDGE TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND BEYOND. That's a long title, but it also has a long list of subject matter, including the last of the mountain people. The price is still thirty bucks (shipping included). Ya can't beat that these days for a high-quality book. It's about the same size as the Wyoming Outback. A lot of vintage images are included in this volumn.

That is my commentary for the day.

FALL ARRIVES IN THE SAN JUAN RANGE CO 2011

At first, it appeared that fall was running a bit late. Then, suddenly, the color appeared almost overnight, and we had fresh snow on on the mountains. I made this image from a high point along Dallas Divide as the weather front was rolling over the San Juan's. The day before, I worked the Uncompahgre Plateau. It too, was in full color with a mix of storm clouds and sunshine. Two productive days are now behind me.

The color along the western front comes in stages, depending on the altitude. The image posted here was made at about the nine thousand foot level, and the aspen and lower ground cover were at their peak. My next project will include the cottonwoods which should be turning in another week or so. Here in the valley around Montrose, you have a third opportunity to capture brilliant colors, but more into mid October. The altitude here is about 5,700 feet.

There was fresh snow on the San Juan's yesterday, and as this frontal system moves through, there will be more. Perhaps the hot weather is finally behind us. It is time to drain the water and seal up the swamp cooler for another season.


To view a larger image, left click on the above.