Grizzly Encounters

Last November, Tempest videographer Mike Dreesman was filming the fall larch colors in the Seeley-Swan Valley when he encountered a Grizzly Bear near Van Lake: I passed a car parked on the side of the highway. I looked back and realized that the driver was looking at a grizzly bear, so I whipped the mini-van … Read more

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A Glimpse of Glacier

Reynolds Creek Fire Update I’m sure many, if not all, of you have heard about the Reynolds Creek Fire that is burning in Glacier National Park.  I mean it’s national news, and has even been mentioned on the Today Show. The fire has burned around 4,000 acres, but Glacier National Park covers 1.1 million acres.  … Read more

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The Montana State Park Where There is Ghost Writing

Fatigue grips your body. You have been travelling for hours with no shelter from the elements.  There is snow covering the ground and the wind is howling, freezing your extremities.  In the distance you hear the cry of a bobcat, and something rustles in a bush at your feet.  Along the horizon you make out … Read more

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Yellowstone Scavengers

Tempest videographer Mike Dreesman spent the first week of January in Yellowstone National Park. He took some stunning footage of big horn sheep, bison, eagles, and scenery, but probably his most arresting footage was of two carcasses in the snow. Mike spent nearly four hours taking video of a bison carcass which lay half submerged … Read more

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Videoing Yellowstone: Part 7

Serendipity Photographers spend a lot of time waiting for shots that never happen, and thinking about shots they missed. But sometimes shots spring up on you with no warning whatever. Initially Mike drove right past this moose sighting near Norris Geyser Basin, thinking that the shadows and lighting were bad. After a while of driving … Read more

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Videoing Yellowstone: Part 6

The Photographers’ Club One of the things that Mike enjoyed most about his Yellowstone trip was the camaraderie that develops between the photographers. Wildlife photography involves a lot of downtime, a lot of sitting and waiting for an animal to appear, or for an animal to do something interesting. Mike spent this time chatting with … Read more

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Videoing Yellowstone: Part 3

bearjam, Yellowstone National Park, Spring 2014

Bearjams Although rewarding, photographing animals is “always hit and miss. Sometimes you’re late to the party, and sometimes, you know, you start the party. You spot the animal first, and it’s not long—especially if you’re on a road—before other folks join you.” An animal sighting, any animal sighting, draws huge crowds. Traffic slows to a … Read more

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Videoing Yellowstone: Part 1

This May, Tempest videographer Mike Dreesman spent a week  in Yellowstone National Park, sleeping on an air mattress in the back of his van and living off of bologna sandwiches and peanut butter and honey, all so he could get the best possible video of the Park in spring. When he got home, he pulled … Read more

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See the Break in the Clouds

I was going through out photo archives today, and despite the general lack of rain in this collection, I couldn’t help but think of Elephant Revival’s Break in the Clouds. Scroll through these pictures while you listen to the song, when you finish, click here to learn more about the band behind this hauntingly beautiful music. … Read more

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