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Dedicated to Bob Shannon


Dedicated to Bob Shannon
Información de la foto
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 1 N: 5207] (17607)
Género: Landscapes
Medio: Color
Tomada el: 2007-12-11
Categorías: River
Cámara: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposición: f/13.0, 1/800 segundos
More Photo Info: [view]
Versión de la foto: Versión original, Workshop
Tema(s): Dedications at TrekNature Part Three [view contributor(s)]
Fecha enviada: 2007-12-12 5:25
Vista: 2293
Favoritos: 1 [Ver]
Puntos: 38
[Normas para las notas] Notas del fotógrafo
This landscape is dedicated to Bob Shannon ( eqshannon ) a man that I haven't known for long, but have learned a great deal from already. A man that I would love to meet someday and have him show me HIS wilderness. I don't do many landscapes as you know, so be gentle. This is the Milk River valley in a place called Writing On Stone. I will post some close up shots in the workshop, have a look. So here is to Bob may he continue to grace us with his talent of great images and insight.

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Location of Writing-on-Stone in Canada
Location Alberta Canada
Nearest city Milk River, Lethbridge
Coordinates 49°04′55″N 111°37′01″W / 49.08194, -111.61694
Area 17.8 km²
Established January 8, 1957 (park)
March 2005 (national historic site)
Governing body Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is located about 100 kilometres southeast of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada or 44 kilometres east of the community of Milk River, and straddles the Milk River itself. It is one of the largest areas of protected prairie in the Alberta park system, and serves as both a nature preserve and protection for a large number of Indian rock carvings and paintings. It has been nominated by Parks Canada and the Government of Canada as a World Heritage Site.


Resources
Writing-on-Stone Park contains the greatest concentration of rock art on the North American Great Plains. There are over 50 petroglyph sites and thousands of works. The park also showcases a North West Mounted Police (NWMP) outpost reconstructed on its original site.


Nature

The park is located in the Milk River Valley. To the south are the volcanic Sweetgrass HillsThe park comprises 17.80 square kilometres (4400 acres) of coulee and prairie habitat, and boasts a diverse variety of birds and animals.

Bird species include prairie falcon, great horned owl, short-eared owl, American kestrel, cliff swallow and the introduced ring-necked pheasant and grey partridge.

The prairie surrounding the park is a habitat for pronghorn antelope, and other species inhabiting the park include mule deer, northern pocket gophers, skunks, raccoons, yellow-bellied marmots, and the reclusive cougar. Tiger salamanders, boreal chorus and leopard frogs, and plains spadefoot toads represent the amphibians, and garter snakes, bull snakes and prairie rattlesnakes can be found.

The coulee environment is optimal for tree species such as balsam poplar and narrow leaf cottonwood. Peach leaf willow and plains cottonwood are also found here. A large number of shrubs grow here, including chokecherry, juniper, saskatoon, sandbar willow, and two varieties of wild rose. Some of the most northern species of cactus, including Opuntia (prickly pear) and Pediocactus (pincushion) are found in the park as well.

Prehistory
The location where the park now sits was, 85 million years ago, the coastal shelf of a large inland sea. Sand deposited in the Late Cretaceous Period compacted over time and became sandstone. With the melting of the ice sheets at the end of the last Ice Age, water, ice and wind eroded the sandstone to produce the hoodoos and cliffs that are part of the park today.


History

A hoodoo stands in the morning lightThere is evidence that the Milk River Valley was inhabited by the Blackfoot people as long ago as 9000 years. These natives probably created much of the rock carvings (petroglyphs) and paintings (pictographs). Other native groups such as the Shoshone also travelled through the valley and may have also created some of the art. These carvings and paintings tell not only of the lives and journeys of those who created them, but also of the spirits they found here. The towering cliffs and hoodoos had a powerful impact on the native visitors, who believed these were the homes of powerful spirits. The shelter of the coulees and the abundance of game and berries made the area that is now the park an excellent location for these nomadic people to stop on their seasonal migrations. While the greatest use of the area was made by those in transit, there is some evidence, including tipi rings and a medicine wheel, that there was some permanent settlement here.

Beginning about 1730, large numbers of horses, metal goods, and guns began to appear on the Western plains. This signified not only a change in the native lifestyle, but a change in the content of the rock art. Pictures of hunters on horseback, and warriors without body shields began to be created.

In 1887 a North West Mounted Police (the precursor to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) camp was set up at Writing-On-Stone to attempt to curtail cross-border whiskey smuggling, which was devastating the native population, and to put a stop to native horse-raiding parties. But in fact neither problem ever became serious at this outpost, and the NWMP spent most of their time fighting summer grass fires, herding stray American cattle back across the border, and riding hundreds of uneventful kilometres on border patrol. In the period immediately preceding World War I, settlers began to arrive in the area, which helped to alleviate some of the boredom and isolation the NWMP officers faced. In 1918, the outpost was closed, as Canadian authorities felt little possibility of criminal activity along the border, and shortly thereafter, the outpost fell victim to arson by persons unknown.

The park was created in 1957 and was designated an archaeological preserve in 1977. As part of the NWMP centennial celebrations, the outpost was reconstructed between 1973 and 1975, and is now one of the attractions in the park. Archaeologists from the Alberta Provincial Parks Department surveyed and catalogued numerous petroglyph and pictograph sites within the park in 1973. Crew members included Ron Shiltroth and Joanne (Lorill) Love. In 1981, a portion of the park was named a Provincial Historic Resource to protect this rock art from increasing impact from vandalism and graffiti. The most sensitive areas are now set aside in areas designated for guided tours only. In March 2005, the park was designated a National Historic Site. On June 20, 2007 the park's new visitor centre, with spectacular views of the valley from the north rim, was officially opened.
fartash, uleko, Argus, eqshannon, SelenE, NinaM, Luis52, Heaven, lovenature, vanderschelden ha puntuado esta nota como útil.
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Critiques [Translate]

hello rick,

bob is the one of the most respected and loved member here and this is reflected from the dedications posted for him and he deserves it for sure. All of us here at TN have learned a lot from him and his great work, this dedication is well deserved,

i liked this landscape shot, lovely natutal colour tones, you have managed exposure well,
nice composition,

well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Rick! Amazing landscape. Amazing colors. Very good sharpness. Good picture, very good. Regards!

Hello Rick,
a lovely note and a lovely photo which Bob completely deserves. I have no doubt that he will love this very much!

A very nice shot of this snow covered scene.
Well composed with a good POV.
Soft lighting and nice colours.
I noticed the sharpness was quite soft so I did a workshop to clean that up.

Well done Rick.
Cheers
Joe

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1102 W: 23 N: 3605] (12949)
  • [2007-12-12 5:43]

Hi Rick,
well maybe you should be doing more landscapes, as this is a great one! It has an amazing prehistoric feel to it. I like the barren, wild mood, looks like a harsh place, my favourite kind.
Heaps of depth, lovely muted colour and nice shapes from the rock formations...Bob will, i'm sure, be very pleased.
tfs
Paul

Hello Rick
What a wonderful scene you captured,
Great lighting,POV and composition,
Nice dedication :o)

Regards
fartashphoto.com

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2953 W: 162 N: 797] (2387)
  • [2007-12-12 7:06]

Hello Rick,
This is a very fascinating landscape with interesting sandstone formations. I like the POV and the light has brought out the beautiful colours here. Interesting note and fine images in Workshop too.
I'm sure Bob will like this too.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3743 W: 186 N: 11147] (34435)
  • [2007-12-12 7:20]

Hello Rick,
Excellent capture of what looks like an interesting but barren-looking landscape. Great lighting and the composition with the light covering of snow makes it look like a painting. Make a fine dedication to our friend Bob.
Great note too. Now I know what a hoodoo is!
Well done and thanks,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Scott Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 224 W: 0 N: 316] (1540)
  • [2007-12-12 8:37]

Rick,

That looks like a lonely, desolate, cold place. did I mention wind blown? Thanks for the extencive note: I like the composition, the thumb caught my eye.

TFS
Scott

Well for Pete's sake..I am humbled by so many dedications..and of course the landscapes are really what I love the most...It gives me a sort of mental map of where to go and see and where to run and hide should that need occur. And in this according to your notes, the petroglyphs would keep some archaeologist busy for a long time.

This image reminds me of coming to Washington State for the first time. I had previously had other visions of it..probably all based in Seattle, but when I see the vast ancient geology of the rocks and prairies and such..it is a dramatic way for change...

This is something I had not thought to see up there...So you also have some real different views than perhaps one, as I thought. And nicely done Rick. Thanks so much!
Bob

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2399 W: 63 N: 4206] (13770)
  • [2007-12-12 13:10]

Hi Rick,
Wonderful landscape. It reminded me of Cappadocia in Turkey. Very nice composition and details. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 781 W: 3 N: 2065] (6510)
  • [2007-12-12 13:19]

Hello Rick, this is a very beautiful photo. At first I read "Milky Way" instead of Milk River... and it is almost a milky way with snow and stones. Very nice, landscape and yes, as you go around so many places, you could do more of them as this one is great. I like the cold and the stones, what a strange place and how interesting. I wish I could visit such a place with so much history. Thank you very much for your interesting note and this great photo. It is a very nice dedication.

Francine

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-12-12 20:20]

Hello Rick

A super landscape,nothing like that around here,this has wonderful formations.
The textures and details are sharp with very good composition and POV.
Very well illuminated the colours are natural.
TFS

Rob

I think Bob will be tickled pink.

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 775 W: 104 N: 1658] (5812)
  • [2007-12-12 22:41]

Hi Rick!

You present us a wild and captivating landscape and mountain scenery. The composition is superb and the rock formations are fabulous. A wonderful authentic nature!

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16520)
  • [2007-12-12 22:57]

Hi Rick

When I saw the thumbnail, I thought -'Utah' - and then got a surprise when I opened it up. The composition is lovely. The valley separated the shot nicely and leads the eye along the flanking hoodoos.

James

Hi dear Rick , my friend,
nice and silent shot.
Great composition and well exposed.
my best wishes
Saeed

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 5 N: 3453] (12747)
  • [2007-12-13 6:40]

Hi Rick. Exelent landscapes for Mr. Bob Shannon. I deserves it, becose He really likes Nature. He is a great member and we all learn from the notes he writes all the time.
Regards. Luis52
PT.......

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2007-12-13 10:30]

Hello Rick ! Great landscape, perfectly sharp, great exposure and well composed. Great contrasts and colors. Well done !

Mario

Hi Rick
Excellent note!
I've never been to Writing On Stone in the winter, it looks great! Hoodoos with icing sugar. You've capture this wintery scene well with the low light and deep shadows. A far cry from the +40C summer weather. Well done.
We canoed the Milk River in 2005 and in 2006. The park was still working on the new Visitor Centre in 2006. I bet it's real interesting.
TFS Janice

Hi Rick,
Looks like another planet:-)
Just miss a bit Captain James Tiberius Kirk and his men...:-)
TFS
Annick

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