Item Number JLGt051
- Matte print on photographic paper
- 10-3/4" X 13-5/8" actual photo size
- 1-3/4" soft white matte (all around)
- 2-3/4" rustic/finished pine wood frame (all around)
- 19-1/2" X 22-1/2" finished size
- Shipping weight = 6lbs.
- Price = $150.00 (Includes shipping!)
- To purchase, call: (518) 915-4949
Or, send an e-mail to: jeff@jlgardnerphotography.com

So this one early morning while visiting South Dakota for work, I set out from Custer, SD (located in the heart of the Black Hills) for Rapid City, and decided to pass by Mount Rushmore in transit. Unfortunately there was a low cloud cover so Rushmore was not visible. I continued on and when I reached the intersection with Route 16, I decided to take a quick spin through Custer State Park, especially after reading about the free-range herd of buffalo that reside there. It was an outstanding decision! Not only was I one of the few vehicles driving through the park on the tour road that morning, but the same low clouds that had earlier prevented me from seeing Mt. Rushmore, had also deposited a fresh coat of frost on every surface in the park, including the buffalo! It was like riding through a winter wonderland. I took close to two rolls of film while there, many of the images you see in this collection are a result of that wonderful opportunity to see this beautiful place under pristine conditions.

And then, I came around a corner, desperately seeking to see my first herd of free-roaming buffalo and there they were, right in the middle of the road! I had to be patient while they eased themselves out of the way of my vehicle, but it gave me time to get my camera out and ready to shoot. Many of the larger bulls didn't move far off the road and just sort of stood there looking at me, almost seeming to wonder what species of animal I was!?! Any ways, still other buffalos were just off the road, eating or lounging, like this one, oblivious to the wayward wanderer with the child-like exuberance and camera clicking away!

Here's something about Custer National Park off the internet:"Custer State Park in the Black Hills encompasses 71,000 acres of spectacular terrain and an abundance of wildlife. Within the park, you’ll discover a world of adventure!"

"Favorite outdoor activities include hiking 7,242-foot Harney Peak, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, chuckwagon suppers and jeep rides to see the bison."

"The park boasts scenic drives such as the Needles Highway (SD 87), which twists and turns its way past towering rock formations and through narrow tunnels. At the end of one tunnel stands the Needles Eye, a granite spire with a slit only 3 to 4 feet wide but reaching 30 to 40 feet in the air."

"History and culture also abound. Walk the banks of French Creek, where Custer’s expedition first discovered gold in 1874. Take in a theater performance at the Black Hills Playhouse. Or, visit the log cabinthat was home to Badger Clark, South Dakota’s first poet laureate."