You may notice photos around our website that look a little “aged”. These pictures from the past were taken by our dearly loved Father-in-law, Mickey.
Mickey spent much of his life photographing the prairies, wildlife, and farm that he loved so much.
for the public
Mickey sold his pictures at local fairs and craft shows. He made frames from old barn wood he picked up from around the farm. A modest and generous man, he always sold his art for a reasonable price.
On of Mickey’s photos was displayed at the Smithsonian, Several others were published in local papers over the years. The family all remembers an instance when two deer got their horns entangled while fighting. Mickey found them in a field when one was dead and the other was weak from dragging his competitor around. Mickey quickly snapped a picture and grabbed the family to help him capture the surviving animal. With the help of his wife and oldest son, they were able to free the surviving deer. Mickey sent the story and picture in to the Great Falls Tribune. They liked it so much they published it.
At the ready
Mickey always wanted to be at the ready to capture a flooded creek, a sunset, combines in the field, or whatever inspired him. He always carried a camera in his pickup or tractor. He would send off his film in the mail to be developed because our rural area had no other options.
Mickey had a fancy tripod and lenses before he had kids. While the family was young and still growing one of the kids broke an expensive lens. So he decided to pack away his expensive equipment for a simple SLR camera until the kids grew older. His family was always important to him and he didn’t want his hobby and passion to keep him from them. As he grew older and his family grew to include grand kids, he encouraged us all to photograph the people and places around us.
I have always found it intriguing to look at old photos and see how people dressed, lived and worked. Back in the late 1800 a woman named Evelyn Cameron photographed life in rural Montana. Her story is inspiring, and in a lot of ways not so different from my own.
Mickey’s photographs are the next chapter in that history for us. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.