Abandoned Dream – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
In 1970, E.B. White published a fictional children’s novel called The Trumpet of the Swan, which is largely set in Red Rock Lakes, Montana. E.B. White is probably best known for penning Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, both of which are literary classics. While The Trumpet of the Swan is not as well known as the other two books, it is also considered a classic children’s novel. Not long before our road trip, we read this book as a family.
My 10-year-old son, Jonathan, who likes geography—you will frequently find him looking at maps and drawing maps—said to me, “Look, I found Red Rock Lakes!” He pointed to a spot on the map that appeared to be very close to our campsite in Island Park, which is in Idaho but very close to Montana. It turns out that the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, which is where the book is set, was only an hour drive away from our campsite. We made plans to visit this remote refuge while there.
The Red Rock Lakes area features lakes, rivers, marshlands, prairies, forested uplands, and mountain peaks. It’s highly diverse. Over 250 species of birds have been spotted in the refuge, including the illusive trumpeter swan, the main character of E.B. White’s novel. Moose, elk, deer, bears, wolves and many other animals call this place home.
Upper Red Rock Lake – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
The road to Red Rock Lakes is dirt. Rough at times, lightly flooded at times, and narrow at times, and quite rural the entirety, this was a fun drive in our four-wheel-drive truck. We did see some other cars and people, plus plenty of UTVs, but mostly we were alone. Not many people venture out to this lonely place. Red Rock Lakes might not be easy to get to, but it is highly rewarding and worth the journey.
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is incredibly beautiful! Breathtakingly beautiful at times, in fact. It’s a landscape photographer’s playground! I didn’t see much wildlife myself, but I image that wildlife photographers would love this place, too. Upper Red Rock Lake (which I have no idea why it’s named that as I didn’t see many red rocks) is surprisingly still and reflective. It reminded me a little of the Great Salt Lake, but smaller and freshwater. In some ways the refuge was like stepping into E.B. White’s book, and seeing it in person brought the words to life. I would love to spend several days there, not just a few hours. I hope to someday return.
These photographs were mostly captured with a Fujifilm X100V, and a couple were with a Fujifilm X-T30 and Fujinon 90mm f/2 lens. On the X100V I used my “The Rockwell” and Kodak Tri-X 400 film simulation recipes. On the X-T30 I used my Velvia and Tri-X 400 recipes. Both cameras are great, but the X100V is such a wonderful travel camera that it renders the other gear largely unnecessary.
Red Rock Lakes Sign – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Red Rock Road – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Frontier Hills – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Dilapidated Dream – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Abandoned House by the Hill – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Green Hills – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Distant Mountains – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Mountain Meadow – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Mountain Wildflowers 1 – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Mountain Wildflowers 2 – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Wildflower Meadow – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Wildflowers in the Forest – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Forest Flowers – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Flower in the Forest – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm
Poolside – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Red Rock Lake in Green – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Algae Water – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Pelican on the Shore – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Looking For Trumpeter Swans – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Grey Reflections – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X-T30 & Fujinon 90mm
Upper Red Rock Lake Monochrome – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Monochrome Lake Reflections – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Water Pipe – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Part 4 coming soon!
I have 2 Fuji cameras (X-A1 and X-T20), so i am interested in your blog. I now will follow.
Best regards
Bernhard
Thank you! That X-T20 is a good camera. It’s what my wife has, and I use it occasionally myself.
Have to say that I usually like the more dialled back film sims, but this Rockwell recipe is stunning
Thanks! In the right situations it can be incredible.