南达科他South Dakota

Mount Rushmore had a reputation bigger than the thing itself. It was the reason for this trip to South Dakota; once there, I felt I had seen what there was to see. The photo I most wanted to keep from that stop was of a Porsche 356 A in the parking lot. Going to see four presidents and coming away partial to a car feels a little unfair to the official attraction.

Custer, fortunately, gives you somewhere to go beyond standing and looking up. The road bends into the hills, and the scenery keeps you company on foot. Two loops added up to roughly ten miles. There were more deer along the way than place names to remember.

Seven or eight on a single trail. They were patient with people, raising their heads, waiting for you to pass, then returning to the grass. A hiker has the next stretch of trail to think about; a deer has an unfinished mouthful. Under that steady look, I felt like the temporary addition to the scene, the thing that would be leaving shortly.

In Badlands, I found that the hills get a generous deal from the camera. Small earthen formations crowd together and come out looking like a mountain range. Standing beside them restores their proportions. It takes very little effort to exaggerate on their behalf.

There is plenty going on at the foot of these hills. Bare slopes, but grasses and cactus growing between them, and yellow flowers blooming with no apparent reservations. We make a special trip to see these hills. For the things growing here, this is simply a place to get on with life, and they are flowering abundantly.

In this last photograph, the hills can give up some of their grandeur. Let them step back and leave room for the flowers.