I have never felt like a 5-year old boy.
Heck, I’ve never felt like a BOY (except for some days when I shower the night before, sleep on my hair soaping wet, and instead of looking like a wet rat, I throw a ball-cap on top of my head).
But last night?
I DID.
There I was, outside of Montana Resources, camera on my tripod, SO GIDDY that this truck the size of a house was going to dump it’s load (ok now I sound like myself talking about my 14-month old…never mind, lets not go there).
And as my camera did it’s 30-second exposure thing, I just sat there in awe, watching this beast let tons of rock fall out…this beast, that as my children say when we drive home on Continental from grandma and grandpas, “look so small.”
That’s right, they “look little.”
Which, when you’re on Continental, is true. They totally LOOK little…but they are the size of a small house, or really like the size of a double garage, but lifted up higher on wheels the size of two Pontiac Bonneville stacked on top of each other (actually, probably taller).
So BACK TO THE POINT.
I’m in awe.
Awe of the machinery.
Awe of the workers.
Awe of this city that’s built on mining, and keeps it’s pride on what this town is built from.
Awe that if it weren’t for mining here in Butte, who knows where the metal for the wars would have come from.
Awe that what we, or rather they, do at MRI travels around the country, likely even the world.
Check out the photos, let me know what you think.
****NOTE: be sure to go all the way to the bottom, to see 4 minutes worth of trucks dumping, moving, etc!
BELOW: a 30 second exposure.
What else do I LOVE about the mine?
The people….
Yep, the people.
This “mine princess” Genna Gardner wanted photos at Montana Resources, since her family has a pretty big history in mining. You might recognize her Grandpa’s name, former MRI President Frank Gardner from a recent article about Montana Resources. He had a BIG part in making sure the mine re-opened under Denis Washington. (I would link the article, but when I google it, only older articles pop up)
Interested in Fall, Winter, or Urban/Mining Family Portraits?
Drop me a line, and I’ll get back to you with more info!
Even in the background of family photos, you’ll often see Montana Resources. And everybody in Butte loves it – it’s part of the history here – part of the background.
And then there are the other mines. The underground mines, the headframes. I can’t even COUNT home many family portraits I’ve done with head frames in the background!
