by Fire Girl Jess on November 29, 2017
We’re nearly to December (how did that happen, anyway?) and I’ve been sorting through a bevy of images for contest entry season. It’s always an interesting exercise to go back through the past year’s trips and publications, reflect on how the hell did we pull that off, think of good times with solid people and just be grateful for the ability to be able to do this weird career. Somehow the 70-hour workweeks seem oh-so-worth it when I step back and think about the people I’ve met along the way!
As days shorten (it got dark before 5PM today here in Montana after an icy day), it’s easy to daydream about warm summer days. Long evening cruises on the SUP, dry fly fishing, flip-flops and tank tops sound mighty fine right now, but I’ll snuggle in my down coat, drink a load more coffee and keep on pressing through paperwork.
Seasons. Both in nature and in our work.
Want to follow along on new adventures and see some old gems from shoots past? Follow along on Instagram!
by Fire Girl Jess on November 11, 2017
It’s been a busy week running around the region shooting a series of assignments for the Montana Department of Agriculture. From local beef served in Livingston elementary schools to MAP Brewing in Bozeman to Montana Cross Farms in Twin Bridges, it’s been a change of pace from my normal fish-centric fare. Montana Cross was a personal favorite — felt fantastic to be back on a working farm and outside… made me miss my stall-mucking, hay-bucking childhood.
Thanks to icy roads and the fact that winter has decided to arrive full-force here in Montana, it was less fun to be driving around, but low and slow is the name of the game, and gets it done. Had a couple days of dawn patrol hunting this week as well — somehow it’s easier to get out of bed at 4:30AM, even in the snow and darkness, if there’s game to be chased. About to head down to Texas for a few weeks of work… eager for a bit of sunshine and warm temps already!
by Fire Girl Jess on October 30, 2017
It’s been a hectic few weeks here in Big Sky Country. Changes are afoot — good ones, stay tuned for more! — and my default mode to manage stress apparently involves too much time at the gym, unhealthy amounts of coffee and knocking out a large amount of writing assignments. It’s all good; 2017 has been an interesting year and the final few months of the year are promising to be even more interesting.
That said, sometimes it’s important to get outside and away from it all. 
In preparation for the opening of rifle season, spent a windy (but blissfully sunny) afternoon with my brother out in Paradise Valley last week sighting in rifles and getting in a bit of target practice. It’s always been oddly soothing, and breathing exercises — whether they’re in the yoga studio or looking down a rifle scope — are helpful when they world’s seemingly sprinting a million miles an hour. I left the cameras at home, just wanting to enjoy a bit of down time, but ended up snagging a couple of iPhone photos (with my dinosaur iPhone 5) of the autumn color.
A friend has been nagging me on the importance of taking a bit of mental “down time,” and it’s an interesting thought. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the mindset of trying to jam in everything possible into every waking hour, especially in freelance life. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid, it’s as simple as that… there’s no showing up tired to work one day and simply coasting though without really doing much. So I’m working on the idea of blocking out at least one afternoon a week to step away from the computer, leave the camera in the Pelican case, and getting away from work. Easier said than done. At this point, airplane rides are my down time (who else loves to fly simply for the uninterrupted reading and movie-watching?). Early morning gym sessions are also gloriously uninterrupted thinking time, and it’s easier to climb out of bed in the darkness if I know I’ve got an hour to myself of just thinking (and sweating) time.
Churning through writing / editing a catalog project for a client (working on catalogs always feels like coming home, somehow) early this week, then heading out to the Northeast for a two-day business trip. Then back to Bozeman for a few weeks, and maybe a bit of fall hunting / fishing / image-making. Stay tuned.
by Fire Girl Jess on October 20, 2017
Always fun to see what makes it into the pages of American Angler. There are some full-length image / written features coming up, but snuck this image into the October / November issue in the meantime. Angler Jake Wells made the most of a hot afternoon fishing a lake during a horsepacking backpack trip into Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness last summer with the awesome folks at Absaroka-Beartooth Outfitters.
It was a hot July day; we’d worked our way along Hellroaring Creek, fishing deep holes and pushing through slow sections. Outfitters Cameron dropped us downriver and took the horses upstream… the Montana version of valet parking. At one point I put the camera down and went eight fish for eight casts — the fishing was that good — and was once again reminded there’s something special about healthy, hungry Yellowstone Cutthroat who will eat (or attempt to eat) anything in their line of vision. Afterward, we mounted up and headed uphill to this lake, where we fished for a bit and then went for a swim in the frigid waters (it’s a good day shooting when I can grab the underwater housing and swim out into any water to photograph an angler back on the shore).
Just another day at work in the wild country of Montana.
by Fire Girl Jess on October 9, 2017
I had fun penning these two pieces for the October / November issue of Outdoors Unlimited, the publication of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. OWAA is a fantastic organization doing strong work to engage, support and encourage the growth of outdoor journalists in the States.
The first piece (page 6), a re-run of a blog feature I wrote several months ago, talks about the often-not-so-glamorous realities of being a traveling fly-fishing photographer (or really any outdoor photographer). Spoiler: it’s not all glamorous locations, big fish and flashy resorts. As I noted in the original piece: “In between the monster fish, beautiful locations and far-flung locales, there’s plenty of sleeping on grimy airport floors, getting tested for tropical diseases and eating whatever food might be on hand (readily identifiable or not. When in Rome, and all that).” Hopefully this serves as a bit of a reality check for the myriads of aspiring outdoor journalists who only see the romantic side of the industry. Don’t get me wrong — it’s an incredible way to explore the world, push boundaries and meet new people — but it comes at a significant cost.
The second piece (page 8) details one of the most surprising destinations I’ve visited in the past year. Southwest Louisiana is a veritable treasure trove of adventures — both culinary and outdoors – and is far enough removed from the glitz and glamor of New Orleans to offer a real slice of Louisiana life. I visited this spring, and was blown away by the region and, even more so, by its people. I’m planning a return visit next spring for Contraband Days, a festival celebrating the area’s impressive pirate history (I can’t be the only one who grew up on tales of Jean Lafitte.) I’d recommend a visit to anyone looking for a little something out of the ordinary.
by Fire Girl Jess on October 4, 2017
I had fun penning this piece for DIYFishing.com, talking about a selection of some of my favorite gear for backcountry escapades.
“Fall in the backcountry can provide a clean break from the “bumper car” experience on frontcountry rivers. But those un-pressured cutties and eager brookies must be earned. And you must be prepared to work. By the time boots hit the dirt, most experienced backcountry anglers have figured out their fishing gear. For creeks, the typical kit includes 3- to 4-weight rods and assorted topwater bugs. For lakes, heavier rods, intermediate or sinking lines, and a few trusted streamers might make the trip.”
Read the full feature here.
by Fire Girl Jess on September 30, 2017
Two years ago I joined a team of anglers, marketing pros and lodge experts for an expeditionary shoot on a small, remote atoll in French Polynesia. We came away with a stellar story, new friends and the images for Costa’s 2016 campaign. I was happy to see an email roll into my inbox yesterday with a familiar image; Costa is using imagery from the shoot for the launch of their #OneCoast campaign. Always happy to see clients continually return to imagery!
