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Spring Floating on the Smith River in central Montana

A few weeks ago I accompanied some Ski Patrol friends on a week fly fishing float trip down the infamous Smith River in Central Montana and managed to photograph a little bit along the way. The last time I floated it was over ten years ago when I was fresh out of college. Now a little more seasoned, I returned to make images that would speak to the beauty of the place. The river is managed by Montana State Parks by a special permit to float, the resulting experience is profound. We floated through tall limestone walled canyons that yielded incredible wildlife watching, great fishing and an ecosystem chocked full of aquatic insects making for prime trout habitat. Here are a few snapshots from our week exploring the river. What an incredible place right here in our Montana backyard. It’s an asset that is under threat. A proposed large copper mine directly adjacent to and underneath Sheep Creek at the headwaters of the Smith River in central Montana is under debate right now that would drastically impact this river system. This is a resource too precious to destroy. Help to fight for it. Check out more information about the proposed mine on Save Our Smith website. I can’t wait to float it again next year. Thanks for looking. Cheers, -M

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Photographing Taco del Sol in Bozeman, Montana

Over the past year, I’ve been photographing the happenings of Taco del Sol taco shop in Bozeman, Montana. My good friends Marley and Matt have run the successful college town restaurant downtown for the past few years and they wanted a photographer to capture the atmosphere and feeling of the place. It’s been a fun project to work on and develop. Here are a few of my favorite photos I’ve made during my time there. If ever you find yourself hungry in downtown Bozeman, Montana, I hope you swing by and do yourself a favor by ordering some fish tacos. Delicious. Thanks for looking, -M

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Fall Fly Fishing in Yellowstone National Park

Fall in Montana and Wyoming has been exceptionally pretty this year. Perhaps it’s the small number of rainstorms that have allowed the colors to linger on the trees longer. It might just be my favorite time of year. I’ve been venturing over into Yellowstone National Park on my days off with intentions of finding spawning brown trout. While landing browns has been minimal, we did get into some sizeable rainbow trout. It’s been a while since I’ve brought my camera on a river trip and this time managed to snap a few picks in between my own casts. Hanging out with my buddy Mike and his college amigos gave me an opportunity to vicariously fish through my camera lens watching other anglers again. A familiar post. It was good to get back in the saddle but I must admit, I felt rusty. Still, I liked some photos that I got. Here are a few that stood out to me. I see more rivers on the horizon. Thanks for looking. Tight lines. -Mike

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Renewal of the Land and Water Conservation Fund – Photographing the Montana Ad Campaign

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I recently photographed a statewide campaign in Montana which aims to bring public awareness to renew The Land and Water Conservation Fund. Created by Congress in 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was a bipartisan commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources and our cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. National parks like Rocky Mountain, the Grand Canyon, and the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as national wildlife refuges, national forests, rivers and lakes, community parks, trails, and ball fields in every one of our 50 states were set aside for Americans to enjoy thanks to federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It’s up for reauthorization this fall and has provided Montanans with lots of open space like Peet’s hill here in town. As a fly fisherman, I support good public river access. Public land access is what makes this state so great. I’m proud to be apart of this cause. Sign this petition to let our Senators know how you feel about access to outdoor spaces.

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Fin – My last days as a Bozeman Daily Chronicle staff photographer

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Well, the changing tides of the media world reached us here yet again in Bozeman, Montana. For the past 2 1/2 years, I’ve been a staff photographer at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Last Friday morning, I was called at home by my editor and told that I and a few other employees throughout the newspaper had been laid off. Budget cuts by our parent company that was effective immediately. Ugh. Not easy news to hear. It’s been a great run documenting the people of Bozeman and surrounding communities through pictures for the newspaper. A ten year run as a newspaper photojournalist. Not bad. Crazy how all that time flies. It was a good run. I had a lot of fun telling stories, meeting people and taking candid photos. I won’t be putting the camera down anytime soon. I look to the future and I’m optimistic. Now I can focus other photographic endeavors. Plans are in the works. For a while now I’ve been growing my Greener Visuals Photography business and I plan to continue developing that as one of many creative outlets. Here are my favorite photos from my last couple of weeks with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Here I go. Onward to new horizons. More to come on that front. Stay tuned. -Mike Greener

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5th Annual Montana State University Cat Walk in downtown Bozeman Montana

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Some favorite photos from the 5th Annual Montana State University Cat Walk in downtown Bozeman Montana I photographed for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

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The Dog Days of Summer – July Photos from around Bozeman Montana

Some favorite photos from my time photographing for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle from July 2014.

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Photographing the 2014 Bridger Ridge Run

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Runners participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run make their way along the 20 mile race route of the Bridger Mountains Saturday morning.

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Runners participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run make their way along the 20 mile race route of the Bridger Mountains Saturday morning.

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Runners participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run make their way down from Sacajawea Peak along the 20 mile race route of the Bridger Mountains Saturday morning.

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Runners participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run make their way along the 20 mile race route of the Bridger Mountains Saturday morning.

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Runners participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run make their way down from Sacajawea Peak along the 20 mile race route of the Bridger Mountains Saturday morning.

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Runners participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run make their way down from Sacajawea Peak along the 20 mile race route of the Bridger Mountains Saturday morning.

Mike Greener/Chronicle
The view of the Bridger Mountains during the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run Saturday morning.

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Runners participating in the 30th Anniversary of the Bridger Ridge Run make their way along the 20-mile race route of the Bridger Mountains Saturday morning.

Early Saturday morning, I raced out of Bozeman towards the Fairy Lake Trailhead for the start of the Bridger Ridge Run. The event is a 20-mile jaunt along the ridgeline of the Bridger Mountain range. The race started at 7 am which mean at 6 am, I was tromping up the side of Sacajawea Peak to get a shot of the runners in their mountain top element. It’s a haul of a race and not for the timid. I wanted to show the runners in this unique race terrain. The early hour allowed me to capitalize on the sweet morning light as the sun breached the horizon. Running this crazy race is not something I would try to do but I was stoked to be up there with them all the while documenting their experience. Here are some of my favorite images from the morning. Cheers, -M

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Summer Arrives in Bozeman, Montana

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Mike Greener/Chronicle
Logan and Kim Dickerson, right, burst from their seats in reaction to a missed goal attempt by the United States during their World Cup match against Germany Thursday afternoon at the Bacchus Pub in downtown Bozeman.

Some recent work I did for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Happy 4th of July everyone! -Mike

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Wildflowers Along the “M” Trail Viewfinder in Bozeman, Montana for Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Mike Greener/Chronicle
Blue Alberta Penstemon and wild sunflowers.
Flora along the “M” Trail.
Head out any direction from your home doorstep and you are bound to come across one of the hundreds of abundant spring wildflowers that are currently blooming in full force across our local mountain sides and valleys. I decided to spend some time hiking along the “M” Trail this past week to get a closer look at all the natural color splashed across the Montana scenery.

Head out any direction from your home doorstep and you are bound to come across one of the hundreds of abundant spring wildflowers that are currently blooming in full force across our local mountain sides and valleys. I decided to spend some time hiking along the “M” Trail this past week to get a closer look at all the natural color splashed across the Montana scenery. Read more

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A beautiful Montana June in Photos

Here are some photographs I made for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle over the last couple of weeks. The weather has been cool and beautiful. Needless to say, I’ve been taking full advantage of the outdoors. Thanks for looking. -M

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Springtime around Bozeman, Montana

Warmer weather has come to southwest Montana and I am finding myself being pulled in ten thousand directions of fun. Folks around these parts have been getting outside and playing hard, myself included. I got back from my first backcountry yurt trip last weekend and am looking forward to riding my mountain bike this weekend. I love this spring time juxtaposition. The mountains have beautiful snow-capped peaks while everything in the hills and the Gallatin Valley floor has turned a lovely shade of green. Winter’s grip is quickly leaving the area and the longer days complete with Montana sunshine has been a warm welcome to all. People are venturing outside to get after their summertime leisures while the few hold on to the perks of winter. With such a heavy snowpack from this past winter, many of the local skiers have been out tackling the stable backcountry terrain while mountain bikers are finding drier conditions in lower elevations for riding single track. The buzz and excitement of the new season has everyone in high spirits. Here are some favorite images I’ve made in the last couple of weeks. Thanks for looking. Now go play outside! -M

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Photographing the Bozeman Limelight – Hawks Night Live on Stage, Championship Prep Basketball & Late Winter Concerts

 

I spent a lot of time this past month photographing photographing folks in the limelight both on court and on stage. March marks basketball tournaments and the Montana Class B State Championship was held here on the MSU Campus. I was there to document the games for the newspaper. It’s neat to watch all of the community/school pride flourish at events like these. For many of these tiny Montana farm town teams with their fans in tow, it is a big deal to compete in the state tournament. These tournament games matter and with the increased intensity, the emotions and aggressive plays, the opportunities to make good sport photos tend to happen more frequently. It’s fun to witness. Bozeman always seems to have some event or concert happening numerous times throughout the week. In March, found myself photographing the full gamut of them. Recycled item fashion shows were followed by the annual Hawks Night Live high school talent show to finally rounding the month off with a visit of the classic rock band ZZ Top to the Montana State University Brick Breeden field house. Never a dull moment in this town. Thanks for looking. -M

 

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Photos from 2014 Bozeman Run to the Pub 10K/Half Marathon Race

Last Saturday on assignment for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, I watched hundreds of my fellow Bozemanites run in the 2014 Bozeman Run to the Pub 10K/Half Marathon Race. The event is popular and runners were decked out in copious amounts of green to keep in step with the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The best part is the race ends downtown where everyone drinks beer afterwards in the street. Race organizers provided buses to take runners to the starting line which really cut down on the hassles of moving cars. It looked like a lot of fun. Makes me consider running it myself next year. Overall a great way to spend a Saturday. Here are some favorite photographs from the day. Cheers! -M

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Best Photographs of 2013 Mike Greener Photography

Here we go. Another year in the bag. I feel thankful. The year 2013 was another year of positive growth though at times I fought it kicking and screaming. The evolution of my photography continues and my love for Montana continues to grow. I’ve really been enjoying life here in Bozeman, Montana. Here are some favorite images from 2013. Looking forward to the new adventures of 2014. Happy New Year everyone! -M

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Color Portraits for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle Business Journal 20 Under 40

A big marathon portrait session I just completed published today in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. I had little time to come up with a concept so, in a pinch, I opted for color and a homemade ring flash. These were a lot of fun to make. There are a lot of awesome talented folks living around these parts. Be sure to check out the stories on the Business Journal website. Color! Boom! -M
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