Through
his lens
NorthWestern Energy compliance coordinator finds perfect hiking companion – his camera. By Jo Dee Black
Photography is now Jason’s art, and he’s built
NorthWestern Energy Compliance Coordina-
an expansive inventory of images, including scenery
tor Jason Boeckel lived at Georgetown Lake after
and black-and-white photos of old machinery, trucks
he started working at Dave Gates Generating Sta-
and ghost towns.
tion near Anaconda, Montana. During the week,
Wildlife and scenery are his preferred subjects,
moose and eagles were the neighbors he saw
although he did do prom photos and senior portraits
most often, especially in the spring and fall.
at the request of a friend.
It was those neighbors that sparked a
“Teenagers are just a different kind of wild-
renewed interest in a former hobby – photography.
life,” he said.
“I started taking photos back in high school
Right now, his images are gifts for friends
in the film days to get ideas for paintings,” said
and family and posted on social media and online
Jason, who grew up in Glendive, Montana, and
birding sites.
took art classes in high school. “Now in the digital camera era, you can take high quality images easily, and affordably. I don’t know who said it, but the
Jason uses a compact Panasonic Lumix Jason Boeckel, NorthWestern Energy Compliance Coordinator
quote ‘For $200, you too can be Ansel Adams’ really is true.”
camera, has worn out several others - and broken a couple.
“The technology in these point-and-shoot cameras is impressive
A lifelong hiker, Jason’s frequent trips in the Lee Metcalf National
and you don’t feel as bad when you drop them,” he said. “The key is to
Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville, Montana, provide ample opportunities
get as much optical zoom capacity and pixels as you can. One day I’ll
to photograph birds and other wildlife.
probably buy a more expensive camera, but I’m probably not packing it
“There was a great horned owl nest near the trail one year, and I think they were the most photographed owls in the state ... maybe the country,” he said. “But there are also birds others don’t get to see very much. There were some Virginia Rail (marsh bird) babies in the refuge that I was lucky enough to watch and photograph last summer.”
up a mountain.” He may also launch a side business in the future with his images. For now, photography is the perfect complement for Jason’s hiking pursuits. “Hiking has always been my way to get outside in the wilderness
Mountain goats, moose, elk and bears are sometimes on the other
and get away from things,” he said. “There is nothing so satisfying as
side of Jason’s camera lens, but he finds himself pursuing waterfowl, rap-
working your tail off to get up a drainage, thinking, ‘Why am I doing this?’
tors and small birds most often.
then getting to the top, turning around, looking back and you know, ‘Yep,
“I probably used to make fun of birders, but I’ll be hiking, hear a bird and stop and sit to watch for it,” he said.
38 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3
this is why.’”