Richmond Ridge Graces Cover of Lions Club Phone Book

SEELEY LAKE – While driving up Richmond Ridge during the first weekend of hunting season, Ed Callaway stopped to enjoy the changing colors and the bright yellow leaves drifting down. He snapped a photo with his phone. It quickly became a favorite of his and will be the featured photo on the cover of the Seeley Lake Lions Club 2018-2019 Phone Book.

Callaway currently lives in Great Falls. He lived in Seeley Lake and worked for Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Inc. in the mid-80s and now returns to visit family in the area. He is an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing and enjoying the outdoors, especially around Seeley Lake.

Although Callaway has dabbled with photography on and off for nearly 40 years, he considers himself an amateur. He loves to pack a camera to shoot landscapes, wildlife and capture special moments with his family.

"I love taking photos of the area around Seeley Lake," said Callaway. "It is one of my favorite areas in Montana to go to hunt and fish."

During the first week of hunting season this fall, Callaway was driving up Richmond Ridge. He stopped just before the burn area to take a break.

"The colors were popping pretty good with the tamaracks changing colors and the leaves changing colors," said Callaway. "I thought that's pretty amazing."

Callaway took a photo with his iPhone.

"I'm always taking photos everywhere I go up there but that one I particularly liked," said Callaway. Callaway had the photo as his screen saver on his phone for months and was encouraged to submit it to the Lions Club for their cover photo contest.

"I've always known about the contest but I've never taken a photo that might be worthy for it," said Callaway.

There were eight photos submitted for this year's contest. The Lions committee liked the fall colors and format of the photo.  

"I still can't believe it. It's still very amateur and I didn't anticipate I would win."

Callaway said he saw a few other photos that were submitted that he thought were pretty excellent as well.

This photo inspired Callaway to get back into photography so he ordered himself a new Nikon DX3300 with two lenses. He said it is a highly rated camera for beginners, "so I thought I would start there."

The new Lions Club phone book will be available end of January. All post office boxes in Seeley Lake, Condon, Ovando and Helmville will receive a book. Extra copies will be available at Rovero's for a suggested donation of $5.