STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTOS BY NILS RIBI

Perhaps it’s the star that glittered over Bethlehem all those years ago. And a shift in itineraries brought it to shine over the Wood River Valley this year.

Whatever the case, Sun Valley photographer Nils Ribi caught a magnificent star and the way it showed our precious valley in a different light.

And he’s sharing it with readers of Eye on Sun Valley as his Christmas gift to all.

Ribi has picked some of his favorites taken during the past year. And, whether the brightly colored look at our colorful wildflowers or the stark look at a south valley homestead, they show us a glimpse of the valley we likely have never seen before.

“Moon Over Wood River Valley”—Nils was standing on a hill overlooking the valley helping the local HAM radio club test radios on Dec. 2 of this year. Suddenly, he looked up to see this star as he looked  south toward Hailey from Sun Valley. And, thank goodness, he had his ever-present camera with him.

“Idaho Bluebells and Boulder Mountains”--Late snows and heavy spring rains brought out an ample bloom of Idaho—or Mountain--bluebells just as summer made its debut. Nils took this photo on June 19 from the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

“Homestead on Silver Creek”--Driving the back roads and the lesser traveled roads of Blaine County always provides nice surprises. This is one Nils found on April 8 of this past year near Silver Creek.

“Sheep Trailing Peregrine Ranch”—Many of us enjoyed seeing the sheep encamped at the Peregrine Ranch this past fall as we drove through the valley. Nils had spent the last couple years looking for alternative way to photograph the Trailing of the Sheep Festival when he ran across this. He photographed the sheep in a relaxed setting the day following the annual trailing of the sheep through Ketchum.

“Last Light Aspens SNRA”—You may be wondering how Nils lit up this grove of aspen. Actually, it was the sun that did the work, shining its last light on these aspen at the end of the day on March 15.

Want to see more? Visit www.NilsRibiPhotography.com.