Taken near Red Lodge, Montana in the ghost town of Bear Creek. Bear creek died when the nearby coal mine suffered a huge disaster where 74 men were killed. This was the largest mine accident in Montana.

A lot going on in this photograph, after a few minutes I think it works, a sad story associated to it, I think the overall composition works and the range of colours is great

Herriot .

I love the mountain ranges in the background, but a sad story. Thanks for sharing...
Greg

Thanks for the comments.
When I drove by the ruins I got a glimpse of the Pryor mountains through the window of the house. I could never get the angle I wanted through the window, but I thought this was a nice second choice, the Pryors form a nice backdrop for the ruined house. The Pryors were featured in the "Nature" documentary CLOUD: WILD STALLION OF THE ROCKIES, on PBS. In the film the Pryors are referred to by the Crow name for the range: the Arrowheads.
Only 77 men were at work that day in the Smith Mine, and only 3 walked away. The recently erected sign by the road says it replaced a much simpler message left by 2 of the miners resigned to the inevitable: "Walter and Johnny. Good-bye wives and daughters. We died an easy death. Love from us both be good."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Mine_disaster
I have driven by this mine half a dozen times and never realized the story behind the ghosts of Washoe and Bear Creek. Wiki says the the photo there was taken in 1999, but I can't ever remember seeing the signs until this year, and I usually stop to read those things. The third town near the mine, Red Lodge, has found something better than coal: White Gold, the Red Lodge Ski Area is Billings closest ski area.

My initial thought was that perhaps a half step less exposure would have left more saturated colors but I think I like the harsh sunlit feel you've captured.
Some of my favorite country is nearby. Riding up the Beartooth pass and seeing the wonderful alpine scenery on top is quite an experience.

I'd be all over that place with my camera if I had the chance.
I wonder if a wider angle or step back would work better to show the environment in which this is found.

A forty-five degree angle would have been much better to give the house a more 3 dimensional less flat look.

Ronnoco