rjWilner.photography

ReelfootLake 0063

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 05/20/2017 @ 0735
Copyright 2017: RJ Wilner Photography

"He was the Zen Master. People from all walks of life just naturally gravitated to him as his presence just seemed to suck all the negativity, stress, and anxiety out of a room. He was perfectly at home playing timed chess in the city park with the homeless, and equally comfortable sitting in a board room of a major corporation discussing quarterly earnings reports."

ReelfootLake 0056

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 5/20/2017 @ 06:25
Copyright 2017: RJ Wilner Photography

"People were always amazed when told they were brothers. One had leaned into life....hard. And life had leaned back with equal measure. The other.....they all called him The Zen Master. He was just...'cool'."

Reelfoot Lake 169

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 5/19/2017 @ 19:34
Copyright 2017: RJ Wilner Photography

Reelfoot Lake 066

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 5/19/2017 @ 08:43
Copyright 2017: RJWilnerPhotography

"He'd led a hard life as a result of some of the choices he'd made along the away. And it showed. He had the appearance of one who was 40 going on 60."

ReelfootLake 051

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 05/19/2017 @ 06:31
Copyright 2017: RJ Wilner Photography

This particular sunrise didn't initially look like it was going to be anything special. And in fact, I had semi-sorta thrown in the towel on my initial location thinking the light show for the morning was on the downhill slide. Fortunately, I had planned to stop at this location anyway as it was a very short walk from where I'd started. And wouldn't ya know....Mother Nature reminded me yet again it's almost always best to wait things out.
I do need to go back some time and isolate that little dancing fool of a tree in an LE shot.

Reelfoot Lake 026

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 5/19/2017 @ 06:08
Copyright 2017: RJ Wilner Photography

Reelfoot Lake 064

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 5/18/2017 @ 19:52
Copyright 2017: RJWilner Photography

Shaw Nature Reserve 0025

Location: Shaw Nature Reserve ~ Date/Time Captured: 3/24/2017 @ 14:04
Copyright 2017: RJWilner Photography

"She shone brightest when the world around her was most turbulent."

Shaw Nature Reserve 014

Location: Shaw Nature Reserve ~ Date/Time Captured: 03/24/2017 @ 13:35

"The townsfolk were known to be a little protective of their young celebrity with the big personality."

Shaw Nature Reserve 0005

Location: Shaw Nature Reserve ~ Date/Time Captured: 03/24/2017 @ 13:08

"His sermons had always been rather animated, but when he began wielding his walking stick overhead, people had come to expect the fire & brimstone to start in earnest."

Sunridge County Park 0015

Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 01/02/2017 @ 16:34

Lake Tishomingo 0066

A 'lake fog' morning. One of those where the sky overhead was virtually cloudless with the sun shining brightly. But the lake created it's own atmosphere, and the fog bank it created was a thick one and took quite some time to start burning off substantially.

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Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 11/06/2016 @ 07:24

Lake Tishomingo 0008

What a terrific morning shooting on the lake. Temp was a brisk 39F, and the lake essentially created it's own fog bank.....a thick one at that. There were brief periods when the opposite shore could barely be seen, and then moments like this one where the fog thinned out just enough to reveal pieces of the land surrounding it. And just watching the fog ebb & flow through the scene was not unlike watching a river moving over a rocky bed.

Location: Jefferson County, MO

Morton Overlook 001

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Botany Bay 0043

Location: Edisto Island, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/10/2016 @ 07:19

The Boneyard 0017

"He was the proverbial Gloomy Gus. Even when basking in the light with oodles of rays of hope and windows of opportunity swirling about him, he could only see the dark underbelly of life."

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Location: Edisto Island, South Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/10/2016 @ 06:42

Botany Bay 0008

Location: Edisto Island, South Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/10/2016 @ 06:31

Folly Beach 0034

Location: Folly Island, SC

Folly Beach Pier 006

Location: Folly Island, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/09/2016 @ 07:32

Ravenel Bridge 0063

Location: Charleston, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/08/2016 @ 21:22

Ravenel Bridge 0026

Location: Charleston, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/08/2016 @ 20:43

Angel Oak 010

Estimated to be approximately 700 yr old, Angel Oak is the largest tree east of the Mississippi.

Location: Johns Island, South Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/08/2016 @ 09:48

Folly Beach 0032

Morris Island Lighthouse from Folly Beach shortly after sunrise.

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Location: Folly Island, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/08/2016 @ 07:17

Folly Beach 0018

Location: Folly Island, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/08/2016 @ 06:54

Folly Beach Pier 007

Location: Folly Island, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/07/2016 @ 08:42

Folly Beach 0035

Morris Island Lighthouse from Folly Beach at sunrise.

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Location: Folly Island, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/07/2016 @ 8/7/2016, 06:51

Folly Beach 0023

Morris Island Lighthouse in a long exposure just after sunrise.

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Location: Folly Island, South Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/07/2016 @ 06:29

Lake Moultrie 0030

Location: Lake Moultrie, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/06/2016 @ 20:11

The Boneyard 0019

"The war of words had subsided, but it was evident from their back-to-back posture that neither had let go of the hostility."

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Location: Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/06/2016 @ 07:38

The Boneyard 0015

"The quicksand of life had been hard on the entire family. Some had succumbed completely. Others seemed destined to do the same. Even the patriarch, the strongest of the clan, seemed to straddle the edge between finding solid ground and slipping into the darkness of despair."

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Location: Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Managment Area, SC ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/06/2016 @ 07:27

The Boneyard 0002

"Son, you best get your head out of the clouds and start acting like a grown ass man. And clean up your damn room. I don't know how you live in that pigsty with all that clutter."

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Location: Edisto Island, South Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/06/2016 @ 06:26

Lake Tishomingo 0040

Location: Jefferson County, MO

MO Botanical Garden

Location: Japanese Garden in MO Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO

Laurel Falls 0010

Just returned from a weeklong photo excursion that incorporated a long weekend in the Outer Banks with some great shooters, and followed up with a quick solo pass through Great Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park. This image is from the latter and was the last capture of the trip.

After having made the 1.3mi hike up to the falls just as the sun was beginning to rise and capturing a few compositions, I hiked back down to the car. And as I loaded the gear in the car to begin the trek home, I experienced a couple conflicting emotions....

This trip was ending. There would be no more sand in the shoes...no more adapting our shooting plans to take advantage of whatever conditions Mother Nature decided to provide.....no more of the almost ritualistic go out & shoot then return to the rental and upload/preview the images captured in that session......followed by hilarious celebration of National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day. No more laughing incessantly at Brian Regan's comedy bit about visits to a hospital Emergency Room....no more Stack 'Em High breakfasts....no more shock at the site of a shattered Big Stopper and jacked up zoom lens resulting from MoNat deciding to huff & puff hard enough to blow the tripod over ***15 minutes into the very firt shooting session of the trip*** while at Nags Head Pier. No more glee at the ability to see the Milky Way **with the naked eye** for the first time in my 65+ yr. And no more enjoying the beauty of the North Carolina countryside on the drive from the OBX over to Great Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park with the Red Buds & Dogwoods in full bloom. Insert melancholy moment here.

And as quickly as the moment of melancholy had struck me, it was replaced by a big wide grin at my good fortune to have been part of such a fun filled adventure. As I closed the tailgate of the CRV and walked around to the driver's side, I'm sure the couple getting out of the car next to me wondered what the heck was up with this crazy old fart grinning from ear to ear. Sorry folks....you just don't know.

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Location: Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/06/2016 @ 07:56

Cades Cove 0068

Location: Sparks Lane, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Cades Cove 0029

Location: Sparks Lane, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/05/2016 @ 07:41

Friscoe Pier 0146

The sun rises between the 'legs' of Frisco Pier casting some wonderful shadows across the beach sand. This scene ended a terrific shooting session starting with some Milky Way captures over the pier followed by some 'blue hour' shooting and finished off with this. A truly memorable experience.

Location: Hatteras Island, North Carolina

Frisco Pier 0066

The remains of Frisco Pier during 'blue hr' with the moon rising just above the pier's shed. Toss in the very earliest signs of the sun beginning to rise and it made for a magical morning.

Location: Outer Banks, NC

Frisco Pier 0057

What a terrific Outer Banks trip this shooting session capped off. I had arrived on site at roughly 04:30a in hopes of capturing a trio of shots of this pier starting with a 'Milky Way' shot, a 'blue hour' shot, and one at sunrise. My first few astro captures, the Milky Way was almost laying horizontally over the pier. By the time I captured this one, it was turning to a more vertical orientation rather quickly. And when the moon began to rise, I felt fortunate to still have the Milky Way play a significant role in the composition. G-R-E-A-T session!

Location: Hatteras Island, NC

Jockey Ridge State Park 0034

Location: Jockey Ridge State Park, Outer Banks

Jockey Ridge State Park 0013

The 'alien' landscape sensibility that dunes shots can create has always been an attraction for me. And this one at Jockey Ridge as the sun was beginning to sink towards the horizon does just that.

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Location: Jockey Ridge State Park, Outer Banks ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/03/2016 @ 18:43

Nags Head Pier 0022

Location: Nags Head, Outer Banks, NC ~ Date/Time Captured: 4/3/2016 @ 07:11

Bodie Island Lighthouse 0038

Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/02/2016 @ 19:20

Bodie Island Lighthouse 0034

After arriving in the Outer Banks 2 afternoons prior and experiencing almost complete overcast and/or rain right up until an hr before this shot, it was gracious of MoNat to decide to give us a break and provide some wonderful light for sunset on this evening.

Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks, NC

Bodie Island Lighthouse 0007

Though our group was somewhat disheartened by the constant overcast and occasional rain/wind weather our first couple days on the Outer Banks, it turns out it was a blessing in disguise for long exposure B&W shots such as this. Though the cloud cover was thick, there was good 'texture' in them and their movement was such that "there woren't no grass growin' under their feet".

Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks, NC

Frisco Pier 006

Location: Hatteras Island, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/01/2016 @ 08:02

Hatteras Island Lighthouse 016

Location: Hatteras Island, North Carolina

Nags Head 006

At the time of our trip, our group wasn't entirely sure of the purpose these concrete block formations...though there was some conjecture they served as some sort of erosion control (later confirmed). I, however, am convinced it is some kind of marker beacon for incoming Klingon warships. :)
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Location: Nags Head, Outer Banks, NC ~ Date/Time Captured: 03/31/2016 @ 16:49

Lake Tishomingo 0005

A long exposure from one of my 2 favorite locations for shooting the lake community on which I reside.

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Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 01/31/2016 @ 07:14

Lake Tishomingo 0067

We had several unusually foggy mornings during this week, and fortunately for me, this one happened to occur on a day I was able to go out and shoot! Lake Tishomingo being a man-made residential community lake, there are limited locations where I can shoot without the 'hand of man' being a significant role player in a composition. And this location was new to me. In the past, there were 2 locations I always gravitated towards, and you will find other images on this site taken from those. But it was good to find a new one...especially one that works so well for these early morning, sun breaking through the fog, shots.

I was especially enamored of the boat dock barely peeking out from the shoreline and capturing the sun rays finding their way through the tree tops.

Location: Jefferson County, MO

Reelfoot Lake 042

The Story: "It was a tightly knit community with a lot of secrets...some dark. In reality, there were no secrets because everyone knew everybody else's secrets. And it caused a few seismic ripples in the community when one of it's younger, frailer, members elected to forego the world of secrets and stepped boldly out into the light and declared.....'No More! No more secrets!"

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2016 IPA ~International Photography Awards~

Entered as one of a 3 part series entitled 'The Secret Lives of Trees'

- Honorable Mention: Fine Art -Landscape

- Honorable Mention: Nature - Trees

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Location: Reelfoot Lake, TN ~ Date/Time Shot: 10/24/2015 @ 14:42

Reelfoot Lake 032

The Story: "His life had been marred by significant tragedy, and only recently had he begun to show signs of being made whole again."

Location: Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tennessee ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/24/2015 @ 09:14

Reelfoot Lake 024

The Story: "They were a tight knit family who enjoyed their privacy and maintained a distance from the hubbub of the mainstream."

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2016 IPA ~International Photography Awards~

Entered as one of a 3 part series entitled 'The Secret Lives of Trees'

- Honorable Mention: Fine Art -Landscape

- Honorable Mention: Nature - Trees
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Location: Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/24/2015 @ 08:52

Reelfoot Lake 018

Location: Reelfoot Lake, TN

Reelfoot Lake 011, 10/24/2015

The Story: She was overheard saying...."I don't care if the neighbors are watching, Kiss Me you old fool!"

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2016 IPA ~International Photography Awards~

Entered as one of a 3 part series entitled 'The Secret Lives of Trees'

- Honorable Mention: Fine Art -Landscape

- Honorable Mention: Nature - Trees
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Location: Reelfoot Lake, TN ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/24/2015 @ 07:54

Alley Spring Mill 076

Location: Alley Spring, MO

Tremont 0030

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/16/2015 @ 07:47

Copyright: RJ Wilner Photography

Roanoake Marshes Lighthouse 001

Location: Manteo, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/15/2015 @ 06:37
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Avalon Pier 0005

Location: Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/14/2016 @ 15:49
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Avalon Pier 037

Location: Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

Bodie Island Lighthouse 0112, 07/13/2015

Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashoure ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/13/2015 @ 06:10
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Currituck Lighthouse 0004

Location: Corolla, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/12/2015 @ 11:51
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Avalon Pier 087

Location: Avalon Pier, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/11/2015 @ 06:10
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Avalon Pier 082

Location: Avalon Pier, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina~ Date/Time Captured: 07/11/2015 @ 06:03
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Avalon Pier 065

Location: Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina~ Date/Time Captured: 07/11/2015 @ 05:45
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Avalon Pier 001

Location: Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/11/2015 @ 05:15
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Bodie Island Lighthouse 0056

Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina ~ Date/Time Captured:07/10/2015 @ 22:09
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Bodie Island Lighthouse 0008, 07/10/2015

Location: Outer Banks, NC ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/10/2015 @ 20:16

Clingmans Dome 040

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park~ Date/Time Captured: 05/05/2015 @ 06:43
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Clingmans Dome 006

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Mingo Falls 040

Location: Cherokee, North Carolina~ Date/Time Captured: 05/04/2015 @ 15:20
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Mingo Falls 029

Location: Cherokee, North Carolina~ Date/Time Captured: 05/04/2015 @ 15:08
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Indian Creek Falls 012

Location: Indian Creek Falls~ Date/Time Captured: 05/04/2015 @ 08:44
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Deep Creek Valley Overlook 013

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park~ Date/Time Captured: 05/03/2015 @ 19:50
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Cades Cove

Location: Hyatt Lane, Cades Cove ~ Date/Time Captured: 05/02/2015 @ 20:00
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Tremont 073

Location: Middle Prongh Trail, Great Smoky Mountain National Park~ Date/Time Captured: 05/01/2015 @ 08:34
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Tremont 066

Location: Middle Prongh Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park~ Date/Time Captured: 05/01/2015 @ 08:22
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Tremont 013

Location: Middle Prongh Trail, Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 05/01/2015 @ 07:07
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Tremont 0003

Location: MIddle Prongh Trail, Great Smoky Mountain National Park~ Date/Time Captured: 05/01/2015 @ 06:51
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park

Location: Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 01/17/2015 @ 08:27
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Hwy 21 018

Location: State Highway 21, Jefferson County, MO~ Date/Time Captured: 01/10/2015 @ 09:04
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 005

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 11/09/2014 @ 06:29
Copyright 2015: RJ Wilner Photography

MO Botanical Garden 009

Location: St. Louis, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/24/2014 @ 11:48
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Gateway Arch 036

Location: St. Louis, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/20/2014 @ 07:36
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Sandy Creek Historic Site 013

Location: Hillsboro, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/30/2014
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Ft Lauderdale 012

Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/06/2014 @ 16:25

Ft Lauderdale Beach Park 097

Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/06/2009 @ 06:31

Morton Overlook 040

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/17/2014 @ 19:44
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Foothills Parkway 017

Location: Townsend, Tennessee ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/17/2014 @ 05:21

Clingmans Dome 048, 06/14/2014

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/16/2014 @ 190:01

Tremont 062

Location: Tremont, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/16/2014 @ 11:30

Tremont 020

From a recent trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and one of my favorite areas in the park, Tremont.

Given it was getting a little later in the morning, I was anticipating this visit to Tremont to be more of a scouting session than a shooting session, but when I happened to notice a bit of fog hanging over the river, I had to stop and fire off a few captures. Can’t help but love the lush greens found in the Tremont area this time of year!

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Location: Tremont ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/16/2014 @ 09:55
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

The Sinks 001

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/16/2014 @ 08:20
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Round Bald 118

I had been shooting some flaming azaleas a ways up the trail from here and thought my shooting was likely done for the evening, so started hiking back towards the parking lot. As I reached the juncture in the trail to head down towards the parking lot, the sky just flamed.....much more brilliantly than the azaleas by that name had done. After scrambling around a bit to find a good composition, I finally settled on this. And with captures in camera, I just sat down in the grass, and for the next 10-15 minutes, just enjoyed the rest of MoNat's show.

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Location: Carvers Gap, Tennessee ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/14/2014 @ 20:08
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Round Bald 004

Location: Carvers Gap, Tennessee ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/14/2014 @ 06:12
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Roan High Bluff Overlook Trail 018

Location: Carvers Gap, Tennessee ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/13/2014 @ 18:55
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Roan High Bluff Overlook Trail 009

Location: Cloudland Trail, Carvers Gap, Tennessee ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/13/2014 @ 17:44
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 005

This one was shot fairly early in the am when I had made my way down to our lakefront to hopefully catch a sunrise image to share with the ‘Photo Day Around the World – 2014′ event on Google+. When sunrise turned out to be a bust that am, I started walking around the lakefront, and spotted this rock with it’s ‘head’ barely out of the water. And almost kept on walking until I noticed all that stringy algae like ‘stuff’ clinging to it’s underwater parts and just dancing with the water’s movement.

Not a classically ‘pretty’ picture, I guess……a bit more of a Frank Zappa “I’m The Slime” type sensibility to it. :)

Update 01/18/2015 – Visited my mother today and was showing her my ‘2014 Favorites’ images, and when we got to this one, she thought it belonged in a horror movie. Got a big charge out of that comment!

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Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Shot: 05/31/2014, 06:27 AM

Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park 007

Location: Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park, Misssouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 03/08/2014 @ 09:32
Copyright 2014: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomingo Rd 002

I drive past this scene on my way to, and from, work. It's right at the intersection of Old Hwy 21 & Tishomingo Rd. And for some reason, it momentarily captures my attention each time I pass through the intersection. It's great when the oaks that dominate the area break out in their spring greens, and it causes me to slow down and peer through the tree cover on those thick foggy mornings. But the best time is the fall when the oaks start turning color. This year was especially good for the latter as it seemed like there was just a sea of bright oranges and yellows.

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Location: Hillsboro, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 11/03/2013 @ 08:36

Alfred Reagan Place 009, 10/25/2013

The Alfred Reagan Place can be found along Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/25/2013 @ 10:37

Ocunaluftee Overlook 053

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/25/2013 @ 08:42

Little River Gorge Rd 002

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/25/2013 @ 12:46

Tremont Waterfall 042

Location: Tremont, Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/24/2013 @ 11:40

Tremont 006

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/24/2013 @ 10:57
Copyright 2006: RJ Wilner Photography

Chimney Tops Trail 019

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/23/2013 @ 09:22

Newfound Gap 023

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/23/2013 @ 08:18
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Clingmans Dome 079

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/22/2013 @ 08:38
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Clingmans Dome 031

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 10/22/2013 @ 07:16
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Cloudscapes 008

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/30/2013 @ 16:11
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 031

I had been shooting sunrise on the lake from one of my 2 favorite locations on this am, and did 'ok', but it turned into one of those 'close, but no cigar' shoots.
Once I'd decided the sunrise was over, I started to mosy around the damn area and noticed all the grasses flowering on the back side of the damn. So, I found my way down to a lower area to try and capture some of those flower heads in backlighting. I really have no explanation for the appearance of the additional 'rainbow' colors that appeared. While I certainly took artistic license to enhance them in processing, they were not added. One of those times pleasant surprises we get in photography occasionally.

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Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/28/2013 @ 08:03
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Missouri Mines Historic Site 003

Location: Park Hills, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/27/2013 @ 15:03
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomoak 001

Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/13/2013 @ 06:58
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomoak 001

Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 05/17/2013 @ 15:34
Copyright 2013: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomoak 002

Location: Jefferson County, MO

Hwy M 045

Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 02/02/2013 @ 09:43

Hwy M 033

Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 02/2/2013 @ 09:32

Copyright: RJ Wilner Photography

Cades Cove 032, 04/20/2012

Location: Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/20/2012 @ 07:30

Tremont 073

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/18/2012 @ 13:01
Copyright 2012: RJ Wilner Photography

Laurel Creek Rd 008

Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/16/2012 @ 09:45
Copyright 2012: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 021, 06/15/2012

As a general rule of thumb, photographers tend to look to the west at sunset for Mother Nature's color show as the sun sinks toward the horizon, and to the east at sunrise. But occasionally, going against the 'norm' and looking in the opposite direction for either event can provide some interesting color as well. And so it was on this am when I wandered down to this west facing scene at sunrise. I'd shot from this dock a gazillion times, and have been fortunate to make some nice images captured at both sunset & sunrise. But it's not always that, even at sunset, there will be as much drama in the sky as there was on this particular am at sunrise. Mother Nature was in an especially giving mood this am!

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Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/15/2012 @ 05:31
Copyright 2012: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomoak 051

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2016 IPA ~International Photography Awards~

Entered as one of a 3 part series entitled 'Abstracts in Ice'

- Honorable Mention: Fine Art - Abstract
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Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 02/12/2012 @ 11:42
Copyright 2012: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomoak 018

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2016 IPA ~International Photography Awards~

Entered as one of a 3 part series entitled 'Abstracts in Ice'

- Honorable Mention: Fine Art - Abstract
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Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 02/12/2012 @ 10:24
Copyright 2012: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomoak 003

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2016 IPA ~International Photography Awards ~

Entered as one of a 3 part series entitled 'Abstracts in Ice'

- Honorable Mention: Fine Art - Abstract

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Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 02/12/2012 @ 10:08

Lake Tishomingo 002, 12/10/2011

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 12/10/2011 @ 07:56
Copyright 2011: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 019, 01/10/2010

Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 01/10/2010 @ 17:17

Lake Tishomingo 001, 07/02/2011

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/02/2011 @ 05:36
Copyright 2011: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 019, 06/07/2010

- Always good to hit the lakefront at sunrise. Check.

- Great to find some sunrise color in this westward looking view. Check.

- Good to find the lake surface almost perfectly still reflecting the sunrise colors. Check.

- Bonus to have a little mist rising off the the lake. Check.

When all those hoped for elements are present when I find my way to our lakefront at sunrise, more often than not it will lead to a nice capture or two. I started this session at my favorite dock approx 100 yds to the right of this scene just as official sunrise was starting to strut it's stuff. And got a couple 'ok' shots. But the cloud cover was just kinda 'meh', and the color started off a little bland. So, I started moseying along the sea wall on the lakefront....more just to kill a little time in hopes the color might improve rather than looking for other possible ops. But when I made it over to the 'beach' area and spotted these roses spread along the water's edge, I just planted the tripod in the pea gravel and waited hopefully. And fortunately for me, MoNat was feeling cooperative this am as she painted some terrific cloud cover across the sky. And as I've learned from many sunrises spent on the lakefront, she's often partial to supplying the best light & color just as the sunlight starts to skim the treetops along the shores of the lake.

Now....., if only I knew what prompted someone to leave the roses at the water's edge. Early June, I would think school graduations would have already passed in these parts. No major lake sponsored events had transpired the last day or two. Perhaps a special occasion for one individual....or maybe a couple.(?) Perhaps a promise was made.(?) Perhaps a proposal was made and accepted.(?) Perhaps some not so silver-tongued guy was seeking forgiveness for some unknown transgression he made with his lady.(?)

I'll never know the answer. But pondering the possibilities made the find a special morning for this 'tog.

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Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/07/2010 @ 07:04
Copyright 2010: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 013

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/19/2009 @ 07:06
Copyright 2009: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 013

The peacefulness of sunrise is always a favorite shooting time on the lake. When a little mist can be found rising off the surface, so much the better. I can just sit here and go 'Ommmmm'. To arrive at one of my favorite locations to find a reminder of a young fisherman having recently spent some time on the dock made this a special morning as I pondered what caused him/her to run off and leave the pole behind. Perhaps he/she felt the same excitement over their catch as I felt with this capture.(??)

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Location: Lake Tishomingo ~ Date/Time Captured: 08/01/2009 @ 06:10
Copyright 2009: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 015

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/22/2008 @ 06:31
Copyright 2008: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 007

Location: Lake Tishomingo ~ Date/Time Captured: 02/09/2008 @ 16:34
Copyright 2008: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 008

Location: Lake Tishomingo ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/06/2008 @ 021:07
Copyright 2008: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 027

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 01/20/2008 @ 10:37

Lake Tishomingo 011, 11/03/2007

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 11/03/2007 @ 17:14
Copyright 2007: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 035

Location: Jefferson County, MIssouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/02/2007 @ 06:59

Lake Tishomingo 051, 02/03/2007

Location: Jefferson County, MO ~ Date/Time Captured: 02/03/2007 @ 08:25

Lake Tishomingo 007, 01/20/2007

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 01/20/2007 @ 08:33

Tishomoak 035

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 12/10/2006 @ 15:40
Copyright 2006: RJ Wilner Photography

Tishomoak 020, 12/10/2006

Location: Jefferson County, Missouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 12/10/2006 @ 09:36
Copyright 2006: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 010

Location: Jefferson County, MIssouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/20/2006 @ 19:06
Copyright 2006: RJ Wilner Photography

Memorial Hospital 006

I had been visiting my parents on this day and hung around their place a little longer than I'd originally planned as a storm blew through the area. It was approaching sunset by the time I did leave and noticed the sky just beginning to show some interesting color. Being a heavy residential area, I had to quickly skim the mental rolliedex to come up with a location where I might shoot without a bunch of rooftops, utility poles, and.or power lines imposing their presence on a shot. And the only place that came quickly to mind was the campus like setting of one of the local hospitals with this scene being right along the entrance drive to the hospital grounds.

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Location: Belleville, Illinois ~ Date/Time Captured: 07/29/2006 @ 20:32
Copyright 2006: RJ Wilner Photography

Lake Tishomingo 001

I had purchased property on the lake the previous fall and was in the planning stages of building a house. Periodically, I would make occasional trips to the lake to meet with the builder to discuss plans. This was one of, if not the first, shots I made capturing an early morning lake created mist/fog on one of those trips.

Location: Lake Tishomingo ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/09/2006 @ 08:05

Lake Tishomingo 006

This image holds a bit of a special place for me. I had purchased a piece of property on this little man made lake the previous fall with plans to build a new house. The ensuing winter was busy with making construction plans, finding a builder, etc. When spring rolled around, I made occasional trips out to the lake to meet with the builder and discuss our plans......and to start enjoying the photogenic nature of the lake. This one probably marks the earliest 'keeper' captured during that time frame.

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Location: Jefferson County, MIssouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/22/2006 @ 06:14
Copyright 2006: RJ Wilner Photography

Arches National Park 011

Location: Arches National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/29/2005 @ 20:05
Copyright 2005: RJ Wilner Photography

Grand View Point Overlook 046

Location: Canyonlands National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/27/2005, 18:45

Canyonlands National Park 017

Location: Canyonlands National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/26/2005 @ 14:53
Copyright 2005: RJ Wilner Photography

Arches National Park 011

Location: Arches Naional Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/26/2005 @ 06:50
Copyright 2005: RJ Wilner Photography

Arches National Park 037

Location: Arches National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/25/2005 @ 17:50
Copyright 2005: RJ Wilner Photography

Arches National Park 034

Location: Arches National Park ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/25/2005 @ 17:29
Copyright 2005: RJ Wilner Photography

White House 008

Location: Red Bud, Illinois ~ Date/Time Captured: 06/02/2004 @ 18:40
Copyright 2006: RJ Wilner Photography

Goblin Valley State Park 022

Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah ~ Date/Time Captured: 04/17/2004 @ 19:38
Copyright 2004: RJ Wilner Photography

Clayton Ave 030

Location: St. Louis, Missiouri ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/28/2003 @ 09:41
Copyright 2003: RJ Wilner Photography

White Sands National Monument 001

Location: White Sands National Monument, New Mexico ~ Date/Time Captured: 09/07/2002 @ 09:21