On This Day: April 2021

Byrnesville-HwyW, 04/25/2021

A lone tree stands against the fog that hides all the extraneous 'life' in the surrounding area.

Arches National Park 020, 04/21/2004

I've always had trouble conveying the sense just how intense the sun can be in the southwest portion of the US, and not sure this one does the job. But it does portray a nice array of formations in one of the park's main valleys.

Cades Cove 026, 04/17/2012

Another from the first Great Smoky Mtns excursion. 'Wildlife' photography is not a genre I've ever been appropriately equipped to do well. But there were probably 12-15 of these turkeys in a field not more than 50 yards off the loop road, so even I could make some decent shots. The amusing part of this is that there must have been at least 25 other photographers shooting the birds as well....from *serious* wildlife shooters dressed in camo and on their bellies with the camera lens and tripods covered with a camo finish as well....to others in shorts & flip flops with their phone cameras out. It was quite the amusing scene, and I wish I'd captured a shot of all the photographers waiting for the birds to do something unique.

Red Bud / Rte 159, 04/11/2004

I had paid my sister a visit in Red Bud and as I started the drive home, I spotted this scene right off the highway I was driving. Loved the abstract nature created by the farmer clearly tilling different portions of his field for different purposes.

Shaw Nature Reserve 072, 04/07/2019

I had been photographing a single tree essentially 180 degrees from this scene when I felt the sun on my back diminish in intensity quite significantly. And when I turned around to see what's what, I found this scene.

Jockey Ridge State Park 0019, 04/03/2016

A little 'sand art' from Jockey Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks.

Babler State Park 0023, 04/24/2019

I love when a blooming dogwood is found showing off its party clothes against the sea of early spring greens.

Arches National Park 020, 04/20/2004

I always thought these formations looked like the bow of submarines headed my way. :)

Cades Cove 013, 04/16/2012

This was from my first 'photo excursion' to Great Smoky Mtn National Park, and my first foray into the Cades Cove area of the park. This scene is on the 'back side' of the loop for those who know it, and I recall being rather taken with it. On this visit, the sun was already a little too high in the sky to really do it justice. But I always thought I'd get back to it and find a 'keeper' to share with the world. Alas, that's yet to happen.

Hwy 21/M 009, 04/10/2011

I remember this shot because I had spotted the scene while out running errands. The errands complete, I was on the way home and was turning off one JeffCo hwy on to another and there was this rather large clump of 'rushes' just off the shoulder of the road. As soon as I got home, I grabbed the camera gear and headed back over to the location.

Laurel Falls 0010, 04/06/2016

It was a bit of a longer hike up to the falls than I'd anticipated, but was a treat to shoot once I arrived.

Bodie Island Lighthouse 0022, 04/02/2016

An early evening shot from the mosquito haven otherwise known as Bodie Island Lighthouse. It's a tougher place to shoot than I'd initially thought it to be...at least to keep from getting the distortion of an upward tilted camera when close to it.

Babler State Park 1509, 04/23/2021

I found this one piece of woodland flox surrounded by mayapples with the morning dew still clinging to their surface while out chasing the dogwood bloom early on this morning.

Tremont 011, 04/19/2012

The 4th day in a row with an image from the very first photo excursion to Great Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park. I don't recall stopping for this shot, but I do remember stopping at every little 'moving water' scene I could find on the trip. And I suspect I was also intrigued by the sorta backwards '4' formed by the mossed covered remnants of fallen trees.

St. Francois State Park 0001, 04/15/2019

I'd seen a variety of images depicting a forest floor just covered with bluebells like soapsuds on a bubble bath in various areas of the world for a number of years. But never had a clue they existed in Missouri. When it came to my attention they actually could be found in MO, I started searching online for locations where they may be fairly prolific. And wouldn't ya know....there was a state park not more than a half hour drive from my home where that proved to be true. I made the trip down one evening to catch this one, and went back the next morning. Quite a site to see!

Lake Tishomingo 001, 04/09/2006

I had bought property out at this lake late in the fall the previous year. And was in the midst of making plans to build the house. I'd found a contractor to build the house and don't believe we'd even begun to clear ground at this point. But I was making occasional trips out to the site and would drag the camera gear along with me. I've since taken a bajillion pictures from this same location, but this has to be one of the earliest. I was so thrilled at the time to know I was going to have opportunities like this with mist rising off the lake in the early mornings.

Elkmont 111, 04/05/2016

I had stopped over at Great Smoky Mountain National Park after spending a few days on the Outer Banks. And one afternoon while there, I decided to pay the old Elkmont 'resort' a visit. Prior to being swallowed up by the creation of the National Park, this area had become quite the hot spot for 'vacation homes'. They are govt property now, and technically, nobody is supposed to enter. So, I set my tripod up in the doorway of maybe a dozen of these places and took some shots.

Manteo Lighthouse 0022, 04/01/2016

Officially, I think this is designated the 'Roanoke Marshes Light'. But I've never heard anyone refer to it as that. It was a nice morning for long exposures.

Foothills Parkway 0024, 04/22/2018

For much of the time I'd spent at this overlook along the Foothills Parkway just outside Great Smoky Mountain National Park, I didn't think I was going to come away with any 'keepers'. The overcast skies appeared likely to kill any sunrise color, and for a rare occasion, there was no fog hanging in the lower vallies. But a while after official sunrise, the clouds broke *just* enough to reveal this scene.

Tremont 018, 04/18/2012

I should probably title this one 'Disappointment' as it could be one of my best wildlife images, but missed the focus by 'just this much'...at least if we consider the center of it's spiral the critical focus point. Yet a 3rd image from the first Great Smoky Mtn excursion. During this session, I was primarily interested in 'moving water' scenes and was stopping everywhere I could find to pull off the road and check out the river the road pretty much followed. At one such stop, I noticed this guy while I was unloading the gear from the trunk of the car.

Lake Tishomingo 002. 04/12/2009

Yes, another lake dock shot. But I'll excuse myself for going this route once again as this is a sunrise shot...and if you've been following along, I'm looking almost directly west from this vantage point. Hooray for outrageous color in the am!

LaBarque Creek Conservation Area 0019, 04/08/2018

This session was primarily a scouting session to see if there would be any blooming Dogwoods to shoot at this MO Conservation Area. And I don't recall the results of that search, but I was very intrigued by this one young sapling that had managed to hang on to its leaves throughout the winter.

Friscoe Pier 0065, 04/04/2016

A little color experimentation with one of my less than extremely 'noisy' astro shots. Though the Milky Way had disappeard roughly a half hr prior, the setting moon added a nice element. And as a side note, the sun would rise not terribly far to the left of where the moon is rising on this morning.