On This Day: January 2021

Lake Tishomingo 0018, 01/31/2016

Well, if I have to post another shot from around our lake community, at least this one is from a different location. This spot is always a good choice for sunrise and/or foggy morning shots.

Tishomoak 004, 01/26/2015

And abstract of a bench on my deck whose (supposedly 'outdoor') polyurethane finish was seriously peeling. The more colorful portions of the image is where the poly still remained.

Sandy Creek Historic Site 0016, 01/21/2019

This is the creek that's the namesake for the historic site...which was designated for the covered bridge located somewhat off camera right. The long icicles reflected in the creek had a bit of a 'toothy' vibe.

Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park 031, 01/17/2015

This is the best state park in SE Missouri for 'water in motion' type shots.

Forest Park 0011, 01/13/2019

I don't know if it's true for everyone, but when I associate a season with a color, I lean towards thinking of cool blue colors with winter. But in this part of the world, there are some species of deciduous trees that hold on to their leave well into, and through, much of winter. And they are very warm in color, so it creates an odd sort of counterpoint in my mind for winter. So this tree in Forest Park in STL naturally caught my attention a couple years ago.

Hwy 21, 01/09/2010

Haven't done it much the last few years, but there were a number of winters I would go out and stop along this highway where winter's precipitation would bleed out the rock facades along the road and form these ice formations. Sometimes they would generate 'icicles' several feet long.

Rockford Beach 0955, 01/04/2021

I stopped at this location after having spent the entire morning shooting woodlands in winter fog at a nearby state park on this morning. And only did so on the off chance there may be some remaining fog here as well. There wasn't, but I was surprised at just how much the water flow had increased in the Big River from my previous visit when I couldn't have walked 3/4 of the way across the rocks to the other side w/o getting so much as my feet wet.

Lake Tishomingo 027, 01/29/2009

Though I don't recall it to be the case, I have to believe our lake must have frozen over prior to the snowfall seen covering it here arrived...which happens to be the same snowfall that led to yesterday's image.

Lake Tishomingo 004, 01/24/2015

Found in a nearby creek bed that had barely any water running in it at the time, but apparently created enough humidity overnight to generate some serious frost on a couple leaves partially trapped under a rock in the creek bed.

Hwy 21 008, 01/20/2007

Another roadside icicle scene. This one captured my attention for the one long icicle on the left with a strong left lean.

Lake Tishomingo 017, 01/16/2010

'Sand Art' captured in the creek that feeds our lake. I love these naturally occurring 'found' abstracts.

Tishomoak 0020, 01/12/2019

One of the more robust winter storms the St. Louis, MO area had experienced in a number of years. I've always loved the way snow hangs on trees...especially evergreens like this Eastern Red Cedar. Sometimes they're limbs droop so dramatically it's as though the tree is letting a BIG sigh. This particular tree seems to be bearing the weight rather well. A little color grading experimentation with this one using some new photoshop tools.

Shaw Nature Reserve 0005, 01/07/2019

The 3rd consecutive day with an image from Shaw Nature Reserve. Ironically, I don't recall having visited the place 3 days in a row, but I do recall the individual images. Kinda wish I'd left more dead space around the tree for this one.

Sunridge Park 0015, 01/02/2017

Short Leaf Pines like those in this image are fairly common in southern Missouri, but rarely seen in groves as far north as Jefferson County. They can be found, but typically a single tree or two.

Tishomoak 024, 01/28/2009

I remember this image captured in 2009 for a couple reasons... 1) This, and 15-20 others, were captured in my backyard a day after several inches of snow fell in our area. I was fascinated by the shadows created by trees in, and surrounding, my yard were creating on the freshly fallen snow. And I found myself planning my footsteps to move from one potential scene to another to avoid leaving tracks in the next potential shot. So, after I finished one shot, I'd look around the yard from my current position to try and locate where I wished to shoot next and plan how to get there without leaving unsightly tracks in a potential shot to come. 2) This shot in particular I do remember only because, at the time, I couldn't figure out why that one slightly brighter strip in the center essentially cuts the shadow of one seemingly large branch in half. And I still can't. The only thing that's ever made any sense that something on my clothing or gear was reflecting sunlight on to that area...except that no matter how I moved around, that bright strip never did. I guess it's a mystery for Rod Serling to resolve. :)

Hwy M 0099, 01/23/2016

More icicles! :) I remember this location only for the cave like effect the icicles were creating. They were long and obscuring almost all the rock facade to which they were clinging.

Hyw M 0001, 01/19/2013

Another image captured along one of the local roadways. Off & on, I've had a bit of an obsession capturing with long icicles dangling off the facade of a rock wall. A little color experimentation with this one...that I like less now than when I was processing it. :D

Tishomoak 0969, 01/15/2017

An iPhone shot on the edge of my yard captured after an ice storm a few years ago.

Lake Tishomingo 097, 01/11/2009

Yet another shot of our lakefront. I recall this session only because I spent so much time trying to find a composition that allowed for the moon's reflection in the lake to line up with the rope on the deck. But it just didn't work.the angles each comprise just didn't allow for it to happen.

Shaw Nature Reserve 0025, 01/06/2019

A return to the same location as yesterday's image...Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO. The rather sparsely branched trees were the initial object of attention for this one, but again, the interesting clouds make it work.

Lake Tishomingo 044, 01/01/2010

Yet another image from the lake community where I live. As it turns out, I haven't been out shooting much on New Years Day.

Forest Park 0001, 01/27/2020

This image has always struck me with a 'the teacher and her students' vibe. It was taken in Forest Park and is only maybe 50 yds from the tree in the image posted for 01/13/21.

Hwy 21 0007, 01/22/2019

Just a 'behind the scenes' type shot of the type situation I'm typically involved in when chasing these roadside icicle shots. The 4-5 cars that can be seen headed in my direction represent heavy traffic for this highway at the 11:00 time frame this was shot. Usually, the road carries very little traffic outside 'rush hour'.

Tishomoak 0981, 01/18/2017

Another sunset from my deck. I should probably put together a series of all the sunsets I've captured from here...it would make an interesting collection

Lake Tishomingo 0026, 01/14/2018

Found these frozen bubbles in the creek that feeds our lake. Originally processed in B&W as part of my 'Metamorphosis' project. Decided to experiment with color for this entry.

Hwy 21 018, 01/10/2015

Another roadside ice formation find...along the same Hwy as yesterday's post. This one intrigued for the insect like vibes conveyed.

Shaw Nature Reserve 0011, 01/05/2019

A lone tree always makes for terrific subject matter, but a lone tree combined with sum interesting clouds is the cat's meow.

Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary 0023, 01/30/2016

I had made my way up to this sanctuary that sits just on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River across from Alton, IL...ostensibly to check out the various birds migrating through the area. While I did see a fair number of trumpeter swans, it was really a few lone trees standing in various prairie lands in the vicinity that captured my attention. That and the fact that the moon was occasionally peeking through the mostly cloudy skies. I finally settled on shooting this tree as the moon might be captured along with it. But I wound up tripping the shutter a number of times w/o the moon ever appearing. But perserverence eventually paid off with this one.