Exploring Arkansas

Hey Look!! A fresh post!

2009-09-24T22:13:00.006-05:00

Okay people...I apologize for not being on top of my game posting this blog, but a girl gets busy! I will try to do better!

We've had lots of opportunity to shoot this summer in between work and other obligations. It's been a cool summer and lots of rain. Very different for an Arkansas summer. While I look forward to shooting this fall, I enjoyed shooting this summer more that usual, taking in some hikes and trips here and there. Here's a few shots of what I've been up to.

CSNP Gathering...Northwest Arkansas

2009-05-06T19:03:00.002-05:00

My husband and I went to a gathering of nature photographers from the central states nature photographers forum, a group we are involved with. The gathering was in Northwest Arkansas in Newton County. Although the meeting went on all weekend, we were only there for one day. It was one good day though! The weather was very cooperative. We were able to take lots of waterfall shots and not have to worry about the sun since it was overcast. What a great bunch of people. It's great to be surrounded by people who "get" you. Also, it was a privilage to be in the company of such great talent...Here are a few shots from the day we were there...Enjoy!

Arkansas State Capitol

2009-03-05T21:34:00.003-06:00

The Arkansas State Capitol is a site to behold at Christmas time. Mike and I finally made enough time this past Chirstmas to go shoot the Capitol. It's something you must purpose to do. I don't find myself in the vicinity of the Capitol very often, so it was a real treat to be able to take in the lights and take a few pictures along the way. The weather aided in my endevour, having rained shortly before our arrival, it made for some great reflection of the light on the sidewalks. The inside was adorned with grand ornaments lining all the banisters and the state Christmas tree with every county represented by their own ornament decorated by artist from that area. It's definitely worth seeing if you ever happen to be in the area...

Exploring Has It's Consequence....I'm not home!

2009-03-05T08:06:00.003-06:00

Okay people.....I'm in trouble....I haven't blogged it out in about 3 months! Exploring has it's consequence...I can't be at the computer if I'm out and about! Face it, most of us have real jobs during the week and posting to the blog falls way down on the priority list. That said, I'm back! I figure I better get caught up before the spring season arrives!

Winter in Arkansas can be as fun as you make it. It is actually a great season...Occasional snow, sudden spring days, spectacular sunsets and being able to see a lot more during leaf off. Sure it may seam a little dull to the average person...no color, gray... but for a photographer, it offers lots to do...The season draws my mind to things I would normally not shoot during the Spring, Summer and Fall. I have run the gamut this winter, shooting the state capitol, the swans at Heber Springs, the Buffalo River valley, old buildings, family and friends, elk,long night exposures,waterfalls...I could go on and on...Anyway...Here's a few shots to get things hopping again! Hope you enjoy!...These beautiful swans were at Magness Lake outside of Heber Springs. If you have never been, you should. It is one of the most amazing and magical places in Arkansas. I could watch them for hours.

To view the swans, drive east on Arkansas Highway 110 from its intersection with Arkansas highways 5 and 25 just east of Heber Springs. Go 3.9 miles from the intersection to Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, marked with a white sign. Turn left on paved Hays Road; the road sign is very small. (from Heber Springs Chamber of Commerce)

2008-11-24T07:35:00.004-06:00

The Parker-Hickman Homestead is located in the Buffalo River Wilderness Area. It is 1 mile west of Erbie Campground. It is very excessible, but is a dirt road. There are some low-water "bridges" to cross, so during high water, it would be hard to get to from the Erbie Campground site. This is a fascinating place to visit and gives a real slice of what life was like back in the homesteading time. The buildings are all open to walk through. The shot here is of the barn. If you want to get deep in to Arkansas, go here...

Fall at Petit Jean State Park

2008-11-23T14:52:00.007-06:00

I've been to Petit Jean State Park so many times, I can't even remember, but you always find something new and beautiful to see. I started out in the early morning at Petit Jean's grave overlook area and then went to Bailey Lake and finally down the Pioneer Cabin trail to Cedar Creek. Cedar Creek has a life all its own and is an ever changing cycle of wonder. Fall brings great beauty to the creek, with breath taking reflections and the scatter of leaves in that water and along it's edge...If you love fall, you should visit this trail.

Fall in Arkansas

2008-11-22T21:21:00.012-06:00

It's been a while since I last posted, but I have a good reason...I've been out exploring! Arkansas truly has one of the most spectacular falls of anyplace and this year was no exception. I started my journey in early October and haven't stopped until now to catch my breath, look at the many images and choose a few to share...I took around 2000 (give or take) shots and culled it down to my top 100 (actually 105, but who's counting). I hope you enjoy the few I'm posting here. The first location is Maplewood Cemetery in Harrison, Arkansas. The maple trees in downtown Harrison are spectacular and if you haven't seen Maplewood Cemetery in all it's splendor, you should go out of your way to do so. Make plans next year to see them..you won't be sorry. These shots where taken in early October, but this particular year, the peak was more toward mid-October.

Always Remember

2008-09-11T08:22:00.004-05:00

It's been seven years since life changed. God knows we try to put it out of our minds, trudging through every day life. I've decided it's an impossible feat. I've decided that God does not want it put out of mind. We are to remember. We are always to have suttle or maybe not so suttle reminders everyday that our life is not our own. Sure, we all seem to think it is ours to do with as we please, but God knows better. Today, 9-11, is a day that will forever be a day for us to reconcile ourselves.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7

Petit Jean State Park Boy Scout Trail

2008-08-23T11:55:00.004-05:00

Petit Jean State Park, centrally located in Arkansas, offers an abundance of things to do. My favorite is exploring the trails. The Boy Scout Trail starts at the Davies Stone Bridge by the group camping ground. This is a trail that is very easy at the beginning and has some spectacular scenery. It you are a novice and only go a little ways, you most certainly can. Or, you can take the whole trail...12miles. I like this trail when I don't have a lot of time, but still want to enjoy some nature time. During April, the water was running fast and furious down Cedar Creek. It was so loud, you couldn't hear anything but the rush of the water. There is a spot down the trail, after a wooden foot bridge where some boulders make for a great place for the water to flow. We stayed at that one location for at least an hour just listening to the water and taking pictures. One boulder in particular has a flat top...It lays right next to the creek and made for a great place to just lay down and enjoy. My sister taught me a little trick one time when we were in Washington state . Go to the edge of a cliff, or in this case the boulder and lay down and look over the side. It sounds crazy, but it does offer a totally different perspective and seems like you become one with the water. For those of you who are Tim Ernst fans, the geometric rock formation is the same rock formation he used for one of his new shots for his upcoming book. I took this way before I saw his picture of the same locale...It was neat to see though. Sometimes we photographers question why we shoot things sometimes. It is nice to have a sense of justification...I'm not the only soul out there that finds wonder in this scene! http://www.cloudland.net http://www.petitjeanstatepark.com

The House That Job Built

2008-08-19T19:51:00.003-05:00

Job McCully is a little boy from Bigelow, Arkansas that is receiving a big gift this week. You see, he's getting a brand new home from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Job was diagnosed with Leukemia, has had a bone marrow transplant and a double lung transplant. His now destroyed house was unfit to live in because it had been taken over by mold. The Bigelow community sent in more request for the McCullys to receive this home than any other community has since Extreme Makeover has been doing this. I don't know the family personally, but I have prayed for them. I'm so excited to have been witness to a miracle from God! If you get a chance, check out the blog from Woodhaven Homes in my blog list. They are the company building the home.

Lolly Bottoms and Mamma clouds

2008-08-17T15:46:00.004-05:00

In June there were a few storms that rolled through the Conway area that made for great photo opportunities. This particular evening, I was sitting on the couch and looked outside and saw that the light was perfect for taking pictures. I also saw a large gathering of mammatus clouds. Mike and I grabbed the camera and tripod and headed out the door. Lolly Bottoms is the future site of our airport we are getting soon, but for now, it's corn, soybeans and rice fields. We found this little access road the farmers use and at the end of the road was this loan tree. Above the fields the clouds were moving fast. We managed to get set up and fire off enough shots to capture a few really nice shots. The lighting in the pictures is the real deal. It was that strange color. The first shot of just the clouds was before the sun really started to set and the other was right as the sun was setting. It's my favorite conditions to shoot in, that light at the end of the day when a storm is moving in or out.

Lolly Bottoms is located off Hwy 286/Hwy 60W.

Booger Hollow, Population 7(and one coon dog)

2008-08-14T20:26:00.004-05:00

Booger Hollow...A place of my childhood and so many others. I remember stopping here on the way to Dogpatch USA every time. I remember the anticipation of the signs saying "12 Miles to Booger Hollow"...." 7 Miles to Booger Hollow"...."Stop, You are in Booger Hollow!". All the tacky souvenier ashtrays, shotglasses and tshirts are long gone. It now stands along with so many other places, including Dogpatch, as a shadow of it's former glorious self. Located on scenic Hwy 7.

Fishing The Little Red

2008-08-02T17:49:00.004-05:00

There are just a few things that would get me up early on a Saturday morning. One of those is the opportunity to fish. Now I have been fishing a lot of years, but recently for my 40th birthday (don't laugh), I got a whole flyfishing outfit...Waders, Vest, Flyrod, flies, net...I mean I am set up!

Well, as a lot of you Arkansans know, we have had a lot of rain this year. That does not make for good flyfishing. We tried to go in May, but I was having to stand in water up to my chest. Not good, especially for a first time flyfisher. Today we got up early and headed up to the Little Red River, near Heber Springs. The dam had not been generating for a few days and it gave us a great morning to fish. Let me tell you, I love flyfishing! I have always admired it and appreciated the skill it takes to do it. It wasn't a great lot of fish I caught, but I did catch 2 and that was very thrilling for me. At 7:00 this morning, it was already 85, but when you are in a river that maintains 58 degrees, all you feel is cool. It was a beautiful morning with gentle rolls of fog coming through all morning. I took a few shots, and a few shots were taken of me (very rare). Explore the Little Red, with all its beauty and loads of fun!

Ye old school house

2008-08-01T07:24:00.001-05:00

Along the Arkansas Highways and Byways you will always stumble upon scenes that will take your mind back to days when life was simpler. Mike and I were going the back roads to The Richland Creek Wilderness Area when we came across this school house off of Hwy 124 in Northern Faulkner County. Actually, you would have to be looking off to the left to see it. It is located off of Holly Springs Rd. We did a U turn and headed back. It was perfect to photograph because no weed-wacking was involved. (Although not a priority with us! Weed-wacking welcomed on occasion.) Apparently the grounds still taken care of by the community or the church next door. Although just existing as a shell of its former self, it still stands as a testament to times when going to school was a privilage, a sacrifice. This is a farming community. To get to school must have taken awhile. They really did have to walk 5 miles to school in the snow barefoot! Well, maybe not barefoot...But you get the picture. The children are gone...The teacher no more...Not a book in site....Still it teaches us to appreciate where we come from and where we will go...