Photos of Arkansas

By far one of the best Westward looking vistas in Arkansas is the view from Rotary Ann rest stop.  Thanks to the Arkansas Highway Dept and others with Arkansas, this great rest stop was rebuilt about 5 years ago and is now in excellent condition.  This is an HDR shot taken from the main pull out and was taken during the snow of March 2008 which left up to 3 feet of snow in places along Hwy 7.

This is another view of the ice in the trees around the Flatside Wilderness back in January of 2009.  This was coming up the backside of the road to the turnout where you hike up to the summit of Flatside.  Within 30 minutes of the sun coming out, any of the ice that was in full sun had dropped out of the trees.  It was like a hail storm as the pieces hitting my truck left quite a few dents.  Most popped out but I still have a few reminders.

 

With the winter of 2010 becoming mild, I wanted to bring back a few views of the Ice Storm that happened in the last week of January 2009.  I don’t really hope to see another ice storm, but sure would like to see some snow before spring!  This photograph was taken with a medium format camera and was a single exposure.  I had hoped to take multiple exposures to allow for more dynamic range, however the ice was raining off the trees and the pieces were all large.  Every time one hit me or near me, it splashed a large amount of water and I didn’t want that to get into my camera.

While hiking around Sylamore creek near Gunner Pool Campground, I would normally be looking for large scale work.  However sometimes that photographs that catch my eye are the macro shots.  The last leaves had dropped from the trees and were being caught in small whirlpools and eddies along the creek.  The water that day was gin clear and it remined me of the streams in the west like the Selway in Idaho.

Near Menifee Arkansas there is a great grove of Tupelo Gums. You will find them right along I-40 headed east.  This is one of the largest grove of Tupelo Gums in Arkansas, or least as far as I know of.  The best part of the grove is that it is open in the middle with two older trees in the center.  You can enjoy this grove at anytime of the year, but I prefer the fall and winter the best.

 

By far one of the most photographed places in Arkansas.  I took this shot on a winter day and wait for the sunlight to get directly over the Glory Hole.  This allowed the blue sky to shine down into the hole.  Many people have thought that this shot was taken in the West in one of the Slot Canyons and don’t realize that they are looking at water not just sunlight.  The Glory hole is about a 30 minute hike from Hwy 21 and well worth it.  Make sure you also check out the small creek that forms the Glory hole both above and below the hole.

 

This old car was abandoned near Iceledo Gap in Newton County Arkansas.  I had driven by it for years thinking that it would make a great photographic subject.  During the winter of 2004 I was on a trip to Richland Creek and it started to snow.  By the time I came to the car, a good amount of snow had fallen and I stopped to photograph.  The open door and tree growing through the hood were just too appealing to pass up.

While working Falling Water Creek, I found this photograph.  The sun was setting to the left and the fading light pulled a beautiful golden color out of the lichens on the rocks.  This effect only lasted for a few minutes.   Often in the winter I will tend to work in close on my subjects.

I have updated the Featured Image Gallery with a photograph more suited to this time of year, you can view it by clicking here:

While hiking around the base of the Pedestal Rocks Scenic area I was able to catch this sunrise.  As the sun broke over the top of the pedestal it made for a perfect sunburst.   This is great place to day hike.  If you go there, make sure you also hike over to the King’s bluff area.  Both can be done in one day.