Photos of Arkansas

03/11/10 Photograph of the Day–Richland Creek Wintertime View

paul — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:27 +0000

Wintertime on Richland Creek (Click on photograph to purchase a print)

Over the past 20 years, I guess I have spent more time on this creek than any other in Arkansas. Richland Creek offers to much for the avid outdoors person. It’s a great hike anytime of the year. When it’s up from recent rain, it’s a floaters dream offering over 16 miles of great whitewater. It’s tributaries like Falling Water Creek or Big Devil’s Creek offer excellent side hikes and their own excellent scenery. Richland is one of the largest tributaries of the Buffalo River and runs into the Buffalo at Woolum Ford. This photograph was taken on Richland about 1/2 above the campground and is a view that I feature often.

03/10/10 Photograph of the Day–Fall Scene at Pedestal Rocks

paul — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:11 +0000

Fall scene at Pedestal Rocks (click on photograph to purchase a print)

Sometimes I find it best to move in close when working with fall colors. Photographing the fall colors can be most rewarding in Arkansas. The trees around Pedestal rocks have a bonus with the unique rock formations (the namesakes of the area). This single small tree growing out of a tiny crack in this rock caught my eye. It’s hard to believe that a tree can root in such harsh conditions.

03/09/10 Photograph of the Day–November view of Roark bluff on the Buffalo River

paul — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:38 +0000

November view of Roark Bluff (Click on photograph to purchase a print)

Roark Bluff has to be one of the most scenic spots on the Buffalo National River. I try to get up to photograph this bluff at least 6 to 8 times I year. I prefer to photograph it in the spring and fall as the colors then are the best. This particular photograph was taken late in the day in early November just as the sun was setting. All of the fall color was gone from the top of the bluff, but the line of Maples and Sweetgums along the base were still holding their leaves and the setting sun just lit them up perfectly for me. It had been cloudy all day and I almost didn’t stop for the photograph but it paid off. The next morning in the Boxley valley turned out to be on of the best day’s of the year for Elk photography. There was a good hard frost and the morning sun hitting the frost made for some excellent conditions.

03/08/10 Photograph of the Day–Sunset and Lone tree in the Delta

paul — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:46 +0000

Sunset and Lone tree on the Delta (Click on photograph to purchase a print)

While returning from a shoot near Crowley’s Ridge, I spotted this old tree standing against the sunset in a farm field. For me the delta is harder to photograph and I will often look for a sunrise or sunset. The haze of the sun always seems to help accentuate the the colors more. This tree had a large number of old signs tacked to the trunk telling of events past and future in the county. I wanted to photograph the signs also, but the light had faded too much.

03/07/10 Photograph of the Day–Old School house in Boxley Valley

paul — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:00:12 +0000

Olld School House in Boxley Valley (Click on photograph to purchase a print)

This old structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. It dates back to the mid 1800’s and is still in use today for meetings. It probably is one of the most photographed places in the Boxley valley and rightly so. This photograph was taken during the Christmas season when the single lights are placed in the windows. I personally love the way the old tree leans over the building and always try to feature it in any photography I do. For many months of 2009, there was a van parked right next to the building under the tree which made photography impossible. I believe it has finally been moved.

03/06/10 Photograph of the Day–King’s Bluff Falls near Pedestal Rocks

paul — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:00:14 +0000

King's Bluff Waterfall (Click on photograph to purchase a print)

There are too many waterfalls in Arkansas to begin to name them all. However what I have found is that it’s more interesting to try and photograph the waterfalls that don’t run on a regularly but instead only after a major rain event. The waterfall at King’s Bluff is one of these. It’s one of the higher waterfalls in the area, at least 75 feet tall and is situated in a very scenic spot. The creek that makes the falls, runs across the top of King’s Bluff which is as flat as a table and close to 50 yards long. Then it plunges over the bluff and creates the waterfall. It’s a hard waterfall to photograph from the top, instead it’s better to work your way down in front of the bluff and find a good spot. This photograph was taken in the early springtime just as the trees were starting to bud out.

03/05/10 Photograph of the Day–Rocks and Water a Study of Richland Creek

paul — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:00:06 +0000

Rocks and Water on Richland Creek (click on photograph to purchase a print)

When working the small creeks in the Arkansas Ozarks, I will often try to come in close. This allows me to feature the smaller features along with using the main creek in the background. There are too many places in Arkansas to name, but Richland is one of the best. In the late Spring and early summer when the water levels are lower and more manageable, is the best time to do this type of work.

03/04/10 Photograph of the Day–Cossatot Falls Summertime

paul — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:44 +0000

Summertime on the Cossatot River (click on photograph to purchase a print)

Summertime on the Cossatot means low water so it’s a great time to go there to photograph. You can move all around on the rocks and get out to parts of Cossatot Falls that normally can’t be reached due to high water. This is time of lush green banks as all the trees will be in full leaf. The water tends to be very clear which adds to the beauty of the scene.

03/03/10 Photograph of the Day–Sunset over Pinnacle Mountain

paul — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:00:45 +0000

Sunset over Pinnacle Mountain (Click on photograph to purchase a print)

One of the best places to catch a great sunset featuring Pinnacle Mountain is from the North Little Rock side of the I-430 bridge. During July you can catch the sun close to and right over the top of the mountain which makes for a very interesting subject. This photo was taken with a 400mm lens so I could isolate the sun and Pinnacle from the surrounding hills. Just park along the interstate and find a spot to shoot the sunset through the trees.

03/02/10 Photograph of the Day–Mid summer view from Petit Jean’s Grave

paul — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:32 +0000

View from Petit Jean's Grave site on Petit Jean Mtn (Click on photograph to purchase a copy)

Petit Jean Mountain has some of the best vistas of the Arkansas River Valley. The area known as Petit Jean’s Grave site has a great view due east and southeast. You can catch a wonderful sunrise from here also. The valley drops of very steeply here and is over 200 feet below the tops of the rocks. The best way to reach this part of Petit Jean Mountain is to drive up Hwy 10 and turn off at Opello. The drive from there is a very beautiful drive as you approach the mountain and then start the climb to the summit.