01/24/14 Featured Arkansas Photography–Wintertime on Richland Creek featuring Shaw’s Folly Rapid

Wintertime on Richland Creek featuring a view of Shaws Folly Rapid

Taken in 2007 with a Canon 1ds MKII, Zork Adapter with Mamiya 35mm lens, F11, ISO 100, for 1.5 seconds.  Richland creek is one of the most scenic spots in Arkansas, offering hiking, kayaking, and camping opportunities.  The creek is one of the major tributaries of the Buffalo National River and has good flow most of the year.  By far the best parts of the creek to hike are the upper reaches.  Here you have have approximately 6 miles of creek and about 5 miles are just studded with great photographic opportunities.  If you work the creek in the wintertime be aware that the water temperature will be around 41 to 45 degrees F.  Dress warmly and look for safe places to cross.  Richland has a strong flow throughout and it will fool you quickly on a crossing.  During the winter you can often find great ice formations either in the creek or along the bank and many of the waterfalls that come along the creek will be frozen.  It’s an easy place to look for a unique photographic study, just find one of the spots like the one in the photograph and setup.  Richland is loaded with spots where house sized rocks have fallen off the surrounding bluffs or have been moved downstream during epic flooding.  Enjoy!