08/11/14 Featured Arkansas Photography–October day on Richland Creek

October morning on Richland Creek–click on photograph for a larger image

Taken with a Phase One IQ160, Arca rm3di and Schneider 35XL lens, F11 for 1 second, Image created by shifting the back for 3 separate images and then stitched together in post processing. Both a polarizer and neutral density filter were used.  Richland Creek, which heads up in western Newton County, then runs eastward before running into the Buffalo River, is one of the most unique spots in Arkansas.  The creek has hundreds of photogenic spots but the best photography will be from the forest service campground, upstream for the next 5 miles.  Don’t just stop at Richland falls, which is a creek wide waterfall, but instead hike up stream for at least 2 more miles as some of the best spots are in this stretch.  This photograph was taken in October of 2012, after a good rain had fallen a few days before.  Richland is usually very low in the fall and when you can catch a clear day with good water it’s a rare but special day.  The creek is lined with hardwoods, that produce some amazing displays of color, and most years, they don’t disappoint.  Even if the water level is low, there should be some larger pools that will offer great reflections which won’t be there in the higher water times.  On this day, I had the best color display I have seen in years on Richland, the only tree that had already dropped it’s leaves was the large sweet gum on the upper right of the the photo.  In the fall, the water tends to be clear so you can see down to the bottom in even 4 to 5 feet of water.