Welcome to my photography blog, a place where I share not only portraits but other aspects of my photography.
Howdy!
Our last stop before leaving Pope County last weekend was some private property tucked into the edge of the Shawnee National Forest. For several years now, the owner, a master gardener, has used that as a getaway from city life and as his playground for flower gardening. It’s beautiful, peaceful and very private. He calls it the Howdy Farm, and in the spring, it comes alive with thousands of daffodils. He estimates he has about 40,000 daffodil and narcissus bulbs in the ground, and they spring forth in various shades of yellow, white and gold this time of year, trumpeting spring’s arrival in waves of cheery color. When you add in the trickle of the running water from the nearby creek and the sound of the occasional owl and woodpecker, it’s a feast for the senses.
There are so many blooms you cannot capture them in one wide image. You really have to see the farm for yourself to fully appreciate it. I’ve been lucky enough to be invited there on several occasions to take pictures, and I just love it. I love daffodils as much as I love sunflowers, and I could spend hours and hours among those blooms, taking in their beauty and celebrating the departure of winter. These images are just a fraction of the ones I shot this past weekend. Imagine that.
The Back Roads
The itch to shoot pictures and to constantly make better images is always in my being, like a restless rash, begging to be scratched. Those of you who harbor that kind of creative urge understand how strong that itch can be. Those who don’t, struggle to understand why some of us must always be making that thing that fulfills us, whether it’s art, music or the written word. My husband falls into that category. God bless him, he’s a good sport, dragging along while I take 200 pictures of the same flower, but he’s truly puzzled by the joy I get from spending hours photographing people, nature and things.
I had a raging itch to shoot this past Saturday morning, and I was in the mood for some small town atmosphere and character. I proposed a little road trip to Golconda, Illinois, which was met with a groan, because he saw HOURS of photo taking ahead, but he relented. I think he was afraid I’d get the car stuck in some backwoods mud, and that‘s a real possibility this time of year in Pope County. We’ve had a lot of rain lately. I gave him my usual, “You never know what kind of adventure we’ll find” speech, and off we went.
We swung by Dixon Springs Park because I had a hunch the waterfall there was running pretty good, and much to my delight it was. A waterfall makes a nature loving photography buff’s heart sing. Sing loudly, I tell ya’.
Afterward, we headed to Golconda and arrived in town to find an antique tractor show and parade. As in they lined up their polished, shiny old tractors and paraded them around the town square. Young and old alike were there, celebrating a part of their heritage and the simplicity of rural living.
It was just delightful. Hubby loves old tractors, so he had a fine time examining them, and I got to roam around the streets of Golconda, searching for anything interesting to shoot.
Strangers nodded and waved as I passed them, and no one batted an eye at my mud boots and ratty yard sale sweater, my usual attire on a back roads shoot. What a wonderful little slice of Americana, in the backyard of where I grew up. No matter where you live, the roots of your youth run deep, I think.
A Little More Winter
I am over winter. Really. Honestly, I was over it before it started, but now this summer baby is holding on by a thread. Come on, spring! The one good thing about the unusual amount of snow and ice we’ve had this year is the photography opportunities it brings. I do enjoy the way ice transforms things. That extra layer of liquid adds something dynamic to each element of nature.
I think of ice as nature’s jewelry. It’s as if the landscape is dripping in diamonds, making everything nice and sparkly in the right light.
I especially like the way it transforms outdoor sculpture, turning a piece of art into a completely different piece.
Fascinating, yes. But come on, spring!
Sneak Peek for Joelle and Ryan
While we typically don't get much snow here, this winter has certainly been unusual. The white stuff that fell Friday night was perfect for this couple who didn't mind braving the chilly air for part of their maternity shoot.
Reelfoot Lake
Last Saturday, I went to Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee for a little eagle viewing with photography friends. We saw some eagles, but they were so far away it was pretty tough to get a decent shot of them without a much longer lens. It was still a great day though. We hit the jackpot with the weather. The rain stayed away and the temperatures were warmer than they had been in a while. Perhaps the wildlife was as happy as we were about the weather because the critters were very active around the cold blue waters of the lake.
It was fun to spend the day shooting with fellow photogs, but it was equally as fun just enjoying the blessing of nature’s beauty. I have definitely become my mother because driving around the countryside all day looking at trees, animals and old houses and barns has become a favorite pastime. And the trip to Reelfoot was a great reminder of the diversity of the landscape in this part of the country. The fried fish I had at Boyette’s at lunch was pretty good, too.
We saw a blue heron devour a snake (no photo for me, I was on the wrong side of the car), a mass of green headed mallards, a batch of bashful coots and the best moment of the day, hundreds, maybe thousands of snow geese taking flight. Even if I hadn’t gotten a picture of that, it was something special to see.
Here are some shots from the day. Oh, and be forewarned. Apparently, I have a fascination with the bottoms of cypress trees. Get out and see the world. It’s pretty cool, even in the winter.
