tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15069269976411217302024-03-13T14:08:20.559-07:00Photography By Ben Jacobishutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-89131353236600088812015-11-02T17:21:00.002-08:002015-11-19T11:09:47.691-08:00Where Three Winds Meet: Reception and Publication...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where Three Winds Meet: Poetry by James Hoggard and images by North Texas artists.</i><br />
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A few months back one of my good friends, Elizabeth Hawley, asked if I would participate in a project she was overseeing. The project was for a book of poetry by James Hoggard that would feature local Texoma artists. Elizabeth has followed and supported my work for a long time and she thought my work would be appropriate for the book. In all honesty I wasn't sure how my work was going to fit in a poetry book. But I agreed and happily submitted photos hoping they could use one or two of them. Well, it turns out they used seven! Not bad at all...This past Thursday was the reception for the exhibit and my first time reading Jim's poetry. When I met Jim and his wife Lynn, I received one of the best compliments about my work. I am truly honored to be a part of such an amazing project and humbled to be featured with such outstanding artists. If you would like a copy of the book you can purchase them here: <a href="http://www.acentralplace.org/" target="_blank">http://www.acentralplace.org</a>, or at the Kemp Center for the Arts gift shop. Below are some photos of the book and the reception. Thanks again to Elizabeth Hawley and Jim Hoggard!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The artists and Jim Hoggard. Photo by: Elizabeth Hawley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Me at the reception standing behind one of my pieces (top right)<br />Photo by: Tim Jacobi</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Signing one of my photos for a fellow artist. The artists would sign each other's books kinda like a high school yearbook. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo by: Elizabeth Hawley. </i></td></tr>
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I had a great time at the reception meeting new people and seeing old friends in the art community. Here are some close ups of the book and my photos that were featured. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mr. Hoggard signed my book "To Ben: with a world of respect"</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After the bio and introduction page you see Jim's first piece and my photograph "The Howling Winds". The poem is appropriately names "Earth and Wind". This image was made several years ago when I was just starting to get into storm photography. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A photo from the storm season this year. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On page 50.</i><br />
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<i>"When Four Tornadoes Joined" is a poem about the tragic F4 tornado that struck Wichita Falls in 1979. The image was from the April 22, 2010 Goodnight, TX tornado</i><br />
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<i>Page 120</i><br />
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<i>Crooked Creek Falls in Arkansas</i><br />
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<i>My last photo was featured in the index of the book. </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am so honored to be in such a great collection of poetry and art pick up your copy today!</span></div>
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shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-50619043397351458972015-07-29T14:07:00.001-07:002015-07-29T14:07:54.227-07:00RRPC Field Trip: Benjamin, TX...This past Saturday (7/25) the Red River Photography Club went on a field trip to Jim Bob Art Park in Benjamin, TX for a night photography excursion. We stayed out in the wee hours of the morning hoping to catch a glimpse of the milky way over some photogenic terrain. Around 5:00 members of the club met up at Memorial Stadium, we started off towards Seymour, TX around 5:30. Our first stop was to the Rusty Spur Steakhouse and Saloon. After some nice dinner conversation and a good steak we left for Jim Bob Art Park.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Satellite view of Jim Bob Art Park and Nature Trail (Google Earth)</span></i></div>
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A few miles north of Benjamin is the Jim Bob Art Park and Nature Trail. It is a privately owned park by the Bisbee family. The park was created in remembrance to James Robert Bisbee (Jim Bob as the locals called him). http://penelopebisbee.com On the far west view of the park is swing where visitors can take in the amazing view of "The Narrows" of Knox County. Sitting at an elevation of 1568ft the views from this plateau are quite impressive and would make for some excellent sunset photography and being in a rural area we were expecting a great view of the night sky. </div>
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We arrive to the park just in time to catch the sun going down. I was only able to make one image of with the sun in the frame. I would like to come back and shoot more sunsets at this location. Members of the RRPC gathered all their gear and began shooting the sunset over the amazing vista. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beautiful sunset over "The Narrows".<br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After the sun went down we were greeted with some really nice crepuscular rays.<br /></i></td></tr>
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Once the sun set it was time to start setting up for some night photography. Some of us started to shoot some of the stars other's kept photographing the landscape, and some just sat enjoying the scene. The waxing gibbous moon was shining very bright and was painting the landscape in a soft glow. But we could not make the milky way out just yet. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The moonlight played a major role in the type of night images we could make. The milky way was just barely visible and moon was not supposed to set until after 2:00 am. On the plus side the moon lit up the landscape quite nicely and using a long exposure and a tripod you could capture details in the breaks over a starry canopy. In this image you can see Ursa major (Big Dipper) and a great view of the landscape thanks to the moon.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A group of the RRPC waiting on the moon to go down. It was a smart idea to bring some lawn chairs.<br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can start to see some of the milky way in the upper left corner of the photo.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I decided to use the camera's multiple exposure feature to get the moon and the landscape in the same shot. I actually had to expose the landscape first, switch lenses, then readjust the exposure for the moon, and place the moon in the viewfinder above the horizon line. This took a couple of attempts to get it just right. </i></td></tr>
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A lot of the members went home after 12am (understandably so) while the moon was still out and harsh. But there are ways to pass the time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(Photo Credit: Elizabeth Hawley) Elizabeth captured this image of me trying to get a shot of the Andromeda galaxy with my sky tracker. The milky way was just now starting to become visible on the cameras and we could almost make it out with our naked eye. Elizabeth was also kind enough to let me use her Tamron 150-600mm lens to make my image. Thanks for letting me use the lens and for taking the pic, Elizabeth!<br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A very mediocre shot of the Andromeda. If I really wanted a great shot I would be stacking multiple images for fine detail and less noise. I mostly shot this to show everybody how the sky tracker works. </i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was now close to 2am and almost everyone had left for home. But a few stayed behind hoping to get more impressive views of the milky way. As the moon set it began to get darker and darker out there. I wanted to be set up and ready to shoot when the moon finally dipped below the horizon.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Milky way now starting to come out and the setting moon sinking below the horizon. The bright light in the center is a ranch in the area.<br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoIpiuooXv0/Vbk28e15pSI/AAAAAAAAEAI/Ugeyb_5qLAQ/s1600/web_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xoIpiuooXv0/Vbk28e15pSI/AAAAAAAAEAI/Ugeyb_5qLAQ/s320/web_4.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With the moon now gone the milky way was truly incredible. This is one of the best views I have ever seen of the milky way. This area is rated as a "2" on the Bortle light pollution scale which is one of the best ratings for astro photography. The next closest area to the same rating is about 30 miles north just outside of Crowell at the Comanche Springs Observatory.<br /></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fh_0rvd95RA/Vbk4FFo4nvI/AAAAAAAAEAU/d0sBijSKy44/s1600/web_6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fh_0rvd95RA/Vbk4FFo4nvI/AAAAAAAAEAU/d0sBijSKy44/s320/web_6.png" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This image was made with the sky tracker which helped me capture amazing detail in the milky way. This particular image is actually made of two separate photos. One image was exposed for the foreground (30sec tracker off) and the other was exposed for the milky way (3minutes tracker on) and then I combined together in Photoshop.<br /></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJyDtdT2G2g/Vbk5HSe07nI/AAAAAAAAEAg/4LyA0JJEzEQ/s1600/web_14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJyDtdT2G2g/Vbk5HSe07nI/AAAAAAAAEAg/4LyA0JJEzEQ/s320/web_14.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I did not like the light pollution and ground haze so I placed the camera in front of some trees to cut back on the lights. Plus they made an excellent silhouette against the starry sky. It was starting to get late and some of us needed to be back for church the next morning. But there was still one more image I wanted to make.<br /></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZLL8TSvACg/Vbk55MpNkwI/AAAAAAAAEAo/sxNGAAtNU8Y/s1600/web_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZLL8TSvACg/Vbk55MpNkwI/AAAAAAAAEAo/sxNGAAtNU8Y/s320/web_1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This was my money shot! This is a panorama consisting of 46 individual photos stitched together for an ultra wide angle view of the milky way and night sky. See it much better <a href="http://bdjphoto.zenfolio.com/p121045338/e50b0d60a">here</a>. I spent more than a half hour getting the shots for this image. I, again, did not want the light pollution/ground haze interfering with the view of the night sky. It took almost five hours for me to stitch and process this image, but it was so worth it! I think this is my favorite milky way image to date!<br /><br /></i></td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxLyzK3rcbP2Q_RFjgl7S7hshWrpmzN6QHS_i9t5jj0b6iFinD07q78GvOIH27LovbYqwfuRvtbqrkTYC8zQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Timelapse video of the moon set and milky way. If you watch closely you will see an iridium flare from a passing satellite and a short lived meteor. </span></i></div>
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After I finished the series of photos I was satisfied. It was now 4am and we debated staying out longer and catch the sunrise of the breaks. We decided to go ahead and call it a night and gathered up our gear and began the drive home. I got back to my apartment around 6am browsed few some of the photos and slept until 1pm that afternoon. It was a really awesome field trip and I'd love to go back there again. Though next time I think we will plan it during a new moon. </div>
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shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-87899984384841137602014-11-27T10:28:00.000-08:002014-11-27T10:28:39.317-08:00Arkansas 2014: Day 2...<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>DAY 2: Sunrise
from Grandview Vista, Cossatot River, Highway 278, and Sunset at Lake
Wilhelmina.</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The sun was set
to rise around 6:45 that morning. I woke up around 5:45 got my gear
together, grabbed the keys, and headed back to the Talimena Scenic
Byway. I was hoping to catch the sunrise hitting the mountains and
possibly capture the setting moon in the same shot. I really
underestimated how great the view to the east is up on the mountain.
While driving up the mountain I would look back in my rear view
mirror and see a giant red ball over the horizon. It was so amazing.
I really REALLY wanted to stop, but I didn't want to miss opportunity
to capture the sunrise at Grandview vista. I pressed forward and
would occasionally glimpse back in the rearview mirror catching
sunrise behind me. I arrived to Grandview vista and the light was
just starting to hit the mountains. To make things even better there
was a thin layer of fog in the valleys and near full moon descending
to the west. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhqur7xSMFM/VG-Sa36w4vI/AAAAAAAADk0/oM1YYuZFQ84/s1600/web_93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fhqur7xSMFM/VG-Sa36w4vI/AAAAAAAADk0/oM1YYuZFQ84/s1600/web_93.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Without a doubt, the best view of the byway. We are looking south and the sun over to our left just now rising over the mountains. I had hoped we would see some dramatic light.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXZbGjCfWus/VG-SbXsy_fI/AAAAAAAADk8/uLsVW9ez1s4/s1600/web_94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXZbGjCfWus/VG-SbXsy_fI/AAAAAAAADk8/uLsVW9ez1s4/s1600/web_94.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A thin layer of fog down in the valleys.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNeOocS7Ba4/VG-Sb4vdS1I/AAAAAAAADlE/p-CEZSSDmXA/s1600/web_96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sNeOocS7Ba4/VG-Sb4vdS1I/AAAAAAAADlE/p-CEZSSDmXA/s1600/web_96.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And a thick layer of fog over Lake Wilhelmina. We would return to the lake later that evening for sunset photos. </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktMyiWOLVzw/VG-ScQz80vI/AAAAAAAADlQ/QMPSka4zxpc/s1600/web_98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktMyiWOLVzw/VG-ScQz80vI/AAAAAAAADlQ/QMPSka4zxpc/s1600/web_98.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lm2S7TFx0u4/VG-SZYICbkI/AAAAAAAADko/9Cx0jfgoapM/s1600/web_101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lm2S7TFx0u4/VG-SZYICbkI/AAAAAAAADko/9Cx0jfgoapM/s1600/web_101.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A near full moon setting to the west.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtfMrUkcxrk/VG-SadyM_iI/AAAAAAAADkw/4QRYr2BG6qQ/s1600/web_104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WtfMrUkcxrk/VG-SadyM_iI/AAAAAAAADkw/4QRYr2BG6qQ/s1600/web_104.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I also tried some telephoto landscape photography. </i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVt8zM8EIiM/VG-SYvH_jNI/AAAAAAAADkg/CMjq_BiPQCY/s1600/web_106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVt8zM8EIiM/VG-SYvH_jNI/AAAAAAAADkg/CMjq_BiPQCY/s1600/web_106.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is looking off to the northeast from Acorn Vista.</span></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqldOkhCYVo/VG-SNG-nakI/AAAAAAAADkY/wVuY30s6opc/s1600/web_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqldOkhCYVo/VG-SNG-nakI/AAAAAAAADkY/wVuY30s6opc/s1600/web_2.jpg" height="48" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Thirteen image panorama of the Grandview vista sunrise.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It certainly
was a great start to the day. I drive back to Mena to meet up with my
mother and plan for the rest of the day. We're sitting around trying
to decide when we would like to leave for Texas. I was planning to
leave around 3:00pm and that would get us home around 8:00pm that
night. I had work the next morning and I was sure my mom didn't want
to drive that far that late at night. My mom was looking through a
local brochure and mentioned something about the Cossatot River State
Park. We settled on that for a late morning/early afternoon field
trip. It was only 30min from Mena and when we finished we could go
back to Mena for a late lunch and head on home. Like many of the
places in AR we were once again creeping on dirt and gravel roads to
get to our destination. Along the way we saw some colorful foliage
and some nice landscapes, but mostly it was winding dirt roads and
tall slender trees blocking out our view.. We finally arrived at the
upper Cossatot River region. Specifically we were looking for the
rapids in the river on this particular outing. The river was not at
its highest state so the rapids were not that impressive, but I still
came back with some great shots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PEFr2ASTBU/VG-YYt0X_pI/AAAAAAAADnw/FFQc-Vws3XA/s1600/web_109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PEFr2ASTBU/VG-YYt0X_pI/AAAAAAAADnw/FFQc-Vws3XA/s1600/web_109.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Upper Cossatot River near Cossatot falls.</span></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VGqrVRpAaYM/VG-YaY7LCjI/AAAAAAAADn4/QDpz5J1dwxY/s1600/web_110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VGqrVRpAaYM/VG-YaY7LCjI/AAAAAAAADn4/QDpz5J1dwxY/s1600/web_110.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Some of the nice fall foliage we encountered on a short hike.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usE0isDB_uM/VG-YbeRuDuI/AAAAAAAADoA/Z-VzzYof85Y/s1600/web_111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-usE0isDB_uM/VG-YbeRuDuI/AAAAAAAADoA/Z-VzzYof85Y/s1600/web_111.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The only "rapids" I was able to photograph. I had to climb over several rocks and hopscotch my way to an isolated piece of dry land to get this shot. Judging by the smoothness of the rocks and the striations, I imagine the river can get to much higher levels and intensity. </i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voeJMRxNQUM/VG-YeofQsSI/AAAAAAAADoQ/4793XbpoxEI/s1600/web_114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voeJMRxNQUM/VG-YeofQsSI/AAAAAAAADoQ/4793XbpoxEI/s1600/web_114.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>More fall colors. </i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mxViLEec_6g/VG-YgcofwKI/AAAAAAAADoY/w-pr-M6DLCk/s1600/web_116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mxViLEec_6g/VG-YgcofwKI/AAAAAAAADoY/w-pr-M6DLCk/s1600/web_116.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jW42UNK-OVs/VG-ZYoTpSHI/AAAAAAAADog/IWmF59MB16Y/s1600/web_117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jW42UNK-OVs/VG-ZYoTpSHI/AAAAAAAADog/IWmF59MB16Y/s1600/web_117.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>View of the lower Cossatot river from Highway 278. We stopped in the middle of the road to get this shot. Luckily, there was no other traffic around us. </i></span></td></tr>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once we
finished hanging around and exploring the upper region of the river
we drove to the visitor center,(which was really nice) and made our
way to the low water crossing of the river. </span>This was
actually a little better, I was able to see some decent movement in
the water and with the use of my vari ND filter I was able to slow my
shutterpeed down to 3 seconds creating a soft silky look to the
water.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBJDKIQvVB8/VG-Z_Ye0t-I/AAAAAAAADoo/ZMuyaON8JUc/s1600/web_118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SBJDKIQvVB8/VG-Z_Ye0t-I/AAAAAAAADoo/ZMuyaON8JUc/s1600/web_118.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Getting longer exposures in bright sunny daylight can be a challenge without the use of filters. I used my vari ND filter to decrease my shutterspeed and blur the movement of the water.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTp9B8xtutw/VG-aBheRbrI/AAAAAAAADo4/_h7rnAjKRpA/s1600/web_121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gTp9B8xtutw/VG-aBheRbrI/AAAAAAAADo4/_h7rnAjKRpA/s1600/web_121.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuXcIrRiqzQ/VG-aA9eSGoI/AAAAAAAADow/K-A3UR1dcZw/s1600/web_122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuXcIrRiqzQ/VG-aA9eSGoI/AAAAAAAADow/K-A3UR1dcZw/s1600/web_122.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-___Kx4Qsm4c/VG-aC-oIIKI/AAAAAAAADpA/bi_B30-eEqI/s1600/web_123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-___Kx4Qsm4c/VG-aC-oIIKI/AAAAAAAADpA/bi_B30-eEqI/s1600/web_123.jpg" height="161" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">7 image panorama of the lower Cossatot River. </span></i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ry5LtnldwdU/VG-a6eTPzPI/AAAAAAAADpI/GzWRJt2Y_8Q/s1600/web_124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ry5LtnldwdU/VG-a6eTPzPI/AAAAAAAADpI/GzWRJt2Y_8Q/s1600/web_124.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>All along the
river we saw some really nice foliage and naturally I had to take
some close up shots.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJCMF_kIXj4/VG-a77O1_4I/AAAAAAAADpQ/_D-7P8wB3ak/s1600/web_125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJCMF_kIXj4/VG-a77O1_4I/AAAAAAAADpQ/_D-7P8wB3ak/s1600/web_125.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We left the
Cossatot River around 1:30 and headed back to Mena to get some lunch
before driving home. We drove west along highway 278 which was almost
entirely surrounded by trees. At one point outside of Wickes, AR
there was a break in the forest. The land sloped down where a long
line of hay bales were resting halfway across the field. Behind the
hay was a cluster of changing fall leaves and just above the treeline
the distant craggy peaks of the Ouachita mountains could be seen. I
really liked this composition, I just wished the light would have
been better. We pulled off near the Duckett cemetery to photograph
the landscape.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8o2kypa7Lc/VG-bis_hhQI/AAAAAAAADqI/jqmi0KUOJIA/s1600/web_131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8o2kypa7Lc/VG-bis_hhQI/AAAAAAAADqI/jqmi0KUOJIA/s1600/web_131.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dydEPDb6IJA/VG-bhBlTnkI/AAAAAAAADp4/JmWXwc9EfRU/s1600/web_132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dydEPDb6IJA/VG-bhBlTnkI/AAAAAAAADp4/JmWXwc9EfRU/s1600/web_132.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I had to stay near the top of the hill. The further I went down the more the treeline would cover up the mountains.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1arM6B8gC1Q/VG-bhyPtMEI/AAAAAAAADqA/TdCY6vKyBTY/s1600/web_133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1arM6B8gC1Q/VG-bhyPtMEI/AAAAAAAADqA/TdCY6vKyBTY/s1600/web_133.jpg" height="73" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">15 image panorama of this wonderful scene. The original is sized at 100"wide by 14.5" tall!!!</span></i><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After I was
happy with a couple of frames we drove back to Mena and had a late
lunch at a place called the Branding Iron (not to be confused with
our local restaurant). The place was quite nice and the food was
really good. We filled our bellies and started off for home. But
before we left I wanted to get one more shot. I wanted to get some
photos at sunset of Rich mountain reflecting in Lake Wilhelmina. We
pulled up and found a nice spot to get the mountains reflecting in
the lake.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hryVKTfq1nY/VG-cslriuKI/AAAAAAAADqU/kVYfRCo5YFM/s1600/web_134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hryVKTfq1nY/VG-cslriuKI/AAAAAAAADqU/kVYfRCo5YFM/s1600/web_134.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Found a great location in a more still part of the lake. This would be perfect for some long exposure photography.</i></span></td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kePZdEh2SIA/VG-cuP7lVlI/AAAAAAAADqc/F8h9XW-EKqU/s1600/web_135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kePZdEh2SIA/VG-cuP7lVlI/AAAAAAAADqc/F8h9XW-EKqU/s1600/web_135.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful light and reflections of the nearby woods.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JlWWU9ocjB4/VG-cuiS3LTI/AAAAAAAADqg/UWIK5TZtlVc/s1600/web_136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JlWWU9ocjB4/VG-cuiS3LTI/AAAAAAAADqg/UWIK5TZtlVc/s1600/web_136.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If you look real closely you will see a structure on the top of the mountain. This is the <a href="http://www.queenwilhelmina.com/">Queen Wilhelmina lodge</a> as seen from lake Wilhelmina. We stopped by this location, but there were easily 100+ people when we arrived. We decided to just keep driving. </i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6wAjVzjcGb0/VG-cvxtm9NI/AAAAAAAADq0/_p1-agkD0ts/s1600/web_137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6wAjVzjcGb0/VG-cvxtm9NI/AAAAAAAADq0/_p1-agkD0ts/s1600/web_137.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Wider view of the lake.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPLHiNNkBdU/VG-cvrcbOcI/AAAAAAAADqs/miNDU8oQbCw/s1600/web_140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPLHiNNkBdU/VG-cvrcbOcI/AAAAAAAADqs/miNDU8oQbCw/s1600/web_140.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Beautiful light hitting the face of Rich Mountain.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-81pbDrxQR8w/VG-cw7iVlEI/AAAAAAAADq8/MvIarZIwEzc/s1600/web_143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-81pbDrxQR8w/VG-cw7iVlEI/AAAAAAAADq8/MvIarZIwEzc/s1600/web_143.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Stunning sunset that evening and a great opportunity to use some long exposure to get a near perfect reflection in the waters. I couldn't think of a more perfect way to end the trip.</i></span></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We made the
drive home and I arrived at my apartment around 11:30pm. It really
was a unique experience. I have been through Arkansas before on the
way to Indiana for family reunions. I never had the opportunity to
explore the mountains and forests of the state. Thanks to my mom for tagging along and doing all the driving. I have to say it is
truly a beautiful place and a well spent vacation. I hope to one day
return to the Ouachita Mounatins again.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">-Ben</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">
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shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-930184607814505482014-11-20T13:41:00.001-08:002014-11-20T13:41:50.495-08:00Arkansas 2014: Day 1...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51ZH2BYQ9Gs/VG4OBvr6cXI/AAAAAAAADaQ/Y6lMcuhLQyo/s1600/2014%2BAR_web.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51ZH2BYQ9Gs/VG4OBvr6cXI/AAAAAAAADaQ/Y6lMcuhLQyo/s1600/2014%2BAR_web.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A few weekends
ago I made a trip out to western Arkansas in pursuit of some colorful
fall foliage. I had seen through researching the Internet that the
Talimena National Scenic Byway was supposed to have beautiful autumn
colors—and it did not disappoint. The Talimena Scenic Byway runs
from Talahina, OK to Mena, AR for a little over 50miles. A snaky,
curving road sits on the crest of Winding Stair Mountain (OK) and
Rich Mountain (AR).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EIXUHapglrQ/VG4PKyWIepI/AAAAAAAADag/wxdqpBpZ9bA/s1600/Talimena.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EIXUHapglrQ/VG4PKyWIepI/AAAAAAAADag/wxdqpBpZ9bA/s1600/Talimena.png" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Map of the Talimena National Scenic Byway</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Rich Mountain is the second tallest peak in AR at
2,681ft above sea level, only to be beaten by Mt Magazine (2,753 ft)
in the Ozark Mountains. Winding Stair Mountain and Rich mountain are
part of the Ouachita Mountain Chain. The Ouachita Mountains are
what's known as “fold mountains”. When the South America plate
collided with the Earth's crust it caused the crust to buckle. This
convergence folded the crust into roll and wave shapes, forming the
Ouachita mountains.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6K9u8q0UK24/VG4PDHOYhtI/AAAAAAAADaY/L18qrnrLs0s/s1600/ouachita_ast_2002317_lrg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6K9u8q0UK24/VG4PDHOYhtI/AAAAAAAADaY/L18qrnrLs0s/s1600/ouachita_ast_2002317_lrg.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Satellite image of the Ouachita Mountain chain (NASA)</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Unlike most other mountain chains, the Ouachita
mountains run east and west rather than north and south. From the
byway you have a great view of the rolling mountains and sunken
valleys below. The byway meets with the Ouachita National Forest a
nearly 1.8 million acre forest. Oak, pine, maple, hickory, and walnut
trees line up around the byway and during the autumn months the
forest explodes in hues of reds, oranges, and golds. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We planned out
our trip and hoped we would be in or near peak color by the weekend.
My mother accompanied me on the trip and we left Friday evening
around 6:00pm. Our destination for Friday was McAlester, OK. This was
a good base point, as we were only an hour drive from Talahina, OK,
the western entrance to the byway. We got up at 6:30am and planned to
leave around 7:30 am. When we left McAlester, OK high clouds were
blocking out the eastern horizon and I was worried we wouldn't have
good light for pictures. Clouds blocking out the sun would make the
landscape appear flat and the colors dull. But we pressed on in hopes
the sun would begin to burn off all the clouds as the temperatures
increased.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>DAY 1: Talimena
Scenic Drive, Little Missouri Falls, and Crooked Creek Falls</b></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6XdKSo3mGsI/VG4d5vPMBLI/AAAAAAAADaw/SEHpo9N89rY/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6XdKSo3mGsI/VG4d5vPMBLI/AAAAAAAADaw/SEHpo9N89rY/s1600/web_4.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Western Entrance to the Talimena National Scenic Byway.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> We arrived to
the entrance of the Talimena National Scenic Byway close to 8:30am.
We pulled into the visitor center to get a map and information about
sights along the byway. The Talimena Scenic Byway offers 22 vistas of
the forest and mountains and with the second tallest peak in Arkansas
we should see some beautiful panoramic views.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Choctaw Vista:</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7yZYYQTN9I/VG4fBPXXffI/AAAAAAAADbE/cdRXMrWYrMY/s1600/web_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7yZYYQTN9I/VG4fBPXXffI/AAAAAAAADbE/cdRXMrWYrMY/s1600/web_5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Not long after we started the drive there was a pull off for the Choctaw Vista. This particular vista had a lot of changing fall foliage.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrBGYf3fW-8/VG4fCXUpSvI/AAAAAAAADbQ/Pl5Ipf7Lj0w/s1600/web_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrBGYf3fW-8/VG4fCXUpSvI/AAAAAAAADbQ/Pl5Ipf7Lj0w/s1600/web_7.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GFxOS4W6bIY/VG4fD_kTaAI/AAAAAAAADbY/i-Fyy30I5mY/s1600/web_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GFxOS4W6bIY/VG4fD_kTaAI/AAAAAAAADbY/i-Fyy30I5mY/s1600/web_9.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLTx2f4Flno/VG4e-RRPAvI/AAAAAAAADa4/b934FaXDImY/s1600/web_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLTx2f4Flno/VG4e-RRPAvI/AAAAAAAADa4/b934FaXDImY/s1600/web_10.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">View from Choctaw Vista</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Potato Hills Vista:</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-husw9DKiMhc/VG4gFbDCSXI/AAAAAAAADb8/eLJFaQVROYE/s1600/web_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-husw9DKiMhc/VG4gFbDCSXI/AAAAAAAADb8/eLJFaQVROYE/s1600/web_11.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Potato Hills Vista gets its name from the hills down below. They resemble mounds they use to plant potatoes.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CxIK8E0wvbA/VG4gEIRotrI/AAAAAAAADbs/VhNT_SFKyq4/s1600/web_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CxIK8E0wvbA/VG4gEIRotrI/AAAAAAAADbs/VhNT_SFKyq4/s1600/web_12.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rY-TgZrSAPQ/VG4gERHSf4I/AAAAAAAADbw/WzUgfI-B30E/s1600/web_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rY-TgZrSAPQ/VG4gERHSf4I/AAAAAAAADbw/WzUgfI-B30E/s1600/web_13.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Holson Valley Vista:</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmnIpjVKG_U/VG4hugMAhmI/AAAAAAAADcI/kCZDw145NM4/s1600/web_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmnIpjVKG_U/VG4hugMAhmI/AAAAAAAADcI/kCZDw145NM4/s1600/web_15.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Very scenic view from Holson Valley Vista</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vkdo3Kc7mWU/VG4hv_o4GTI/AAAAAAAADcQ/gFcHMNo1_3s/s1600/web_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vkdo3Kc7mWU/VG4hv_o4GTI/AAAAAAAADcQ/gFcHMNo1_3s/s1600/web_17.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85sSCqfIq9g/VG4nAlabHqI/AAAAAAAADcg/R5VAJNVtAbc/s1600/web_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85sSCqfIq9g/VG4nAlabHqI/AAAAAAAADcg/R5VAJNVtAbc/s1600/web_18.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">There were some spectacular views of the changing forest in this area, but no vistas to pull over. We found a spot off the shoulder and I walked out to capture these beautiful scenes.</span></i> </td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YAob7wj4r7w/VG4nBjp_4pI/AAAAAAAADcw/A44W41BKzkk/s1600/web_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YAob7wj4r7w/VG4nBjp_4pI/AAAAAAAADcw/A44W41BKzkk/s1600/web_19.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyGccJ_HjPU/VG4nCvToMeI/AAAAAAAADc4/9e1yZQ_OU3A/s1600/web_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oyGccJ_HjPU/VG4nCvToMeI/AAAAAAAADc4/9e1yZQ_OU3A/s1600/web_22.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">One of my favorite shots of the byway.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUkOjb5iTKo/VG4n42lvYtI/AAAAAAAADdA/MQs2Nppywi0/s1600/web_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUkOjb5iTKo/VG4n42lvYtI/AAAAAAAADdA/MQs2Nppywi0/s1600/web_14.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And of course I had to stop and get some close up shots of the foliage.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h6ioH4lEJEw/VG4n89OjUpI/AAAAAAAADdI/HAwtDjSwJoc/s1600/web_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h6ioH4lEJEw/VG4n89OjUpI/AAAAAAAADdI/HAwtDjSwJoc/s1600/web_21.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Panorama Vista: </b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAdSqEGx11g/VG4oy0zjB8I/AAAAAAAADdQ/vFi2JWf0l7c/s1600/web_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAdSqEGx11g/VG4oy0zjB8I/AAAAAAAADdQ/vFi2JWf0l7c/s1600/web_24.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One of the better views of the drive Panorama Vista pulls off to a 360 degree view of the mountains and forest.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-istZB_MZI1I/VG4o0b3qZ5I/AAAAAAAADdY/N5zPb4Y9bQU/s1600/web_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-istZB_MZI1I/VG4o0b3qZ5I/AAAAAAAADdY/N5zPb4Y9bQU/s1600/web_25.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4S0R3ZMdTaA/VG4o1dRjNwI/AAAAAAAADdg/5gZh2zBdPSU/s1600/web_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4S0R3ZMdTaA/VG4o1dRjNwI/AAAAAAAADdg/5gZh2zBdPSU/s1600/web_26.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GDvnk69CkxY/VG4pxxJCGbI/AAAAAAAADdw/rqIivJQRhRM/s1600/web_29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GDvnk69CkxY/VG4pxxJCGbI/AAAAAAAADdw/rqIivJQRhRM/s1600/web_29.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Scenes like this are all over the byway. The road is lined with beautiful fall foliage.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rR1vblYDvM/VG4pwcu9w8I/AAAAAAAADdo/UrK2O88CWHo/s1600/web_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6rR1vblYDvM/VG4pwcu9w8I/AAAAAAAADdo/UrK2O88CWHo/s1600/web_30.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0d7YFtRn3LI/VG4pxzbqoaI/AAAAAAAADd0/v7HBMKrb6Z4/s1600/web_32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0d7YFtRn3LI/VG4pxzbqoaI/AAAAAAAADd0/v7HBMKrb6Z4/s1600/web_32.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Deadman Vista:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dF9KPddehYw/VG4qUBAW_UI/AAAAAAAADeA/Kd3AebxKhKE/s1600/web_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dF9KPddehYw/VG4qUBAW_UI/AAAAAAAADeA/Kd3AebxKhKE/s1600/web_33.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The origin behind the name is now lost, but some say they found a man's body in this area, hence the name Deadman Vista.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTrWTdGvQcE/VG4qVkki32I/AAAAAAAADeI/GbUdCSDSAbQ/s1600/web_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTrWTdGvQcE/VG4qVkki32I/AAAAAAAADeI/GbUdCSDSAbQ/s1600/web_35.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Boundary marker to the Ouachita National Forest.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sugarloaf Vista: </b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1MpHXxMmT8/VG4rYDZ3-AI/AAAAAAAADeU/f2W-obnVkjI/s1600/web_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K1MpHXxMmT8/VG4rYDZ3-AI/AAAAAAAADeU/f2W-obnVkjI/s1600/web_3.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This was one of my favorite vistas. The colors of the leaves were phenomenal!</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUSArHmBJhs/VG4rZfCx4lI/AAAAAAAADec/EfzLnIZPVqw/s1600/web_37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUSArHmBJhs/VG4rZfCx4lI/AAAAAAAADec/EfzLnIZPVqw/s1600/web_37.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMfACIQ2BYg/VG4raNbDvOI/AAAAAAAADeg/TQJhvQKssGc/s1600/web_39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMfACIQ2BYg/VG4raNbDvOI/AAAAAAAADeg/TQJhvQKssGc/s1600/web_39.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Out in the distance you can see Sugarloaf mountain, the mountain the vista is named after.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lenox Vista:</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d_MKwW3FLzE/VG4spW1w--I/AAAAAAAADew/B5QoBeCiIoc/s1600/web_43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d_MKwW3FLzE/VG4spW1w--I/AAAAAAAADew/B5QoBeCiIoc/s1600/web_43.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Lenox Vista was another photogenic location. The dominant ridge in the background is named Lenox Ridge. Behind the ridge is the small town of Lenox, AR.I really liked how the ridge was speckled with areas of changing leaves</span>. </i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mA6VYg9VRXo/VG4sqNgc72I/AAAAAAAADe4/o7CwTkHw3ak/s1600/web_44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mA6VYg9VRXo/VG4sqNgc72I/AAAAAAAADe4/o7CwTkHw3ak/s1600/web_44.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cedar Lake Vista: </b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25f8B5hsFtc/VG4t4vL8keI/AAAAAAAADfE/qv-ZUIKw6p0/s1600/web_46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25f8B5hsFtc/VG4t4vL8keI/AAAAAAAADfE/qv-ZUIKw6p0/s1600/web_46.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The beautiful Cedar Lake Vista.</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L7uIC7f4TNA/VG4t6vQxLTI/AAAAAAAADfU/kDMYqIVwY8Q/s1600/web_47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L7uIC7f4TNA/VG4t6vQxLTI/AAAAAAAADfU/kDMYqIVwY8Q/s1600/web_47.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GrAGFSz3JOE/VG4t5l-3PRI/AAAAAAAADfM/Nw5wRsaabFM/s1600/web_50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GrAGFSz3JOE/VG4t5l-3PRI/AAAAAAAADfM/Nw5wRsaabFM/s1600/web_50.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Here's a wider shot showing all the waves and ridges of the Ouachita's.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Shawnee Vista: </b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZIcTeWjt-w/VG4ugNbskRI/AAAAAAAADfc/8CQHdveVNxk/s1600/web_51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZIcTeWjt-w/VG4ugNbskRI/AAAAAAAADfc/8CQHdveVNxk/s1600/web_51.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Shawnee vista was another great view. If you look off in the distance you can see the rolling hills that are the focal point of the next stop.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Emerald Vista:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJWCbmcYGNE/VG4vGGeGaiI/AAAAAAAADfs/bmQAZSgqqes/s1600/web_52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJWCbmcYGNE/VG4vGGeGaiI/AAAAAAAADfs/bmQAZSgqqes/s1600/web_52.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Spectacular view from Emerald Vista. The sun was just starting to break through the clouds at this point and generated some great light on the landscape.</span></i></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ak8sIxjFIhE/VG4vESJZEiI/AAAAAAAADfk/tYHmhE4cx4U/s1600/web_53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ak8sIxjFIhE/VG4vESJZEiI/AAAAAAAADfk/tYHmhE4cx4U/s1600/web_53.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlWPOiNUyrY/VG4vHKp0zLI/AAAAAAAADf0/lBnkR4Hh7cM/s1600/web_55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlWPOiNUyrY/VG4vHKp0zLI/AAAAAAAADf0/lBnkR4Hh7cM/s1600/web_55.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Big Cedar Vista:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vsoSGghKss/VG4vtM1XQxI/AAAAAAAADf8/GaOkPkHLN9M/s1600/web_58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vsoSGghKss/VG4vtM1XQxI/AAAAAAAADf8/GaOkPkHLN9M/s1600/web_58.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The appropriately named Big Cedar Vista didn't offer a wide panorama view because of the dense cover a large Cedar trees.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sunset Point Vista: </b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PBHjefiyih4/VG4whU4lw_I/AAAAAAAADgQ/TKrTmE4zpFg/s1600/web_60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PBHjefiyih4/VG4whU4lw_I/AAAAAAAADgQ/TKrTmE4zpFg/s1600/web_60.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We are now at the western most end of Rich Mountain. This would be a great spot to watch the sun set below the mountains</i></span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMsLr9QieRg/VG4wgJ28JrI/AAAAAAAADgI/TujiC2CSzjA/s1600/web_62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMsLr9QieRg/VG4wgJ28JrI/AAAAAAAADgI/TujiC2CSzjA/s1600/web_62.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This large cluster of smooth rock are what's known as rock glaciers. Some of the special plants in this habitat are found nowhere else in the world.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kiamichi Valley Vista:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_lwGn7vibKo/VG4_WZ3nffI/AAAAAAAADgg/C5dsUPN3WW0/s1600/web_63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_lwGn7vibKo/VG4_WZ3nffI/AAAAAAAADgg/C5dsUPN3WW0/s1600/web_63.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A nice view of Kiamichi mountain to our south.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chaha Vista:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuVZwI2X3Us/VG5AFCWP6SI/AAAAAAAADgo/hT-tHPDDFy0/s1600/web_64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuVZwI2X3Us/VG5AFCWP6SI/AAAAAAAADgo/hT-tHPDDFy0/s1600/web_64.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Here is another favorite shot of mine. This was captured at the Chaha Vista. Chaha comes from the word Choctaw which means "mountain high than others"</i>.<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mountain Fork Vista: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qsqQNRNANzw/VG5A491KipI/AAAAAAAADgw/moLbL4LXUuI/s1600/web_66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qsqQNRNANzw/VG5A491KipI/AAAAAAAADgw/moLbL4LXUuI/s1600/web_66.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Up until this point we were in the far reaches of eastern, OK. Not far from the border was Mountain Fork vista and our first miles in Arkansas territory.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rich Mountain Fire Tower:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbmg_a57y3Q/VG5Bj0gzrjI/AAAAAAAADg4/RTDMtWdFMSA/s1600/web_67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbmg_a57y3Q/VG5Bj0gzrjI/AAAAAAAADg4/RTDMtWdFMSA/s1600/web_67.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">We came to a turn off called "Tower Rd" driving down this narrow one lane road we entered the Rich Mountain Fire Tower Picnic Area. We are now at the tallest peak of Rich Mountain at 2,681 feet above sea level. </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grandview Vista: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRVllY3W290/VG5K5_L94gI/AAAAAAAADhM/gbNRaiQbsIU/s1600/web_69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wRVllY3W290/VG5K5_L94gI/AAAAAAAADhM/gbNRaiQbsIU/s1600/web_69.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The aptly named Grandview vista had a great view of the rolling mountains to the south. I was planning to return to this location for sunrise photos the next morning. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEjeVXgUJW0/VG5K67rAE8I/AAAAAAAADhY/M-bqw4F7sLI/s1600/web_70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEjeVXgUJW0/VG5K67rAE8I/AAAAAAAADhY/M-bqw4F7sLI/s1600/web_70.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7ZhC8tPy9g/VG5K5bxVZHI/AAAAAAAADhI/mJ-mKvsrDW4/s1600/web_71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g7ZhC8tPy9g/VG5K5bxVZHI/AAAAAAAADhI/mJ-mKvsrDW4/s1600/web_71.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eagleton Vista:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmpQQ8hjKX4/VG5Lz8xQV_I/AAAAAAAADhg/47uouHnmPps/s1600/web_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmpQQ8hjKX4/VG5Lz8xQV_I/AAAAAAAADhg/47uouHnmPps/s1600/web_72.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Round Mountain: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z40myobuuyA/VG5NxTpNajI/AAAAAAAADh0/bEo2694l9B4/s1600/web_73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z40myobuuyA/VG5NxTpNajI/AAAAAAAADh0/bEo2694l9B4/s1600/web_73.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Round Mountain.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ddhtRr_ICc/VG5NwMYvfEI/AAAAAAAADhs/0M0IqX_qrR0/s1600/web_74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ddhtRr_ICc/VG5NwMYvfEI/AAAAAAAADhs/0M0IqX_qrR0/s1600/web_74.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Acorn Vista:</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1C8S_S83Lm4/VG5PCrziZII/AAAAAAAADiI/CIpvuDBOAFI/s1600/web_75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1C8S_S83Lm4/VG5PCrziZII/AAAAAAAADiI/CIpvuDBOAFI/s1600/web_75.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DukTf0EPj0g/VG5PBpGHUuI/AAAAAAAADiA/XEL-NckV9qg/s1600/web_77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DukTf0EPj0g/VG5PBpGHUuI/AAAAAAAADiA/XEL-NckV9qg/s1600/web_77.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Below the mountain is the community of Acorn. It was named after the acorn shape of the field in the valley. I personally didn't see it, but they say its best viewed during the spring months.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue Haze Vista:</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qNnnExV3WFQ/VG5Pqf9ESBI/AAAAAAAADiQ/Iv78EmZ2GKE/s1600/web_144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qNnnExV3WFQ/VG5Pqf9ESBI/AAAAAAAADiQ/Iv78EmZ2GKE/s1600/web_144.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Last vista before getting to Mena, AR.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The Talimena
National Scenic Byway was really a beautiful experience. I had found
a great spot to return to for the next morning's sunrise. We stopped
in Mena, AR and got some gas and had a very quick lunch. We were now
heading to the southeast and deeper into the Ouachita forest. We were
looking for a place called Little Missouri Falls National Recreation
Area. The Little Missouri River flows through the Ouachita forest and
cascades into a moderate waterfall near the upper reaches of the
river. We had to traverse some rough dirt and gravel roads to get to
the falls. It was rough going in my mother's Volkswagen Bug, but
eventually we made it. We arrived at the parking lot around 4:00pm
with not a whole lot of light left at this point. This was the only
part of the trip I was disappointed with. The falls were very nice
and I had some good light, but being a weekend, I did have trouble
with other tourists. There was a family of 15 people who didn't care
I was taking photos of the falls. I struggled to move around them and
get some isolated shots of the waterfalls. Me and two other local
photographers danced and hopped around the rocks to capture the
Little Missouri. One of the photographers told me about another
waterfall close by (one I was planning on going to and had researched
before the trip).</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkPEbhRgHos/VG5czxdaNUI/AAAAAAAADig/u_j_F17OFJo/s1600/web_78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkPEbhRgHos/VG5czxdaNUI/AAAAAAAADig/u_j_F17OFJo/s1600/web_78.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Cascades at Little Missouri Falls </span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MX0CCjy-M3g/VG5dbt-vjaI/AAAAAAAADjA/ZryGhEbiMhw/s1600/web_79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MX0CCjy-M3g/VG5dbt-vjaI/AAAAAAAADjA/ZryGhEbiMhw/s1600/web_79.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Looking at the falls head on.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3RHt5DlBYFY/VG5c2-S9rCI/AAAAAAAADio/igDRLHquV8c/s1600/web_80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3RHt5DlBYFY/VG5c2-S9rCI/AAAAAAAADio/igDRLHquV8c/s1600/web_80.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAtUqs6vKcA/VG5c3_3jbYI/AAAAAAAADiw/zixpiKthQVs/s1600/web_81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAtUqs6vKcA/VG5c3_3jbYI/AAAAAAAADiw/zixpiKthQVs/s1600/web_81.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sc59-mw03A/VG5c50bk5VI/AAAAAAAADi4/AF1Mn952bqc/s1600/web_82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sc59-mw03A/VG5c50bk5VI/AAAAAAAADi4/AF1Mn952bqc/s1600/web_82.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I believe this is my favorite shot from the location.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We decided to
leave and head towards a less populated area. Through Google Earth I
was able to locate another photogenic waterfall close by. This
waterfall was actually in some one's campsite. We pulled off another
gravely dirt road in the Caney Creek Wilderness Area. I informed them
I would be passing through to capture some images of the waterfall. I
made the small climb down to the falls but everything around the
falls was slate—and very slippery with wet hiking boots. I
carefully navigated the rocks and got into a position where I could
see the falls.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Jm_ymQ2nY/VG5eMH_m2MI/AAAAAAAADjQ/5aV7WBO_xKM/s1600/web_83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Jm_ymQ2nY/VG5eMH_m2MI/AAAAAAAADjQ/5aV7WBO_xKM/s1600/web_83.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>And a beautiful fall it was!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_d9zZmFakWQ/VG5eNHZokwI/AAAAAAAADjY/qcWUt-ZA4xM/s1600/web_84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_d9zZmFakWQ/VG5eNHZokwI/AAAAAAAADjY/qcWUt-ZA4xM/s1600/web_84.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZ2PqsnDTas/VG5eLK01QeI/AAAAAAAADjI/0STexaJWhWk/s1600/web_85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZ2PqsnDTas/VG5eLK01QeI/AAAAAAAADjI/0STexaJWhWk/s1600/web_85.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLsDWy3vJB8/VG5ePJU1AnI/AAAAAAAADjo/ujKJoxVvhDg/s1600/web_86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jLsDWy3vJB8/VG5ePJU1AnI/AAAAAAAADjo/ujKJoxVvhDg/s1600/web_86.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abdfkANQjAQ/VG5eOOcpd7I/AAAAAAAADjg/ogAeKE3LP7Q/s1600/web_87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abdfkANQjAQ/VG5eOOcpd7I/AAAAAAAADjg/ogAeKE3LP7Q/s1600/web_87.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The falls actually continues down another ten feet, but in order to get that in the frame I would need to be in the creek. Something I really didn't want to do. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXsnKg96oYQ/VG5eQq8pQSI/AAAAAAAADj4/hU802PJpq5U/s1600/web_88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXsnKg96oYQ/VG5eQq8pQSI/AAAAAAAADj4/hU802PJpq5U/s1600/web_88.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MfLU_-pcUD0/VG5eQBSFhzI/AAAAAAAADjw/lC4EYwRbvqA/s1600/web_89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MfLU_-pcUD0/VG5eQBSFhzI/AAAAAAAADjw/lC4EYwRbvqA/s1600/web_89.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This was shot with my Nikkor 18-35mm ED lens at 18mm. I was just at the edge of the water. Despite falling and scraping up my left hand it was a great way to end the day!</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akib2LL6VGg/VG5eRtvPV4I/AAAAAAAADkA/BcBaneJhUH8/s1600/web_90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akib2LL6VGg/VG5eRtvPV4I/AAAAAAAADkA/BcBaneJhUH8/s1600/web_90.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kgsqqHUgag/VG5eSMGjgpI/AAAAAAAADkI/cgJ4-PSzh_w/s1600/web_91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kgsqqHUgag/VG5eSMGjgpI/AAAAAAAADkI/cgJ4-PSzh_w/s1600/web_91.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After I was
satisfied with the photos I climbed back up to the car and we made
the drive back to Mena, AR. It was time to grab some dinner and get
some rest. I was planning to get up early the next morning and catch
the sunrise at Grandview vista on the byway. I transferred the photos
from the days shoot to my laptop and went to bed. Tomorrow was going
to be another great day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'll have Day 2 uploaded next week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for the support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">-Ben </span>
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shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-87070906111756128442014-08-23T19:54:00.003-07:002014-08-23T19:54:33.407-07:00RIP Nikon D50...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Y1XzGpHDjI/U_lFCxho_ZI/AAAAAAAADX4/B9n3TwpLD1M/s1600/10637591_702269089842898_2060931066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Y1XzGpHDjI/U_lFCxho_ZI/AAAAAAAADX4/B9n3TwpLD1M/s1600/10637591_702269089842898_2060931066_n.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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What do most teenagers save up for when they get a job? A car? Motorcycle? Truck? The first time I came up with enough cash to purchase something significant for my young adolescent life I invested. I didn't invest into stock or anything, but I invested in myself. I had always said I wanted to be a photographer and at this point I didn't have the equipment I wanted for the profession. I was currently using Kodak DX6490 ultra zoom camera. This thing boasted a 10x optical zoom (38-380mm), a 2.0" TFT display, and a whopping 4.0 megapixel sensor. It was a good learning camera and I quickly outgrew it. I would spend time playing with the limited settings the camera would offer and try to hone my photography skills. But I put my first $1000 into a DSLR camera--the real cameras! I spent a good while researching between the Canon, Nikon, and Pentax models. I finally opted for a Nikon. Nikon just always sounded more professional to me anyways. I took the money I had saved up and bought my first DSLR a Nikon D50. What I didn't realize yet was this camera would be the catalyst for my photography "career" and would ignite a creative spark inside me to explore and discover the world through a "true" camera lens. This camera would be attached to me for the next four years and with this camera I would win contests, get a scholarship, and even receive my first publication in a national magazine</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhDbVBZZFJo/U_lP7z03I6I/AAAAAAAADYc/wXQavZVHw8E/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhDbVBZZFJo/U_lP7z03I6I/AAAAAAAADYc/wXQavZVHw8E/s1600/web_1.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Moonrise at Wichita Mountains. This image was published in the 2007 Summer edition of Nature's Best Photography Magazine. </i></div>
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I purchased the camera through an online retailer. I bought the deluxe package which included a Nikkor 28-80 G f/3.5-5.6 lens, a Nikkor 70-300 G 4-5.6 lens (which I still have), a 2GB SD memory card, and an extra battery all for $1000. In October of 2005 I got my Nikon D50 and I used it until March of 2009 when I upgraded to a Nikon D300. It has been passed along for family and friends to use it and it has finally returned back to me here in 2014. Unfortunately it has a problem with the shutter and is no longer operational. I got an email from the servicing center today stating that the camera has reached "EOL (end of life) and parts are no longer available. I will keep this camera with me for nostalgia. I put a total of 30,849 shutter clicks on the body and it served me well. Even though I get newer cameras with all this fancy new technology the D50 will still be a very special camera to me. I've decided to commemorate it by posting some photos captured by this camera. R.I.P. Nikon D50 DSLR...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GzDO7uPcjhI/U_lN5QLrafI/AAAAAAAADYQ/VpCxqsfipb8/s1600/edit3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GzDO7uPcjhI/U_lN5QLrafI/AAAAAAAADYQ/VpCxqsfipb8/s1600/edit3.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My first lightning capture---ever!</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ffcrRFg3iMo/U_lQJ9ek9BI/AAAAAAAADYk/ap52Buno2Mo/s1600/web_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ffcrRFg3iMo/U_lQJ9ek9BI/AAAAAAAADYk/ap52Buno2Mo/s1600/web_18.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>New York trip 2006</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1hjxQK1Vxc/U_lNgVoeYvI/AAAAAAAADYI/nxDCx5CGGtU/s1600/web_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1hjxQK1Vxc/U_lNgVoeYvI/AAAAAAAADYI/nxDCx5CGGtU/s1600/web_2.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>Texas Moonrise. This was my first 1st place winner.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpFX_GK5DaE/U_lRcN820JI/AAAAAAAADZQ/qxo7Pw_0fZY/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpFX_GK5DaE/U_lRcN820JI/AAAAAAAADZQ/qxo7Pw_0fZY/s1600/web_4.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Still one of the craziest lightning shots I've captured. </i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UcljFXfBqaM/U_lRVh7UfnI/AAAAAAAADZI/7n8hmkfcHmw/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UcljFXfBqaM/U_lRVh7UfnI/AAAAAAAADZI/7n8hmkfcHmw/s1600/web_4.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<i>KER-SPLAT!</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDWWzBNOBH0/U_lRDyQbExI/AAAAAAAADY4/b07woDIBToQ/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDWWzBNOBH0/U_lRDyQbExI/AAAAAAAADY4/b07woDIBToQ/s1600/web_1.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<i>Beautiful moonrise...</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NW3TxHIpUDs/U_lRLmzMClI/AAAAAAAADZA/K9ZgGbfCjBg/s1600/print1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NW3TxHIpUDs/U_lRLmzMClI/AAAAAAAADZA/K9ZgGbfCjBg/s1600/print1.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>Self portrait with my poker stuff!</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yggl3G9A7zQ/U_lSQD3vbOI/AAAAAAAADZc/OUwqocumJJo/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yggl3G9A7zQ/U_lSQD3vbOI/AAAAAAAADZc/OUwqocumJJo/s1600/web_1.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYxqq0U2_K4/U_lSbUeEbkI/AAAAAAAADZk/2lNMAH3rFOM/s1600/web_4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYxqq0U2_K4/U_lSbUeEbkI/AAAAAAAADZk/2lNMAH3rFOM/s1600/web_4a.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvPN_-jRWZU/U_lSheGIPzI/AAAAAAAADZs/12SxJI2Q5yQ/s1600/edit5b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvPN_-jRWZU/U_lSheGIPzI/AAAAAAAADZs/12SxJI2Q5yQ/s1600/edit5b.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOX3GMhiA18/U_lTGgnWsnI/AAAAAAAADZ0/vCCsn7VanOM/s1600/web_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOX3GMhiA18/U_lTGgnWsnI/AAAAAAAADZ0/vCCsn7VanOM/s1600/web_6.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rr4xF9fD_bQ/U_lQPA9OEDI/AAAAAAAADYs/Jqcg4fXNW9M/s1600/front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rr4xF9fD_bQ/U_lQPA9OEDI/AAAAAAAADYs/Jqcg4fXNW9M/s1600/front.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Your's Truly with my Nikon D50</i></div>
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shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-79172266417707910522013-04-18T17:04:00.002-07:002013-04-18T17:04:28.137-07:00Recent Storm Photos...Our storm season has finally come! These past few weeks I've been on several storm chases. Here are some of my personal favorites from these chases.<div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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-Ben</div>
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shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-67412764382784645812013-03-16T00:10:00.002-07:002013-03-16T00:10:35.730-07:00Sharpening...I love looking at photos that are sharp. I like picking out all the little details in images. Post processing has made it even easier to pull out more detail than ever before. Sharpening is one of the things I get asked about a lot. Sharpening is also one of my key adjustments I do when I process my photos. I decided to share with you some of the basic sharpening tools and effects that I use. If you have a different technique that you would like to share pleas post a comment. I always like to try new things with sharpening.<br />
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***<i>Disclaimer I use an older version of Photoshop mainly because I don't need any other version for what I do. Some of these filters may be named differently.***</i><br />
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Basically there are four different sharpening techniques: <i>Sharpen, Unsharp Mask, Smart Sharpen, High Pass Sharpen. </i>Sharpening can be very tricky to get right. I recommend sharpening just before your print, or post on facebook, whatever. Sharpening should be the last thing you do to the image. The reason we do this is to avoid haloing or pixelattion from other filters or adjustment. Fix up your photo first, then sharpen. Sharpening is also really hard to get to the right amount. During the editing process our eyes get used to the sharpness of the image which makes it very easy to over sharpen the image. I always make a duplicate layer and toggle the sharpening layer on and off to compare from the original. This helps me keep my sharpening to a minimum while retaining important detail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4asX4FkKMUY/UUQLIpPwvBI/AAAAAAAACsk/UlhZj4_9u5E/s1600/intro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4asX4FkKMUY/UUQLIpPwvBI/AAAAAAAACsk/UlhZj4_9u5E/s640/intro.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is what we will be working with today. This image was captured using my Nikon D700 and my 18-35mm lens. This is a very sharp lens and I get the most out of the 12 megapixel full-frame sensor with this combo. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P1cGQRX6Zgc/UUQMW2xqpmI/AAAAAAAACtc/TTlacZva9Gg/s1600/no_sharpening.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P1cGQRX6Zgc/UUQMW2xqpmI/AAAAAAAACtc/TTlacZva9Gg/s640/no_sharpening.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a 100% crop of the unsharpened image. As you can tell this photo is already sharp, but I want to sharpen for printing purposes here.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<b> 1: Sharpen</b><br />
Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHTgLXMZU0w/UUQMhrNFQfI/AAAAAAAACtk/WXMWJ8fkzdg/s1600/Sharpen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHTgLXMZU0w/UUQMhrNFQfI/AAAAAAAACtk/WXMWJ8fkzdg/s640/Sharpen.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">100% crop using the "Sharpen" filter. This is a very limiting filter You can not change the parameters of the sharpening. Often times this leads to more noise (grain) in the image. It also creates a flat effect on the image. I actually don't ever use this filter, but I felt it necessary since it is one of the most popular way of sharpening a photo. </td></tr>
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<b>2. Unsharp Mask</b><br />
Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgYeaY0OoBI/UUQMx2CxrKI/AAAAAAAACts/cZ-Jr5S-mro/s1600/Unsharp_Mask.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgYeaY0OoBI/UUQMx2CxrKI/AAAAAAAACts/cZ-Jr5S-mro/s640/Unsharp_Mask.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unsharp Mask is a much better sharpening tool. It males a nice even sharpening throughout the image. This filter was designed for scanned documents and film not for digital images. I used this filter a lot when I first started out using photoshop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mIcIrnvffY/UUQM_8YWjnI/AAAAAAAACt0/nUQ959eUGBk/s1600/Unsharp_Mask_Menu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mIcIrnvffY/UUQM_8YWjnI/AAAAAAAACt0/nUQ959eUGBk/s640/Unsharp_Mask_Menu.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Unsharp Mask menu. The menu is made of 3 components Amount, Radius, Threshold. Amount controls the degree of sharpening applied to the image, Radius controls the radius of the sharpening pixels (I always like smaller radii to avoid haloing around the edges) and Threshold controls the level of edge pixels to be sharpened.. Moving this slider can soften some of the edges to avoid haloing.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<b>3. Smart Sharpen</b></div>
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Filter>Sharpen>Smart Sharpen</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--UUQnE5GCrE/UUQNNhbAziI/AAAAAAAACt8/nB5Es-FDitA/s1600/Smart_Sharpen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--UUQnE5GCrE/UUQNNhbAziI/AAAAAAAACt8/nB5Es-FDitA/s640/Smart_Sharpen.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is by far my favorite form of sharpening. This was designed with digital photographs in mind. This (in my opinion) creates the most effective sharpening effect. Smart Sharpen is a more complicated and involved tool, but the results it produces make it worth the extra work. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CmefGryxzbM/UUQNaA_76kI/AAAAAAAACuE/yJVA2aJzUiw/s1600/Smart_Sharpen_Menu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CmefGryxzbM/UUQNaA_76kI/AAAAAAAACuE/yJVA2aJzUiw/s640/Smart_Sharpen_Menu.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the menu has a lot more options. The fist step to Smart Sharpen is to change the "Remove" box to Lens Blur. Just like the Unsharp Mask we change the amount, radius, and threshold (available in the advanced menu option. This allows you to control the specific highlight/shadow clop, radius, and tonal range. This can really help when working with photographs that already have higher noise levels.) Also make sure you check the "More Accurate" box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGpDJfXdZGY/UUQNlplhxDI/AAAAAAAACuM/suHNBfqaN34/s1600/Smart_Sharpen_More_Accurate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGpDJfXdZGY/UUQNlplhxDI/AAAAAAAACuM/suHNBfqaN34/s640/Smart_Sharpen_More_Accurate.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It takes a little longer to render, but it is a better result.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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4. High Pass Sharpening:</div>
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Filter>Other>High Pass</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UO7IXQFHYvA/UUQN3HaOIuI/AAAAAAAACuU/zmm8EOcu76M/s1600/High_Pass.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UO7IXQFHYvA/UUQN3HaOIuI/AAAAAAAACuU/zmm8EOcu76M/s640/High_Pass.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most people don't know about High Pass sharpening this product isn't even featured under the sharpening window. High Pass sharpening is great for getting detail in the softer parts of the image. Like the Sharpen filter it creates a flat effect. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVMJ69YruPA/UUQOBWGxEUI/AAAAAAAACuc/sFEubG9138c/s1600/High_Pass_Menu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVMJ69YruPA/UUQOBWGxEUI/AAAAAAAACuc/sFEubG9138c/s640/High_Pass_Menu.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The High Pass menu can be a little confusing. The way it works is a 50% gray fill is placed over the image and the radius adjusted for the desired sharpening effect. Whatever shows through the gray is the area that sharpens. This is excellent for horizons, lines, and softer areas in the image. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQoUi9Ga_4g/UUQOP0DbJ7I/AAAAAAAACuk/ye1V0YeJ87A/s1600/Luminoscity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQoUi9Ga_4g/UUQOP0DbJ7I/AAAAAAAACuk/ye1V0YeJ87A/s400/Luminoscity.png" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the filter is applied you will need to change the blending mode. In you layers palette there is the layer blend mode (shown in red box). Change the filter layer to "Overlay or Soft Light" this sharpens the image but adds very minimal noise (grain). One last thing after you apply your sharpening layer change the blend mode to "Luminosity" this will get rid of any extra haloing or fringing on the sharpened edges. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ11MEgeq5w/UUQOapzPXeI/AAAAAAAACus/uKF_l8CpHPM/s1600/horizon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ11MEgeq5w/UUQOapzPXeI/AAAAAAAACus/uKF_l8CpHPM/s640/horizon.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Pass worked well to sharpen the horizon in this image. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIG3Mu6nE_w/UUQQmP33ypI/AAAAAAAACu4/rPBC67K8VyQ/s1600/All.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIG3Mu6nE_w/UUQQmP33ypI/AAAAAAAACu4/rPBC67K8VyQ/s1600/All.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Here area ll the images compared to each other. My personal favorite is the Smart Sharpen.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<b>Conclusion:</b><br />
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I found the most effective form of sharpening to be the "Smart Sharpen" tool. It brought out the most detail while still controlling the noise (grain) levels. However, if I was needing to sharpen the entire image I would use the High Pass.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4mGaTafXpY/UUQQzwQZ_TI/AAAAAAAACvA/DCD2sSnw6jc/s1600/Smart_Sharpen_example.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4mGaTafXpY/UUQQzwQZ_TI/AAAAAAAACvA/DCD2sSnw6jc/s640/Smart_Sharpen_example.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smart Sharpen is great for bringing out little details. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4FFB2Ys23OY/UUQRAIsHEPI/AAAAAAAACvI/8gLuoU_WOFU/s1600/High_Pass_Example.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4FFB2Ys23OY/UUQRAIsHEPI/AAAAAAAACvI/8gLuoU_WOFU/s640/High_Pass_Example.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Pass sharpening works best when sharpening the overall image..</td></tr>
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<i><br /></i>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-69403614462957250542013-03-04T19:26:00.001-08:002013-03-04T19:26:28.952-08:00Train in Harrold and Beautiful Texas Weather...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hsdvhzn3Z8/UTVf_rj9rlI/AAAAAAAACqY/JUv7MYrmMt8/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hsdvhzn3Z8/UTVf_rj9rlI/AAAAAAAACqY/JUv7MYrmMt8/s320/web_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Infrared false color of the Bolton's Grain engine.</i></td></tr>
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This past Sunday I drove to Harrold, TX in search for a photographic opportunity. I was turned on to a location by a customer of mine where a very colorful train was found. The Ol' Bolton's grain Train (as I've decided to name it) was sitting just behind the grain elevators. I managed to get some good captures of the train and I even tried some infrared (thereafter I broke my infrared filter). The day didn't end there, though. It was a beautiful day in northern Texas and I captured some really nice local landscape work. The only problem was the wind! Needless to say my camera did sustain some damage and I ended spending most of the evening picking dust/dirt out of my teeth, but it was well worth it.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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-Ben<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TaBGp0kd0gk/UTVgHKJEKmI/AAAAAAAACrc/Dk8tjvzjsxQ/s1600/web_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TaBGp0kd0gk/UTVgHKJEKmI/AAAAAAAACrc/Dk8tjvzjsxQ/s320/web_3.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I wasn't quite sure what this building was for, but it certainly was colorful. I assume it was some sort of break room. It had a basketball hoop bolted to the back.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9z3LuL-sdI/UTVgHaQLPEI/AAAAAAAACrg/yRI779Td0Ks/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9z3LuL-sdI/UTVgHaQLPEI/AAAAAAAACrg/yRI779Td0Ks/s320/web_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I always enjoy infrared photography. I especially enjoy it in black and white.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qk_k8YEXTr4/UTVgJLRMbzI/AAAAAAAACrw/hyBYQ307GfE/s1600/web_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qk_k8YEXTr4/UTVgJLRMbzI/AAAAAAAACrw/hyBYQ307GfE/s320/web_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A little sepia tint to this one.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZztSBD5iCc/UTVgKBtw82I/AAAAAAAACsE/rCJbaNNg300/s1600/web_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZztSBD5iCc/UTVgKBtw82I/AAAAAAAACsE/rCJbaNNg300/s320/web_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Black and whte</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEzhFYPws-g/UTVgJUIzYoI/AAAAAAAACr8/vhFc6PtoyYk/s1600/web_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qEzhFYPws-g/UTVgJUIzYoI/AAAAAAAACr8/vhFc6PtoyYk/s320/web_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>False color. Since most of the train was red when I swapped the red and blue channel the red turned blue and the blue turned red. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJt5mhfS7pw/UTVgLS8gm5I/AAAAAAAACsU/xWkChBjwxwk/s1600/web_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJt5mhfS7pw/UTVgLS8gm5I/AAAAAAAACsU/xWkChBjwxwk/s320/web_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Here it is in color. It was a very vibrant train.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vt95sYmBSEk/UTVgKgCi8dI/AAAAAAAACsM/8JQsiy4P6yQ/s1600/web_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vt95sYmBSEk/UTVgKgCi8dI/AAAAAAAACsM/8JQsiy4P6yQ/s320/web_9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I had to pull a lot of shadow detail out for this one. I couldn't get a great angle for this side because the grain elevators were in the way.</i></td></tr>
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Afterwards I went down to Middle Lake to see what was new there. Normally I have to stay on the east side of the lake because the dirt roads are impassible when it rains. We haven't had rain in a while, I was able to drive to the other side.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4R_24OZI2FA/UTVgBLPeU3I/AAAAAAAACqg/EbOXZuh6B6k/s1600/web_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4R_24OZI2FA/UTVgBLPeU3I/AAAAAAAACqg/EbOXZuh6B6k/s320/web_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our lack of rain is very evident in this photograph. These "trees" are usually under water...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rNZLL4mvzdo/UTVgBF5LMVI/AAAAAAAACqk/RQdXrK-DiWM/s1600/web_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rNZLL4mvzdo/UTVgBF5LMVI/AAAAAAAACqk/RQdXrK-DiWM/s320/web_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waving at the camera.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtrhA4rbJZk/UTVgBtopQEI/AAAAAAAACqw/4DNkyQTpW-0/s1600/web_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtrhA4rbJZk/UTVgBtopQEI/AAAAAAAACqw/4DNkyQTpW-0/s320/web_12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This was where I swallowed all the dirt and dust. The wind was a constant 25mph with gust reaching as high as 48mph! I was also positioned directly in the path of the blowing dirt/sand. The wind was a strong S/SW wind.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8OK_3cd9Rac/UTVgD5J4REI/AAAAAAAACq4/iXjXfc4g2yA/s1600/web_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8OK_3cd9Rac/UTVgD5J4REI/AAAAAAAACq4/iXjXfc4g2yA/s320/web_13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Closer to the sunset now I moved to the south side of the lake to photograph some of the "golden hour " light.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZg69GnQnA4/UTVgD5VzX4I/AAAAAAAACq8/V4Js7vL2r-Y/s1600/web_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZg69GnQnA4/UTVgD5VzX4I/AAAAAAAACq8/V4Js7vL2r-Y/s320/web_14.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Also some pre-sunset/landscapes shots.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This was actually at the same time as the other pre-sunset shots were taken.. This is using my new graduated wine filter. It turns almost any sky into beautiful sunset light! </i></td></tr>
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<br />shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-84045915595634558302012-11-12T22:58:00.001-08:002012-11-12T22:58:13.351-08:00Wichita Mountains Trip 2012...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well its here--November. It seems like just yesterday we were wearing our short sleeved clothes and finishing out our summer tans. Actually that was about a week ago. We have broken/tied with a few record high temperatures so far this month. Another La Nina year brought us less precipitation and warmer temperatures. This past Sunday was an exception, however. A strong cold front was pushing its way into TX/OK and would bring a familiar blustery wind that reminds us why we stay at home curled up next to the fireplaces/space heaters. Winds sustained around 25mph and gusts as high as 40mph certainly doesn't sound like good photography weather. For whatever reason we decided to forgo basic survival instinct and brave the chilly weather (remember it was 86 degrees last week) in pursuit of the last fall colors in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. I have been to the mountains a few times for fall photos and almost every time I've been too late. Story of my life...<br />
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My mother and I loaded up our gear (ie camera equipment, jackets, sunglasses, McDonald's milkshakes...y'know just the essentials) and drove out towards Lawton, OK. We arrived at our destination and began scouting for potential locations for sunset photography. Lake Quanah Parker has always been a reliable location for sunset photos. After driving around and not really seeing much of anything (occasional Northern Harrier, bison, and other typical refuge wildlife) we settled on exploring Elk Mountain and the Sunset trail. We hiked about halfway up for some pre-sunset photos.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iq3tkz80kj0/UKHjga2Bs5I/AAAAAAAACoE/UOnU5sIDIN0/s1600/web_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iq3tkz80kj0/UKHjga2Bs5I/AAAAAAAACoE/UOnU5sIDIN0/s320/web_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On top of one of the boulders off the Sunset trail. We had a great view of the park and a nice warm light over the rocks.<br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2RPW0DMr88k/UKHjqCnAm4I/AAAAAAAACpU/jFC24afmpKg/s1600/web_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2RPW0DMr88k/UKHjqCnAm4I/AAAAAAAACpU/jFC24afmpKg/s320/web_3.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Not a bad view from up here.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQTlT9PD7ko/UKHjrA74yKI/AAAAAAAACpc/zQeFf1s95zU/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQTlT9PD7ko/UKHjrA74yKI/AAAAAAAACpc/zQeFf1s95zU/s320/web_4.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We had good position on some of the other mountains, but the sun was still very high up . A lot of my shots like this had sun flare and other problems. The solution? Get down low and use the terrain to my advantage. I used the rock on the right side to block out the sun.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYLPte2lUl4/UKHjsei5uwI/AAAAAAAACpk/kGkhoh0a968/s1600/web_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xYLPte2lUl4/UKHjsei5uwI/AAAAAAAACpk/kGkhoh0a968/s320/web_5.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The backlight worked well against the cactus and other vegetation.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7fVNCzbI7J0/UKHjtjCwYjI/AAAAAAAACps/w6DkhPbFU0I/s1600/web_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7fVNCzbI7J0/UKHjtjCwYjI/AAAAAAAACps/w6DkhPbFU0I/s320/web_6.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lens flare was a real problem facing this way, but the scene couldn't go unrecorded.</i></td></tr>
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While we were in great position for some sunset photography I still had my hopes set on Lake Quanah Parker. Around 4:15 or so we start to head towards the lake. But on our way there I have to stop and photograph some wildlife.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cX4_nCiZUAE/UKHjw3oAnCI/AAAAAAAACqE/lMG4k990pdg/s1600/web_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cX4_nCiZUAE/UKHjw3oAnCI/AAAAAAAACqE/lMG4k990pdg/s320/web_9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bison that is. There were about five bison just off the side of the road.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzkMZVMT88A/UKHjTwMztAI/AAAAAAAACm0/nshY9tEADmU/s1600/web_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CzkMZVMT88A/UKHjTwMztAI/AAAAAAAACm0/nshY9tEADmU/s320/web_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Every once in a while they would turn themselves into the good light...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4BYgz3Hv70/UKHjVP2rklI/AAAAAAAACm8/G0cbi5gMZiQ/s1600/web_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q4BYgz3Hv70/UKHjVP2rklI/AAAAAAAACm8/G0cbi5gMZiQ/s320/web_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>...but most of the time I was having to deal with the strong backlight. I used to in my favor for this shot.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5kbn4HT4buU/UKHjWXtMClI/AAAAAAAACnE/TlhSVw_kSx0/s1600/web_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5kbn4HT4buU/UKHjWXtMClI/AAAAAAAACnE/TlhSVw_kSx0/s320/web_12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This came to me as a surprise. The bison just laid down (I assumed he was just resting) and out of nowhere he started rolling in the dirt. You can see the dust cloud pretty well again because of the backlight. I wasn't expecting this and I was unprepared. My shutter speed was too slow which caused the blurry leg.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnBqhXXSo-U/UKHjXnrMqJI/AAAAAAAACnM/DG3jXS4ZY74/s1600/web_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnBqhXXSo-U/UKHjXnrMqJI/AAAAAAAACnM/DG3jXS4ZY74/s320/web_13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> More of the bison.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xd3XLkvzlWA/UKHjYYPzo-I/AAAAAAAACnU/bHriba1CUxU/s1600/web_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xd3XLkvzlWA/UKHjYYPzo-I/AAAAAAAACnU/bHriba1CUxU/s320/web_14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He laid down again and opened his moth. I'm not sure why, but I took the photo anyways.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvqXPV7Du38/UKHjZNbMidI/AAAAAAAACnc/ps9kAW7CXdI/s1600/web_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvqXPV7Du38/UKHjZNbMidI/AAAAAAAACnc/ps9kAW7CXdI/s320/web_15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is one of my favorites from that evening. I was lucky to capture the bison sticking his tongue out at me. As if he was challenging me to capture his expression.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OboeSNvUhLY/UKHjaB0lZsI/AAAAAAAACnk/p17y8B07mkk/s1600/web_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OboeSNvUhLY/UKHjaB0lZsI/AAAAAAAACnk/p17y8B07mkk/s320/web_16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The bison started to get closer to our vehicle. This was a challenging exposure . Half of the bison is in shadows and the other half is in direct sunlight. I metered right at the transition point and over exposed by a +1/2 stop. I was able to keep detail in the highlights while retaining the shadows.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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It was almost time for the sun to set and we were still planning to go to Lake Quanah Parker. We had a little time before the "golden hour" so we went to explore around the Osage Lake trail. We searched for fall foliage--which was the purpose of this trip. We have been to Osage Lake before, but we couldn't remember what was down there. What's down there? At that time a whole lot of nothing. We didn't even see a lake. One thing I did run in to was the fall foliage we were looking for. Was it a spectacular cluster of red, gold, and orange leaves? No. But, there were several areas where there was still color...and that is what telephoto lenses are for.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bd6dCiZnOfE/UKHjbkw6MVI/AAAAAAAACns/c3WlQhWXfdw/s1600/web_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bd6dCiZnOfE/UKHjbkw6MVI/AAAAAAAACns/c3WlQhWXfdw/s320/web_17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I captured this shot at the Osage Lake parking area. I used a (borrowed) Sigma 150-500mm lens for this shot. The telephoto lenses compress the scene. The dead tree in the foreground is a lot farther away from those trees in the background.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DExZVAzOuc/UKHjSzQ81bI/AAAAAAAACms/WbMEnxZjY44/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DExZVAzOuc/UKHjSzQ81bI/AAAAAAAACms/WbMEnxZjY44/s320/web_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Probably my favorite capture of the trip. The color in here is crazy. Before I get accused of manipulating the colors let me clear--I used a long exposure (aprox 2sec) to absorb all the colors. I had to take several shots as the wind kept blowing and rendering the leaves a blurry mess.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqrwUpd72Xs/UKHjflcyMFI/AAAAAAAACn8/QQuW3OA1crM/s1600/web_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqrwUpd72Xs/UKHjflcyMFI/AAAAAAAACn8/QQuW3OA1crM/s320/web_19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You just gotta love scenes like this!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iR73SHr7Xng/UKHjhmQZ7mI/AAAAAAAACoM/yul7ztvSVgc/s1600/web_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iR73SHr7Xng/UKHjhmQZ7mI/AAAAAAAACoM/yul7ztvSVgc/s320/web_20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I shot this one with my old Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AIS lens. This lens is almost 40 years old and its a sharp as a tack!</i></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQbbZR-FPL4/UKHjim3PrLI/AAAAAAAACoU/CnSoD6O81Is/s1600/web_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQbbZR-FPL4/UKHjim3PrLI/AAAAAAAACoU/CnSoD6O81Is/s320/web_21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I loved that little toppled stump in the foreground up against the trees in the background.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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</i></td></tr>
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The sun is setting just at the horizon now and we blast our way to Lake Quanah Parker, but we're a little too late the sun sets behind the mountains. But I still manage to capture some long exposure shots in the dusk. By this time the wind had picked up to 30mph with some stronger gusts, and wind coming off that lake was COLD!<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nOWcyBFHDT4/UKHjm8ErhvI/AAAAAAAACo0/lBgbbimmfO8/s1600/web_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nOWcyBFHDT4/UKHjm8ErhvI/AAAAAAAACo0/lBgbbimmfO8/s320/web_25.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mountains in the sunset light</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1fjFs16OkF4/UKHjkytOarI/AAAAAAAACok/JoNDzWWbXrU/s1600/web_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1fjFs16OkF4/UKHjkytOarI/AAAAAAAACok/JoNDzWWbXrU/s320/web_23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6WbYUAI8uc/UKHjjzbVvnI/AAAAAAAACoc/Hui3kAZu6Ig/s1600/web_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v6WbYUAI8uc/UKHjjzbVvnI/AAAAAAAACoc/Hui3kAZu6Ig/s320/web_22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Shooting across the other side of the lake I see some bison coming up for a evening drink.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_qwPpkLvfw/UKHjly2lJ0I/AAAAAAAACos/qdFr30q7PCs/s1600/web_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c_qwPpkLvfw/UKHjly2lJ0I/AAAAAAAACos/qdFr30q7PCs/s320/web_24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I enjoyed watching the shadows and light dance around the face of the mountain.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zv8BxjUCoqY/UKHjoNgeCII/AAAAAAAACo8/QPoZgwhFEkA/s1600/web_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zv8BxjUCoqY/UKHjoNgeCII/AAAAAAAACo8/QPoZgwhFEkA/s320/web_26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I think it was around this shot I lost the feeling in my fingers. Oh well, it was worth it.<br /><br /></i></td></tr>
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With our fingers nearly frozen and our pride in shambles we submit to Mother Nature's wintry embrace and retreat back to the warmth of our heated vehicle. I thought about getting some night shots maybe with some star shots, but it was too cold. Driving out of the refuge I ask my mother to stop for just a few more shots and I capture the silhouette of the mountain range. <div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3jZG6JnM1PA/UKHjomkaSGI/AAAAAAAACpE/LKDitCNVzx0/s1600/web_27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3jZG6JnM1PA/UKHjomkaSGI/AAAAAAAACpE/LKDitCNVzx0/s320/web_27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The clouds add some scale to the mountains and bring a nice balance to the overall composition.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OhTsV_msgbY/UKHjpMnGWzI/AAAAAAAACpM/vjSJB8C6NC4/s1600/web_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OhTsV_msgbY/UKHjpMnGWzI/AAAAAAAACpM/vjSJB8C6NC4/s320/web_28.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What a great way to end the day of a long overdue photo journey.</i></td></tr>
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<div>
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I want to say thank you to my mother for driving me and sharing in the experiences that day.<br /><div>
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shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-55611298702297301902012-09-19T19:53:00.002-07:002012-09-19T19:53:38.197-07:002012 Timelapse Preview...Here is a video I made of the 2012 storm season. This is just a preview of a larger timelapse project I'll be working on.<br />
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Enjoy the video.<br />
<br />
-Ben<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LpBB1xwy4Bc" width="560"></iframe></div>
shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-33455499427177727502012-06-22T19:59:00.001-07:002012-06-22T19:59:08.775-07:00An Assault of Color...What is it about certain photographs that make us step back and say "Wow!" Sure, a great composition and a good subject can make for a interesting image, but it seems like emotion, tension, and repetition speak more to me. I love photographs that make me do a double take. I am generally satisfied with my photography, but I have very few that actually make me proud. I have recently been storm chasing (as usual) and chased for almost a whole week around Texas. I was sitting at home editing my photos from 5/28,5/29, and 5/30. I was almost out of gas in my car and was tired of driving. While messing around on Facebook my friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nralstonphotography">Nathan Ralston</a> called me. "Hey, man! You out chasing?" I had no idea there were storms in our area. I wasn't expecting anything until after midnight. He told me to check out the radar where a supercell near Hollis, OK was moving south at about 25mph. I really didn't want to drive out to storms that were going to crap out on me, but since Nathan called I went ahead and got my gear together. Needless to say, we came across the supercell just as it started to bow out. We captured some incredible photographs of a rather normal structured storm. The light from this sky was amazing and we had great contrast on the storm. Constant flashes of lightning kept bursting from the green hail core with the occasional boom of thunder echoing through the prairie.This is my favorite photograph from the chase. "Assault of Color" is the only way I could describe the shot. There is so much polarity in this capture. The warm sunset light meld with the cool blue/green hues from the rain shaft and then a well placed CG strike interrupts the downdraft with a hot flash creating an anchor point for the viewers eye. The variation between cool and warm tones creates a since of tension in the image and the lighting in the middle really drives it home! My eyes don't sit still when I look at this photo. I can't look at just one thing! It was a mediocre chase, an unimpressive storm, and a short photo shoot. But, man was it worth the drive this is probably my favorite shot of this year's chase season.<br />
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Let me know what you guys think.<br />
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Thanks.<br />
<br />
-Ben<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usnmYq6bXIo/T-UwLJ4m6AI/AAAAAAAACmg/w1QMoikbH4k/s1600/web_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usnmYq6bXIo/T-UwLJ4m6AI/AAAAAAAACmg/w1QMoikbH4k/s320/web_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-80336637366875086532011-12-29T18:51:00.000-08:002011-12-29T18:51:14.618-08:00Morning Person...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am NOT a morning person! The photo below proves that. LOL. I am starting a new series titled "Breakfast". This was an idea that I've had for a while, but finally decided to put in action. The set up was fairly simple. I had two RPS studio SB 120 heads: one positioned to my right and one on the floor behind me (as a backlight). The most difficult thing about this was getting the timing on the egg right. It was a grueling process, but the shot <i>(and the pancakes I made with the eggs) </i>was totally worth it. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPos_6b_P8o/Tv0lZCOCn2I/AAAAAAAACmY/39RWuJGXLPg/s1600/b_fast_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPos_6b_P8o/Tv0lZCOCn2I/AAAAAAAACmY/39RWuJGXLPg/s320/b_fast_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Self portrait showing my disdain to mornings...</i></td></tr>
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</div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-6731946840019398312011-10-17T22:57:00.000-07:002011-10-17T23:01:05.562-07:00Gobstopper Madness...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MxTA0eG8oBk/Tp0Og2j593I/AAAAAAAACjE/4z5m0_qz64I/s1600/fun_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MxTA0eG8oBk/Tp0Og2j593I/AAAAAAAACjE/4z5m0_qz64I/s320/fun_web.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was browsing through some photos I have taken this year looking for the images I will select for the "Top Ten Storm Photos of 2011" when I came across these images that I never posted. I meant to write up this article last month when I took the photos, but I think the late season chase opportunities distracted me. Anyways, I decided to revive these forgotten images and share them with you. The thing that I remember most about this series was it was just plain fun! I really like doing high speed flash photography and what better way to settle that craving than with some delightful hard candies. Read on to find out how I capture these gobstopper images.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enjoy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-Ben</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WX-AQ53VZ4/Tp0Oj3StqII/AAAAAAAACjM/3ZlK-sLSZTU/s1600/gobstopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WX-AQ53VZ4/Tp0Oj3StqII/AAAAAAAACjM/3ZlK-sLSZTU/s320/gobstopper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Gobstoppers: A long time favorite candy from my childhood.</em></span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_4kSHmRhpy4/Tp0OkgseFjI/AAAAAAAACjU/PPbRHMOE0mk/s1600/setup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_4kSHmRhpy4/Tp0OkgseFjI/AAAAAAAACjU/PPbRHMOE0mk/s320/setup.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Here is my "Gobstopper" rig. You can see there really isn't anything special. A. Box of Everlasting Gobstoppers, B. Clear glass filled 2/3 of the way full *or 1/3 empty if you're a pessimist.* C. Blue piece of construction paper that serves as a contrast background. D. My beloved Nikon D300 with my Nikkor 55mm AIS micro f/2.8 lens. E. Nikon SB600 flash connected via SC-29 TTL cord and light stand. The flash is currently set to 1/2th power for background and back light. F. Promaster 7500EDF flash set on 1/8th power (or 1/15,000 sec). This flash is also being shot into a silver umbrella for a little less harsh light. </em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_BhKawD1Go/Tp0OnVqWWiI/AAAAAAAACjc/8TTJNw76klM/s1600/timer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_BhKawD1Go/Tp0OnVqWWiI/AAAAAAAACjc/8TTJNw76klM/s320/timer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Timing is key to shots like this. You really have to understand shutter lag and how it affects your camera. What is shutter lag? Shutter lag is the elapsed time it takes the shutter to open and close after the button is pressed. Don't know what your camera's shutter lag is? No problem. Here's an easy way to figure out shutter lag. I used </em></span><a href="http://online-stopwatch.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>http://online-stopwatch.com/</em></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><em> for this (no I am not getting a sponsorship for adding a link. Though I think I should, though...Hmm...) Set you camera up to a medium shutterspeed. In this case I used 1/60th. Start the timer and wait for the stopwatch to reach ten seconds. As soon as you see it turn to ten seconds take a photograph of the screen. Notice that it doesn't say "0.00.10". That's because of your shutter lag. Look in the milliseconds box. That is how long your camera took to take the photo. I would recommend taking about 5-10 shots so you can get an average.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-loU345ZoOIE/Tp0Oo7OBELI/AAAAAAAACjk/a9m6ndaPoFQ/s1600/timer_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-loU345ZoOIE/Tp0Oo7OBELI/AAAAAAAACjk/a9m6ndaPoFQ/s320/timer_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>My shutter lag averaged around 216 milliseconds. Once you understand the shutter lag the timing becomes a little bit easier.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2TDDjMxv_Y/Tp0OrX51xeI/AAAAAAAACjs/q2BN90vFa30/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b2TDDjMxv_Y/Tp0OrX51xeI/AAAAAAAACjs/q2BN90vFa30/s320/web_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Gah! Just a little to early on this one.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPi1LIhUxeI/Tp0OszueZxI/AAAAAAAACj0/1rPXILY8Mm4/s1600/web_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oPi1LIhUxeI/Tp0OszueZxI/AAAAAAAACj0/1rPXILY8Mm4/s320/web_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Whoops...too late.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g2YCkAHMyeM/Tp0Ov958E6I/AAAAAAAACj8/lLtfBEJn6HI/s1600/web_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g2YCkAHMyeM/Tp0Ov958E6I/AAAAAAAACj8/lLtfBEJn6HI/s320/web_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>I will go ahead and take this opportunity to remind everyone that it is important to hit your mark.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-567f_OEzy1g/Tp0O4EDGWlI/AAAAAAAACkM/hDvNuW5sRQw/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-567f_OEzy1g/Tp0O4EDGWlI/AAAAAAAACkM/hDvNuW5sRQw/s320/web_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>BAM! There we go after the first three shots I was able to get the timing right. Not bad.</em></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SaL7hXhWFIg/Tp0O5xoHKbI/AAAAAAAACkU/nvBUOmnCMJw/s1600/web_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SaL7hXhWFIg/Tp0O5xoHKbI/AAAAAAAACkU/nvBUOmnCMJw/s320/web_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>I had a little trouble with focusing. So I got a spoon and put it about halfway in the glass and focused on the spoon. The small aperture (f/11) gave me enough depth of field so that as long as I got the Gobstopper in the glass it would be in focus.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xqYYviUDIM/Tp0O7UxjPQI/AAAAAAAACkc/GIAynk6FROY/s1600/web_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1xqYYviUDIM/Tp0O7UxjPQI/AAAAAAAACkc/GIAynk6FROY/s320/web_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Once I got the timing down it was time to add some color and drama. I really liked how this shot came out.</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNU_HQujPJs/Tp0O9LdkEHI/AAAAAAAACkk/oWrnXBZfrXw/s1600/web_67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNU_HQujPJs/Tp0O9LdkEHI/AAAAAAAACkk/oWrnXBZfrXw/s320/web_67.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Splash! Lots of color and action in this shot. I basically took about a fist full and dropped them in the glass. </em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I plan to do more on this series and get some better lighting for the scene. I'm glad I ran across these today. Otherwise, they would be lost in the hard drive.shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-45472131559982396482011-06-24T18:11:00.000-07:002011-06-24T18:11:56.337-07:00May and June Storm Chase Photos...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whoa! It has been SOOOOOOOOO long since I have posted anything on the blog. Its not that I haven't been taking pictures. I have been taking quite a few pictures, but I have been very busy with work. So here's a special treat for y'all. This a collection of my favorite captures from each of my recent storm chases. I will also have the chase reports on my storm chasing blog soon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Enjoy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-Ben</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i1oAC4SHN-8/TgUycWUWFwI/AAAAAAAACTM/mzwItJOqIyo/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i1oAC4SHN-8/TgUycWUWFwI/AAAAAAAACTM/mzwItJOqIyo/s320/1.jpg" width="228px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>May, 19th 2011: Oklaunion, TX </em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMnT3aje2gQ/TgUyrkOYE6I/AAAAAAAACTQ/5NSubdumG6I/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228px" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMnT3aje2gQ/TgUyrkOYE6I/AAAAAAAACTQ/5NSubdumG6I/s320/19.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>May 22, 2011: Muenster, TX </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xU2WKB1rB7g/TgUyvjoXy5I/AAAAAAAACTU/wTJUWIdf-tA/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xU2WKB1rB7g/TgUyvjoXy5I/AAAAAAAACTU/wTJUWIdf-tA/s320/25.jpg" width="228px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>May 23rd, 2011: Archer County, TX</em></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMVLTTNdGBo/TgUy0Z6ExLI/AAAAAAAACTY/WZbIqJ3KTdU/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228px" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMVLTTNdGBo/TgUy0Z6ExLI/AAAAAAAACTY/WZbIqJ3KTdU/s320/30.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>May 24th, 2011: Wichita Falls, TX blowing dust</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCey8Z36tsw/TgUzKck7bqI/AAAAAAAACTc/xdw1TE-5D4Y/s1600/WEB_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCey8Z36tsw/TgUzKck7bqI/AAAAAAAACTc/xdw1TE-5D4Y/s320/WEB_9.jpg" width="226px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>June 14th, 2011: Birthday Chase Iowa Park, TX</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4G-DdcwIRC0/TgUzQmtja0I/AAAAAAAACTg/ZxGlVN643J0/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4G-DdcwIRC0/TgUzQmtja0I/AAAAAAAACTg/ZxGlVN643J0/s320/44.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="center"><em>June 18th, 2011</em>: <em>Microburst damage Muenster, TX</em></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-47723527375056489502011-02-17T18:05:00.000-08:002011-02-17T18:05:25.916-08:00Shoot the Moon...It has been quite a while since I have posted anything new. I have been very busy lately with the new Metro Photo and haven't really had much time to go out shooting. The good news is the storm season is a little less then a month away. The weather here has been excellent for the past few days and while I was home last night I couldn't help but be outside. I love it when the seasons begin to transform. It was a beautiful clear evening with temps around 70 degrees and a nice breeze from the south. I had to get out and take advantage of this spectacular weather. I ran back into the apartment and grabbed my gear and as I headed down the steps I looked over to the east and saw the moon rising over the horizon. I had taken many moon pictures before, but this time I wanted to do something different and break away from the monotony. Here are some of the captures. <br />
<br />
Enjoy.<br />
<br />
-Ben<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQ_KrOY_DFY/TV3Mex2Xw4I/AAAAAAAACLo/vuHH6exyK5s/s1600/web_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQ_KrOY_DFY/TV3Mex2Xw4I/AAAAAAAACLo/vuHH6exyK5s/s320/web_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>A technically correct moon exposure. Since the moon reflects most of the sun's light the exposure would be close to that of sunny sky. In this case we use the "Sunny 16" rule. The rule states that when photographing a clear blue sky use 1/film speed as the shutter speed. In this photo I used the "Sunny 16" rule which gave me an exposure of 1/200, f/16, ISO:200 </em><em>While this is a nice photo, I felt it didn't represent what I saw and desired to capture.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMroIgQuEps/TV3MhSd6_1I/AAAAAAAACLs/g_2wIVZqOfQ/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMroIgQuEps/TV3MhSd6_1I/AAAAAAAACLs/g_2wIVZqOfQ/s320/web_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Opened up the aperture by 2 stops and now we can see more of the foreground and background while retaining some detail in the moon. The sun was setting and the sky became a beautiful blue-purple color.</em> <em>This was a little better, but not quite what I wanted. The only solution was to slow down the shutter.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKnEAO2ITZQ/TV3MjgfAupI/AAAAAAAACLw/4KwpEyWkr2c/s1600/web_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKnEAO2ITZQ/TV3MjgfAupI/AAAAAAAACLw/4KwpEyWkr2c/s320/web_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> ...And change the focus. Instead of looking at the moon as the subject I replaced it as the background and used the silhouettes of the tree branches for my foreground. I really liked the look of the photo and it was different, not something that I try to do when photographing the moon.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--JBTzNLtQF4/TV3MleelyaI/AAAAAAAACL0/dLt502ebrKY/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--JBTzNLtQF4/TV3MleelyaI/AAAAAAAACL0/dLt502ebrKY/s320/web_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em>This was my personal favorite. This was the best photo that told the story of the evening. Calm, cool, and peaceful.</em></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-7256157899457444502010-11-08T23:08:00.000-08:002010-11-08T23:08:16.868-08:00Double Calender Publications...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I recently had some photographs featured in two different calender publications. One was a from a local radio station's 2011 wall calender, "Reflecting Life in Texoma". KMOC (FM 89.5) is a Christian radio station who base out of Wichita Falls. More info on KMOC and how to obtain one of these calenders can be found on their <a href="http://www.kmocfm.com/">website.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The following images were featured in the KMOC 2011 Wall Calender</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw0vYm5FI/AAAAAAAACJM/HC9_jTsYaz0/s1600/web_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw0vYm5FI/AAAAAAAACJM/HC9_jTsYaz0/s320/web_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Snowy Road</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw2AZm8mI/AAAAAAAACJQ/bb5X09o5fXE/s1600/web_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw2AZm8mI/AAAAAAAACJQ/bb5X09o5fXE/s320/web_8.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Frozen</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw3O38qZI/AAAAAAAACJU/ALEYbTLfYZ0/s1600/lndscp_024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw3O38qZI/AAAAAAAACJU/ALEYbTLfYZ0/s320/lndscp_024.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Winter Sunset</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw5KGr2hI/AAAAAAAACJY/-6O99LujIq8/s1600/web_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw5KGr2hI/AAAAAAAACJY/-6O99LujIq8/s320/web_25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>TEXAS</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw6eJg7vI/AAAAAAAACJc/qneVcc_wmNk/s1600/lndscp_015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw6eJg7vI/AAAAAAAACJc/qneVcc_wmNk/s320/lndscp_015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Hay Day</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Secondly, I received news that the Photography Corner 2011 Wall calenders are now ready to be ordered. More info on who else was featured and where to buy can be found <a href="http://www.photographycorner.com/forum/showthread.php?p=666905#post666905">here.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>This image is published in the 2011 Corner Calender from <a href="http://www.photographycorner.com/">www.photographycorner.com</a></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw7cQ4YhI/AAAAAAAACJg/fWve1CF7xw8/s1600/web_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TNjw7cQ4YhI/AAAAAAAACJg/fWve1CF7xw8/s320/web_11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-64551164098939425062010-10-26T23:14:00.000-07:002010-10-26T23:14:08.830-07:00Doing the Dishes: A Bothersome Household Chore Or...Is it a photographic opportunity?<br />
<br />
So I had this idea for a photograph. I was going to be experimenting with high speed flash. I love all the creative things I can do with this. I used my Nikon D300 with a Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 micro lens (AI), 2 Nikon SB 600's at 1/32 power and a shutter speed of 1/20th. It seemed to work out pretty well. Needless to say, there was a mess that needed to be cleaned up afterwards.<br />
<br />
Thanks for the support.<br />
<br />
-Ben <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TMfC760poEI/AAAAAAAACIg/o33jDPirtbg/s1600/spoon_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" nx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TMfC760poEI/AAAAAAAACIg/o33jDPirtbg/s320/spoon_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TMfC9Gg5ItI/AAAAAAAACIk/cO9uyUwD-8U/s1600/web_knife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TMfC9Gg5ItI/AAAAAAAACIk/cO9uyUwD-8U/s320/web_knife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-10715910552204703762010-10-24T11:14:00.000-07:002010-10-24T11:14:21.601-07:0010/22/10 Chase Teaser...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TMR3PaNNRTI/AAAAAAAACIc/ECyMAl3pDcI/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" nx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TMR3PaNNRTI/AAAAAAAACIc/ECyMAl3pDcI/s320/web_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here is a teaser photograph of one of the supercells we chased on Friday. To see more visit <a href="http://majesticnoise.blogspot.com/">http://majesticnoise.blogspot.com/</a> <br />
<br />
Take care!<br />
<br />
-Benshutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-82860054741545890922010-10-11T18:48:00.000-07:002010-10-11T18:48:44.171-07:00Awesome Lightning and 10/10/10 Chase Report...My full chase report is on my <a href="http://majesticnoise.blogspot.com/">new storm chasing blog</a>. Here is a little taste of some of the action.<br />
<br />
Thanks.<br />
<br />
-Ben<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TLO-agx33gI/AAAAAAAACFw/i5E8FYEinVo/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TLO-agx33gI/AAAAAAAACFw/i5E8FYEinVo/s320/web_1.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-17334157067612074262010-10-05T13:56:00.000-07:002010-10-05T13:56:21.998-07:00Desktop Backgrounds Now Available...You can now download some of images to use as a desktop background. I have 20 images with resolution of 800px, 1024px, 1280px, and 1080p sizes. Check it out in the link <a href="http://www.bdjphoto.com/Pages/Downloads.htm">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Thanks for the support.<br />
<br />
-Benshutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-33276343479763018112010-10-02T00:28:00.000-07:002010-10-02T00:28:27.108-07:00Nothing Like Fall Weather...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fall weather--70 degree temperatures, clear skies. and a gentle breeze, who doesn't love Autumn in Texas? Last week we received some very pleasant weather. It was so enjoyable, that I woke up before sunrise (something that rarely happens now) and drove down to Goron Lake in Iowa Park. I hadn't visited the lake in a while and was curious to see what was new. Gordon Lake has always been a favorite location of mine. It never disappoints. Hopefully we will have more fall weather heading our way next week.</div><br />
<br />
Thanks for the support. <br />
-Ben<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbFVPuPOI/AAAAAAAACDg/NA_j6UF00wM/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbFVPuPOI/AAAAAAAACDg/NA_j6UF00wM/s320/web_1.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Tranquil scenes like these are why I keep coming back to Gordon Lake.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbGYXwSeI/AAAAAAAACDk/JaFbyMQ1cR4/s1600/web_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbGYXwSeI/AAAAAAAACDk/JaFbyMQ1cR4/s320/web_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbHvPkBGI/AAAAAAAACDo/sBNP-7l63Go/s1600/web_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbHvPkBGI/AAAAAAAACDo/sBNP-7l63Go/s320/web_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>I almost always prefer some clouds in sunrise/sunset shots, but there are times when I will shoot a "plain" sunrise. They are prefect for back lit shots like this one.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbIpXHGYI/AAAAAAAACDs/BQVahx-0UZY/s1600/web_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbIpXHGYI/AAAAAAAACDs/BQVahx-0UZY/s320/web_2.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> After the sun reached a certain height it was time to focus on some of the wildlife. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbJ7glZhI/AAAAAAAACDw/5lSXNUaR_mY/s1600/web_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbJ7glZhI/AAAAAAAACDw/5lSXNUaR_mY/s320/web_3.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A pair of Grackles perched in the cattails.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbKzQ9vAI/AAAAAAAACD0/Ja3FQ_uqMZE/s1600/web_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbKzQ9vAI/AAAAAAAACD0/Ja3FQ_uqMZE/s320/web_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>There is a residential Great Blue Heron that hangs around the lake. I was fortunate to get close shots of this bird. I just wish the light was at a different angle.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbLhHuGHI/AAAAAAAACD4/-Dd3UicNzBk/s1600/web_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbLhHuGHI/AAAAAAAACD4/-Dd3UicNzBk/s320/web_9.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>The Snowy Egret is also seen during the summer months. This one was a little too preoccupied with catching breakfast, it didn't really mind me being so close to it.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbMSu5DiI/AAAAAAAACD8/6Q_a6StXZys/s1600/web_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbMSu5DiI/AAAAAAAACD8/6Q_a6StXZys/s320/web_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>Semipalmated Sandpipers are always fun to shoot. They're very fast and almost never sit still. They are also hard to approach, usually you have to wait for them to come to you. I was lying on my stomach for almost 20 minutes before a group of them landed not more than 10 feet from me.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbNEodMYI/AAAAAAAACEA/eCWSb1t8N5M/s1600/web_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbNEodMYI/AAAAAAAACEA/eCWSb1t8N5M/s320/web_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>A pair of foraging sandpipers.</em></div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbN0yfUWI/AAAAAAAACEE/wNNRvbPe5fE/s1600/web_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TKbbN0yfUWI/AAAAAAAACEE/wNNRvbPe5fE/s320/web_8.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div align="center"><em>I think this is my personal favorite of the day. I love the graduation of color from the orange to the blue in the shot. The pose and angle of the bird helps male this a more intimate portrait.</em></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-69722340456199214292010-09-23T21:57:00.000-07:002010-09-23T21:57:52.499-07:00New Storm Chasing Blog...I decided to start a blog specifically for my storm chasing. I will no longer be posting the chase reports on this blog. I will however, be posting highlight photographs and a link to the storm chasing blog. Be sure to subscribe to learn about possible chases and I also have a live stream link in there as well and now you can follow along on a chase. <br />
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Thanks.<br />
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-Ben<br />
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<a href="http://majesticnoise.blogspot.com/">Majestic Noise</a>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-6603164348652959132010-09-16T14:51:00.000-07:002010-09-16T14:52:19.194-07:00Have You Picked Up Your WFLAR Today?... <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOt1mtQ3I/AAAAAAAACB0/VfDP8O5cTQM/s1600/WFLAR_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOt1mtQ3I/AAAAAAAACB0/VfDP8O5cTQM/s320/WFLAR_1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">The new edition of the Wichita Falls Literature and Art Review<strong>.</strong></span></em><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">My photography is featured in this season's edition of the Wichita Falls Literature and Art Review Magazine. If you haven't heard about the WFLAR you can find out more information and where to pick one up <a href="http://www.wflar.org/">here</a>.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOqYHH9PI/AAAAAAAACBs/rjONQA74Tg8/s1600/WFLAR_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOqYHH9PI/AAAAAAAACBs/rjONQA74Tg8/s320/WFLAR_2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;">My biography page in the WFLAR. Elisabeth Hawley captured these images during a meeting of the Red River Photography Club. We were discussing portraiture lighting and yours truly was the unfortunate model. LOL!</span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This season features 100+ pages of captivating photography, inspiring poetry/prose, and insightful articles all from local Wichita Falls artists. I was not the only photographer featured in this WFLAR. <a href="http://www.rrphotoclub.org/slideshow/markalbum.html">Mark Moody</a>, <a href="http://travelerliterarygnome.blogspot.com/">Elisabeth Hawley</a>, and Richard Carter, are just a few of the several photographers showcasing their images. The WFLAR is a great non profit organization promoting literature and art in the community. I plan to submit more images for the next edition.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These images were featured in the WFLAR. All of them were full page (double truck) spreads. <em>Storm on the Plains, Storms..., and Rotating Wall Cloud Hamlin, TX.</em> </div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOm2wZurI/AAAAAAAACBk/xgjt2dMEMfI/s1600/web_0.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOm2wZurI/AAAAAAAACBk/xgjt2dMEMfI/s320/web_0.jpg" /></a></div> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOkiviOdI/AAAAAAAACBc/RpPIHeO0QM4/s1600/web_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOkiviOdI/AAAAAAAACBc/RpPIHeO0QM4/s320/web_1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOeQNYPMI/AAAAAAAACBU/tcNRAolU968/s1600/web_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TJKOeQNYPMI/AAAAAAAACBU/tcNRAolU968/s320/web_2.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-34554034728519983662010-09-08T21:22:00.001-07:002010-09-08T21:39:04.840-07:00Cloud Formations Thanks to Hermine...As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Tropical depression Hermine came through our forecast area. In fact the central area of circulation was over my home town, Wichita Falls, TX. Extensive cloud cover and precipitation limited instability. Therefore, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">SPC</span> was not too worried about severe weather. Low level shear profiles would support an isolated, weak tornado threat. This was enough to get me interested in a chase. I originally targeted <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gainsesville</span>, TX. I did get diverted to some developing storms near <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jacksboro</span> and Montague, TX. I should have stuck with my original <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">target</span>. Around 7:30pm a report came in of a brief tornado touchdown two miles north of Lindsay, TX! Oh well, that is how it goes sometimes. Though I didn't capture the tornado I still came back with some decent photos.<br /><br />Hopefully we will have another chase before winter.<br /><br />Thanks for viewing.<br /><br />-Ben<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhsUlJmtI/AAAAAAAABtg/HCutb-MjGDw/s1600/web_1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514765157781838546" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhsUlJmtI/AAAAAAAABtg/HCutb-MjGDw/s320/web_1.jpg" /></a> <em>Outside of Henrietta, TX on US 82 I saw this scene with the desolate barn, rolled up hay bales, and feeder bands from Hermine. I had to pull over to capture this image. </em><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhncaCwfI/AAAAAAAABtY/FGt8Xp9tOow/s1600/web_2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514765073983390194" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhncaCwfI/AAAAAAAABtY/FGt8Xp9tOow/s320/web_2.jpg" /></a><em>Sunlight! The sun briefly came out and thunderstorms started to form along the feeder bands.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhmzZaUmI/AAAAAAAABtQ/OW_OBtVj7L0/s1600/web_3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514765062974886498" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhmzZaUmI/AAAAAAAABtQ/OW_OBtVj7L0/s320/web_3.jpg" /></a> <em>We had an incredible amount of moisture. Our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">dewpoints</span> reached a max of 76! The result was very low bases. In this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">picture</span> you can see how close the ragged base is to the Texas <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">prairie</span>. </em><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhmvlxokI/AAAAAAAABtI/OFzNHYk1GC0/s1600/web_4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514765061953004098" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhmvlxokI/AAAAAAAABtI/OFzNHYk1GC0/s320/web_4.jpg" /></a><em>Towers start to form in the feeder bands.</em> <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhly_QrOI/AAAAAAAABtA/cXRA5y3T90o/s1600/web_5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514765045685333218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhly_QrOI/AAAAAAAABtA/cXRA5y3T90o/s320/web_5.jpg" /></a><em>I really liked this capture. Beautiful <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">front light</span> created a very contrasty sky. I only wish the power lines weren't there, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Grrr</span>...<br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhlp89eKI/AAAAAAAABs4/YnKPnBIOC0o/s1600/web_6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514765043259766946" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIhhlp89eKI/AAAAAAAABs4/YnKPnBIOC0o/s320/web_6.jpg" /></a> <em>Wider shot to reveal all the unique cloud formations.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em></em> </div><div> </div></div></div></div><br /></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506926997641121730.post-69795593874800458042010-09-06T11:21:00.000-07:002010-09-06T11:35:59.123-07:00More Storms this Week?...<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyC8flOQI/AAAAAAAABsw/2w1_eiDtaSg/s1600/vis-l.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513868344964757762" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyC8flOQI/AAAAAAAABsw/2w1_eiDtaSg/s320/vis-l.jpg" /></a> <em>Visible satellite image of tropical storm Hermine.</em></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyCUYmv3I/AAAAAAAABso/uWDHqQKmq_c/s1600/avn-l.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513868334198079346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyCUYmv3I/AAAAAAAABso/uWDHqQKmq_c/s320/avn-l.jpg" /></a> <em>Infrared image of Hermine</em></div><p><em></em> </p><p align="left">Tropical storm Hermine is forecast to make its way through a portion of the southern plains from Monday-Thursday. The storm currently has a max winds at 60mph and is moving at about 15mph. While all the models show the storm breaking apart after it hits land, Hermine will still bring a substantial amount of tropical moisture. Thunderstorms are forecast from Tuesday night-Thursday morning for our area. Should be interesting to see what develops. Severe weather doesn't seem very likely right now due to the lack of CAPE on all the model runs. I should be off on Wednesday this week and I will try to do some chasing. Right now it looks like the largest threat is going to be flooding.</p><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyCHziDcI/AAAAAAAABsg/kDQBROiliJ4/s1600/fxc_Tropical_Update.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513868330821356994" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyCHziDcI/AAAAAAAABsg/kDQBROiliJ4/s320/fxc_Tropical_Update.jpg" /></a> <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">NWS</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Graphicast</span> depicting Hermine's path. Note how it should be right over us Wednesday afternoon.</em><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyBpaDh_I/AAAAAAAABsY/PsPwF6ClM3k/s1600/day3prob_0730.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513868322661435378" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fAmMzZUPVRo/TIUyBpaDh_I/AAAAAAAABsY/PsPwF6ClM3k/s320/day3prob_0730.gif" /></a> <em>The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">SPC</span> is not saying much for severe weather at this time. Inconsistencies in the model runs make it difficult to predict the severe potential. The have issued a Day 3 "See Text" which usually indicates a less than 5% probability of severe weather.</em><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>shutterbug2007http://www.blogger.com/profile/07511090490977064910noreply@blogger.com1