We had a pretty good storm sweep through the area last night that left the skies scrubbed clean and clear. I took off early this morning in search of a new waterfall I'd been told about, and after hiking and scrambling around for a couple of hours I found what was a less-than-spectacular waterfall and didn't even get my camera out of the bag. On my climb back out I came upon this scene that turned out to be my April Print of the Month. I find the quality of light is often quite wonderful just as storm clouds are moving out and things clear up.
While I was sitting there on the edge of the bluff waiting for just the right cloud formations to drift by, I decided that since April in Arkansas is the very best month of the year anywhere on the planet, I dedicated myself to making the effort to get out and produce at least one "portfolio grade" image each day all month long. So this is the first one. Now I can rest today...
Posted by Tim Buchanan on April 1, 2008 at 3:25 PM
That image does have great light. April fools day or not, producing a portfolio grade image every day is a pretty difficult thing to do. Good luck!!
Too bad the waterfall trip didn't pan out...but looks like you were still rewarded with a beautiful vista of Boxley Valley.
The air is definitely squeaky clean right now - very refreshing after the rains we've had. I noticed it Sunday afternoon too. As you've mentioned in your Journal, I think this year is starting to look like it's going to be one of the best years for spring color in a long time.
Posted by Wayne Rhodus on April 1, 2008 at 4:31 PM
A great goal Tim. I for one would be happy just to get my camera out! I actually can't remember the last time I went out to capture some images of nature ... sad.
That is some beautiful light, Tim. 30 images in 30 days sounds like a great time to me. I hope the conditions are always in your favor. And from what I saw of Arkansas, I think you're right about this Spring being quite magical.
Got a second one late yesterday and one already this morning - headed down south to try and beat the rain to find more...
Posted by Randy Wilson on April 2, 2008 at 3:01 PM
When I rolled down into Boxley Valley for the first time about 12 years ago, I remember thinking that I'd never seen any place like it, and why hadn't I ever heard of it before? This and your other Boxley Valley photos capture it at its most scenic and rustic.
Posted by Larry Daniel on April 2, 2008 at 5:18 PM
really nice, a bit unusual to see blue sky in one of your photos. :-)
It is actually going to be a tough job to keep this up for a month so I may have to cheat and use some images taken on the same day, but I still hope to get 30 good ones by May first, and at least I'll be out every day working on it. I got a good image of a giant serviceberry tree in full bloom first thing yesterday morning, but then did not take another photo all day - but I was out in the woods exploring. In fact I found a really neat waterfall area that has never been photographed seriously before but it is going to take some serious work to get any good photos ot if - I will return soon with a plan of attack that will include a climbing rope and harness to get me into position for one scene. I expect I'll get more than one good image out of that trip, at least I hope so after all the work required! I won't be posting all of the photos here but you can see them as I am able to process and post on the Cloudland Journal (I lost another computer to lightning the other day so my processing ability is limited this week).
On a side note, for those of you who know me and my feddish for tripods (I own no less than eight or nine at the moment), I took delivery of a new Gitzo yesterday that perhaps will be the last tripod I ever buy (3540xls). At normal height it is as tall as any of my tall tripods (camera at eye level on me), but then it will extend another full foot for those times when I'm on a steep hillside and need the extra height - it is rigid all the way up, and still only weights 4.5 pounds! I've always hated the twist locks on Gitzos (have owned several), but their new system that came out last year is a good deal better than before and I think I can live with it. I'm in love...
Posted by Larry Daniel on April 3, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Alright now, no backing up on the 30 images in 30 days.
I will be interested in hearing your views of the new tripod after you have given it a good dunking in a creek/pond? I want to know how much more it weighs if it fills with water?
Hey Larry, spent a good bit of time with the new Gitzo underwater and I could not tell that it ever gained any water weight (can't say the same for me). When I ordered it I figured I might use the 7' length once in a great while, but I've used it on nearly every shot these past few days - that really surprised me (6' height with the normal extension, then you can pull out another entire section of legs that bring the total height with ballhead above 7'). I was able to put the camera in places I never could have before. All my other tripods will be put away now...
And no, I have not had to cheat on my one-a-day photo yet, although I've got 20-25 good images from the past few days so I could sleep in some morning if I really needed to! Here is my shot for today - a group of fiddlehead ferns in Lost Valley - never seen so many of them as this year - looks like a great spring and summer for ferns for sure!
Hey Larry, spent a good bit of time with the new Gitzo underwater and I could not tell that it ever gained any water weight (can't say the same for me). When I ordered it I figured I might use the 7' length once in a great while, but I've used it on nearly every shot these past few days - that really surprised me (6' height with the normal extension, then you can pull out another entire section of legs that bring the total height with ballhead above 7'). I was able to put the camera in places I never could have before. All my other tripods will be put away now...
And no, I have not had to cheat on my one-a-day photo yet, although I've got 20-25 good images from the past few days so I could sleep in some morning if I really needed to! Here is my shot for today - a group of fiddlehead ferns in Lost Valley - never seen so many of them as this year - looks like a great spring and summer for ferns for sure!
Discussion
14 repliesWe had a pretty good storm sweep through the area last night that left the skies scrubbed clean and clear. I took off early this morning in search of a new waterfall I'd been told about, and after hiking and scrambling around for a couple of hours I found what was a less-than-spectacular waterfall and didn't even get my camera out of the bag. On my climb back out I came upon this scene that turned out to be my April Print of the Month. I find the quality of light is often quite wonderful just as storm clouds are moving out and things clear up.
While I was sitting there on the edge of the bluff waiting for just the right cloud formations to drift by, I decided that since April in Arkansas is the very best month of the year anywhere on the planet, I dedicated myself to making the effort to get out and produce at least one "portfolio grade" image each day all month long. So this is the first one. Now I can rest today...
The air is definitely squeaky clean right now - very refreshing after the rains we've had. I noticed it Sunday afternoon too. As you've mentioned in your Journal, I think this year is starting to look like it's going to be one of the best years for spring color in a long time.
On a side note, for those of you who know me and my feddish for tripods (I own no less than eight or nine at the moment), I took delivery of a new Gitzo yesterday that perhaps will be the last tripod I ever buy (3540xls). At normal height it is as tall as any of my tall tripods (camera at eye level on me), but then it will extend another full foot for those times when I'm on a steep hillside and need the extra height - it is rigid all the way up, and still only weights 4.5 pounds! I've always hated the twist locks on Gitzos (have owned several), but their new system that came out last year is a good deal better than before and I think I can live with it. I'm in love...
I will be interested in hearing your views of the new tripod after you have given it a good dunking in a creek/pond? I want to know how much more it weighs if it fills with water?
And no, I have not had to cheat on my one-a-day photo yet, although I've got 20-25 good images from the past few days so I could sleep in some morning if I really needed to! Here is my shot for today - a group of fiddlehead ferns in Lost Valley - never seen so many of them as this year - looks like a great spring and summer for ferns for sure!
Fiddlehead Ferns
And no, I have not had to cheat on my one-a-day photo yet, although I've got 20-25 good images from the past few days so I could sleep in some morning if I really needed to! Here is my shot for today - a group of fiddlehead ferns in Lost Valley - never seen so many of them as this year - looks like a great spring and summer for ferns for sure!
Fiddlehead Ferns