Slot Rock

I figured if there wasn't enough water for waterfalls Sunday evening, maybe I could find a hole with some blue-green water and if I was really lucky there'd be some azaleas blooming beside it. Well, the water wasn't very blue and there were no pretty pink flowers around, but my son and I still had a good time at Slot Rock. As always C&C are appreciated. Thanks for looking.

Well now, I'm kind of partial to beautiful green water myself, but that's only part of the fun here. There's also the waterfall spilling into a calm pool with bedrock walls topped by an emerald forest.

The image has a bold and simple composition, with strong diagonals, good balance, and well placed center of interest. One for the portfolio.

I suspect you guys are getting tired of all these stories but there is so much history to tell, so here is one more. I was leading a backpack trip along the Ozark Highlands Trail many years ago and we had planned to camp at Slot Rock. It was a very hot and miserable summer day and everyone was beat when we arrived, packs tossed all over the place and sweaty bodies too on these rocks surrounding what was then just a trickle. I stood up and dove head-first into the pool, much to the shock of the other hikers - obviously this little pool was not deep enough for that sort of thing. 30 seconds later I surfaced and held up a mesh bag filled with a case of cold beer for everyone! I had hiked in the day before and stashed it - I knew that little deep pool well, and it is 6-8 feet deep in places, and man the water at the bottom is really cold and a perfect beer cooler on a hot summer day. My hikes were always full after that one...

This is a great shot, John. Very well thought out composition. It's certainly one you should be proud of.

And darn-it Tim, now I have to add snorkeling gear to my camera bag. It gets heavier every day.

John, a very nice capture indeed. I think Randy nailed it in his post so I won't duplicate his comments. I think a little time dodging the UL would make a wonderful image even better. Good stuff!

Ditto on Randys comments also, strong, simple thats a good combination. Good job with placements of the lines. Nice job John.

Have to give it up for Tim on that one.<--

My first thought was what a great swimmin' hole this would be. The water is beautiful, but the climb out looks like it might be a little tricky if the rocks were slick. I'm guessing there is an easier way that is not shown here though...Great composition, John - well done overall.

I always enjoy your stories Tim - they seem to add a little spice to the images. I hope the beer wasn't Busch Light!

Very beautiful, John! Nice comp and colors.

The beer was "Buckhorn" - for some unknown reason it was the official beer of our volunteer trail crews for a long time - not sure where we came up with that one but it tasted might fine on a hot summer day! I just found out I am allergic to all booze, including beer (which I never drank much of anyway, but I do enjoy wine and whiskey), so those lazy days of cold beer are gone forever...

John - I think you dialed this one in right on the button. Nice composition and a quiet look to the pool. It does look like it would be a challenge to climb out of the water - especially loaded down with beer. I bet someone would want to help...

John, this is really a peaceful scene and the possibility of beer in the pool? I have to check this one out!