Posted by Brad Mangas on April 19, 2010 at 9:44 AM
An hour after sunset Saturday evening I was on my way back home between Manhattan and Topeka when I topped a hill and lands lite up. It was well into the darkness so not much in the way of detail. Shots were long exposures.
I really haven't made an effort to shoot some of the spring burns, seems like I already chase enough stuff I don't know if I want to add fire to that list. On my way home I could see the glows of the fires in every direction for as far as the eye could see. When I drove right up on this I just had to stop and play around. This is a small section of the area that stretched from east to west horizons.
Nice shot Brad. The reflection of the fire in the water adds a great dimension to it. Also the trees silhouetted against the water and then highlighted by the flames. Great capture.....
Posted by Larry Fischer on April 19, 2010 at 9:52 AM
Boy, I hate to see spring burns. They're not good for the prairie ecosystem, especially if done on a regular basis. Spring burns favor prairie grasses at the detriment to prairie forbs, which are important for pollinators and us photographers. Late spring burns are also bad because insects, amphibians, and reptiles are coming out now and getting zapped.
An occasional fall burn helps to maintain a better balance. Too bad you didn't have the opportunity to take this terrific shot in the fall or winter. Oh well....
The reflections make this work. I can see why you had to stop :).
Don, your comments remind of something that a birder just posted over the weekend on the state birding list. He was birding in eastern Kansas, with some luck finding species who like burned out areas. A farmer came up, and asked if he had seen any prairie chickens, and the birder just wanted to shake his head. No grass cover, no prairie chickens.
Discussion
5 repliesI really haven't made an effort to shoot some of the spring burns, seems like I already chase enough stuff I don't know if I want to add fire to that list. On my way home I could see the glows of the fires in every direction for as far as the eye could see. When I drove right up on this I just had to stop and play around. This is a small section of the area that stretched from east to west horizons.
The reflections make the shot.
Thanks Brad.
An occasional fall burn helps to maintain a better balance. Too bad you didn't have the opportunity to take this terrific shot in the fall or winter. Oh well....
Don, your comments remind of something that a birder just posted over the weekend on the state birding list. He was birding in eastern Kansas, with some luck finding species who like burned out areas. A farmer came up, and asked if he had seen any prairie chickens, and the birder just wanted to shake his head. No grass cover, no prairie chickens.