Flint Hills Digital Photography Workshop April 24th, Alma, Kansas

I am very excited to announce that the "Flint Hills Digital Photography Workshop" is now accepting registrations. This workshop will take place in historic Alma, KS on April 24th. The workshop is geared towards anyone wanting to get more out of their camera and their photography. The workshop is being lead by myself and Wayne Rhodus of Rhodus Photography.

More information and registration instructions are online at the link below:

Flint Hills Digital Photography Workshop.

Hope to see you there!

Chase County Road Trip

Took a road trip yesterday down to Chase County with a couple of friends and fellow photographers (Bill and Adam) to photograph an old mill in Cedar Point, KS. We were hoping that the trees near the mill would be in their fall colors, but we where about a week early. On the way down we stopped at Cottonwood Falls to photograph at the Cottonwood River Bridge and then headed on to the Chase County State Fishing Lake to check out the waterfalls. There wasn't much water flowing, but some (more than the last time I was there). The trees above the falls had some nice fall color on them, which made for some good photographs.

After leaving the lake and waterfalls we drove down to Cedar Point (well actually we drove past it first!) and caught the last of the light at the mill. It was a beautiful day and a great trip.

My photos from this road trip can be viewed here.

Saturday morning sunrise

After hearing from friends about how beautiful the sunrises have been the last few days, I decided to try and get up early Saturday morning to do some photography. I'm not a morning person and I got up later than I would have liked (and missed the really spectacular color) but still managed to catch the end of great sunrise. After shooting the sunrise, I headed down to Tuttle Creek lake to try and get some shots of the fog rising over the outlet area.

A few photos from this morning's trip can be viewed here.

Enjoy!

Marlatt Ave Sunset

We had a pretty nice sunset tonight. I've been hoping for a chance to get out and photograph some sunflowers, so tonight I took Tucker for a walk at Marlatt Park and then shot the sunset as we were leaving on Marlatt Ave. I used to walk Buddy at Marlatt Park a lot and take pictures...it was strange to not have him there tonight. Tucker did great though, I think he is going to be a great hiking and photography partner. A few of my shots from tonight are online here.

Hope you enjoy!

Walsburg Kansas

Another update with some photos taken near Walsburg, Kansas in Riley County. I had never heard of Walsburg before stumbling on it while driving some back roads this spring. I didn't think I was going to find anything to photograph with the beautiful sunset until I found this tree. Here are a few of the photos.

Enjoy!

Sunrise this morning

I got up early this morning to try and beat the heat and get some photos of sunrise. I had a bit of color in the sky before the clouds (and rain) moved in. Here are a few photos from this morning.

Drive to Cottonwood Falls, part 2

In my previous post I put some photos from the drive down from Manhattan to the Chase County State Fishing Lake and back to Council Grove lake, where I got to see a really beautiful sunset. I did get to photograph some fires on my way down to Chase county, which was the purpose of my trip, but they were early in the evening, I was really hoping to catch some nighttime fires as well...and the drive from Council Grove to Manhattan did not disappoint. Here are some photos of some of the fires I found on this part of the drive into Manhattan.

If you are wondering why the prairie is burned off in the spring, read this article. The spring time burning is necessary to maintain the grasslands found in the Flint Hills...without the burning trees would eventually take over the prairie. Many people are not aware that the prairies were being burnt long before Europeans settled the Midwest... and even without human intervention the prairies often burned when ignited by lightning strikes.

If you haven't ever seen the Flint Hills being burned off in the spring, mark it down on your calendar and plan to visit...just use common sense and stay out of the ranchers way and stay safe...and enjoy the smell of the smoke, it just isn't spring without it.

Drive down to Cottonwood Falls

I've always wanted to drive down into the heart of the Flint Hills during the spring burning season, so early this month I decided to head down to the Chase County State Fishing Lake to photograph the waterfalls there and hopefully catch some nice fires on the way down and back. I hit the jackpot! I got to photograph some fires on the way down, the waterfalls were really pretty, I had some nice light at the state fishing lake there and I had a beautiful sunset to shoot at Council Grove Lake on my way back to Manhattan. It doesn't get much better than that for a drive through the Flint Hills....always a treat. Here a few photos from this part of my trip, I'll post the rest later. Hope you enjoy!

Pillsbury Crossing

If you follow my photography at all you'll know that I like to shoot at Pillsbury Crossing a lot. I love the sound of running water, it is so peaceful, I think that is what draws me back to Pillsbury. There is usually enough water running to drawn out the rest of the world, which is a good thing sometimes. If you haven't ever visited Pillsbury Crossing you should if you get a chance. Late winter is probably the least of my favorite times to go, but even now it is pretty. Hope you enjoy and find some peace in these shots.

Twin Mound Road and Olsburg Marsh area

Here are a few shots from this past February I took on Twin Mound Road near the Carnahan Creek Area and around the Olsburg Marsh. Twin Mound Road turned out to be a great place to get some nice shots of the Flint Hills.

Enjoy!

NPN outing

A few people from the central states forum on the Nature Photographers Net got together to shoot the Flint Hills recently. It was a bitter cold morning, but great to meet everyone.

Here are a few photos I took that morning.

Peace.

Amazing Sunset

Here are a few photos from a recent sunset that was absolutely amazing. These were taken just outside Manhattan, KS at the outlet area (the "tubes") of Tuttle Creek Lake.

Enjoy!

13th Road

A few photos taken along "13th Road" outside of Waterville, KS.

Rare morning photos

These are a few rare sunrise photos of the Flint Hills just outside of Manhattan, KS. I don't normally do mornings very well, but I'm going to have to start, it was absolutely beautiful out this morning.

Enjoy!

Chase County State Fishing Lake

These are some pictures from a trip earlier in January to the Chase County State Fishing Lake (except for the first 2, they were taken outside of Council Grove Lake). I've been to this lake a few times before looking for the waterfalls, but this is the first time I found them (I never went far enough across the dam to find the trail leading to them). I will be back to visit this place again many times I'm sure, the waterfalls where really beautiful. This is another really beautiful spot in the Flint Hills and there are lots of things to see in this area (the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve, Chase County Courthouse, Council Grove, etc).

Enjoy!

Photos on Display at the Lawrence Public Library

These 4 photos are on display at the Lawrence Public Library until Feb. 28th. There are 8 photographers showing photos of the Flint Hills this month, some great work is on display! If you get a chance to stop by and check them out let me know what you think.

Lyon County State Fishing Lake

A few weeks ago I spent a couple of days photographing around Emporia. These are a few of the pics I took at and near the Lyon County State Fishing Lake. It was bitter cold and windy, so if the photos look cold...it was! But it was a beautiful place. I had been there once before and will be back.

Enjoy!

Perigee moon rise

These are some pics of the recent full moon which as a "perigee" moon (more about that here). It was a beautiful evening, but a lot colder than I thought it would be!

I went out to Deep Creek Road and Old K18 for these shots. That is a really beautiful drive to see the Flint Hills. The first few shots are from Old K18, if you want to see some great views of the Flint Hills, take Old K18 to Alma and then drive the Skyline Creek Scenic Drive to Alta Vista and then K177 back into Manhattan. Make sure to go early in the morning or in the evening when the light is just right to catch the shadows falling across the hills.

Doesn't get much better than that!

Misty Flint Hills Morning

Here a few shots from a recent foggy, misty morning. I went out to Deep Creek Road to try and get some shots of the fog, but it was gone by the time I got there. The clouds were moving really fast that morning though and it was nice to see how the sun would break though and light up different parts of the hills. Deep Creek Road some really nice views of the Flint Hills.

Enjoy!

Wildcat Park

I was back to Wildcat Park recently. I had just 'discovered' this park a few weeks ago (despite living in Manhattan since '88!). I had hoped to find more color in the trees, but it was still a nice visit. A few snaps can be viewed here.

Enjoy!

Marshall County Fall Colors

October 24th was a busy day for photography! After shooting around Tuttle Creek lake that morning (see my previous post) I went to Waterville and took some photos with Dad out around the Alcove Springs area. We were hoping some water would be flowing over Alcove Springs, but no luck there. However the trees were really beautiful and we had great light. The photos can be viewed here.

Enjoy!

Road Trip Day 1

My wife (who graciously put up with me stopping frequently and taking pictures) and I went for a short overnight road trip early this month. The first place we stopped at was Lindsborg, KS which is a neat little town. Our next stop was Coronado Heights Park, which was built in 1932 by the Works Progress Administration. This was the first time I had been to Coronado Heights and I took several photos, which can be viewed here. It was an interesting place, I'm sure I will be back. From Coronado Heights, we drove over to the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge to take some more photos, which you can view here. Enjoy, more on Day 2 to follow...

Old K-18 Road

I was out recently on Old K-18 road to try and get some morning fog pictures. I didn't get up quite in time for the fog (imagine that!) but it was a beautiful morning.

Photos can be viewed here.

Enjoy!

Carnahan Creek Area

Earlier this month I was out around the Carnahan Creek area checking on the fall colors. Some of my photos from this trip are here.

Enjoy!

Carnahan Creek

I went out to Carnahan Creek recently and ended up shooting some pics there and also on some country roads nearby. The evening was beautiful with a fantastic sunset. After I was down shooting I just sat down on a hillside and enjoyed the peace and quiet for awhile, something I hadn't done in a long time when out photographing. It was nice...that is until I woke up the next day covered with chigger bites from sitting in the grass!

Photos can be viewed here. Enjoy!

Pepper Hill road and thereabouts

Awhile back I went wandering around the back roads south of Manhattan, I started on old K18 and ended up around Pepper Hill Road, where I had been earlier this summer. Beautiful area. My photos from this trip are here.

Enjoy!

Foggy Morning on Deep Creek Road

Well summer is here finally and the heat has driven me to desperate measures...getting up early to photograph at sunrise. I'm not a morning person! Anyway, this past Saturday was beautiful with really heavy fog. I was a little late getting out, but still got some photos of the fog out on Deep Creek Road and then headed to Pillsbury Crossing. My photos can be viewed here.

I also had my IR modified camera with me and shot several photos in IR. I've posted these as well, they can be viewed here. Most of these I've converted to black and white, but I've also left a few with the slight red tint they have coming straight out of the camera. A few I've also exchanged the red and blue channels of the images which lets you put a blue sky back in the photo. I really love this effect.

Enjoy

Konza Prairie tour

This past weekend I was on a tour of Konza Prairie with the other members of the Flint Hills Photography Club. It was an excellent, excellent tour. Our 'guides' were extremely friendly and knowledgeable and very patient with us while we took pictures. The Konza Prairie is roughly 8000 acres in size and is an active research site operated by Kansas State University. Hiking trails are open to the public and tours can be arranged for groups. I worked on the Konza for awhile when I was an undergraduate and it was really great to be able to go back on this tour.

Some of my photos from the trip are online here.

Enjoy!

Scenic Drives

The weekend of May 16-18th I went on 2 drives, first a ways down on the county road "Old K-18" and then I went back
with my Dad and took Old K-18 to Alma then Old K10 to Alta Vista. This was a beautiful drive! I would highly recommend it and I'm sure I'll be back this summer. Photos from the first drive down Old K-18 can be viewed here, and those from the second drive here.

Enjoy!

Catching the Light

Finally! We are having some nice clouds to work with this spring. I couldn't have asked for a more dramatic sky to photograph than on the evening of the 15th. What a joy just to be out and see such beautiful light. These photos were all taken on K-177 and Deep Creek Road.

Hope you enjoy!

Back to Pillsbury Crossing

I went out to Pillsbury Crossing and the Deep Creek Schoolhouse with some friends from the Flint Hills Photography Club recently. Some of my photos from this trip can be viewed here.

Enjoy!

Tabor Valley Road

Took a drive on the 9th down Tabor Valley Road and back into Manhattan on Deep Creek Road (one of my favorite local drives). Kansas is really gorgeous right now. Take some time to get out and enjoy the spring!!

Pics can be viewed here.

Enjoy!

Pillsbury Crossing and Deep Creek Road

The trees have really been gorgeous so far this spring, especially the redbuds (see http://www.kswildflower.org/details.php?flowerID=5 for more on the redbud tree). I recently went out to Pillsbury Crossing and then on down Deep Creek Road to see if I could find some redbuds that wouldn't mind having their picture taken. A few cooperated and the photos can be viewed here.

Peace!

Back to Marlatt Park

I was recently at Marlatt Park with one of my photography classes. I really like this small park, it always impresses me. The park had recently been burned and was just starting to green up.

After leaving the park, I drove out of town a bit on Marlatt Park for some sunset shots and some pics of the moon rising. You can view a few of the shots here.

Thanks for looking!

Spring Time in the Flint Hills

It's not Spring in the Flint Hills until you can smell the smoke from the prairie being burned. I've been trying to make it out and get some pictures of some of the burning and finally was able to shoot a few. I hope to be out again and get some more if it ever stops raining!

Enjoy the photos.

Peace.

Back to Marshall County

Here are some photos from another trip shooting in Marshall County, KS.

Konza Prairie

Some photos I took while hiking with some friends on Konza Prairie, just outside of Manhattan, KS.

Carnahan Creek

I went to the Carnahan Creek area this fall hoping the oak trees would have the color that they did last year here. The trees weren't that spectacular, but the sumac was really pretty for a few days. Click here to view some of the photos I took.