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!

Spring Photos

Here are some color and IR pictures I shot this past spring at Pott County State Fishing Lake and Willow Lake (below the dam at Tuttle Creek Lake).

Enjoy!

Marshall County Waterfalls

Earlier this spring I was up in Marshall County to photograph the waterfalls at Alcove Springs and Lake Idlewild after some heavy rains. It was well worth the trip. A few pics from this trip can be viewed here.

Enjoy!

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!

Spring fires along Old K-18 and K177

I have been out looking for prairie fires a couple of times lately. These pics were some I took along Old K-18 road (one of my favorite drives) and along K-177. The last one was shot across Tuttle Creek Lake. I love the smell of the fires in the spring!

Trip to Cheyenne Bottoms

Here are a few photos from a recent trip to Cheyenne Bottoms. If you haven't been there before, this is a unique place and worth a trip to see, especially during the peak times for the bird migrations through the area.

This was a beautiful evening and I was hoping to catch a nice sunset across some of the open water at Cheyenne Bottoms. The picture shown at the left was one of my favorite from the evening. I really liked how the water was reflecting the colors of the sky and the little "islands" in the water. I placed the horizon down low in the picture to emphasize the sky and included a strip of shoreline in the foreground to add some depth to the photo. I set my camera at f11 to hold sharpness in both the foreground and in the little islands and my exposure was based off a spot meter reading from the sky in the center of the scene. I didn't make any adjustments to the meter reading, the scene I was reading light from was close to neutral toned (maybe slightly above), and I wanted the scene dark so I was able to just shoot at my initial meter reading.

Hope you 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!

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!

Pottawattomie County State Fishing Lake #2

During the week of the 4th I went out to Pottawattomie County State Fishing Lake #2 (whew, say that 5 times fast as you can!) several times to take some photos. When I was there on the 4th I saw a bald eagle dive down and catch a fish right in front of me. It was an awesome sight and something I had always to see up close. I didn't get a picture then, but I did get one later when the eagle flew off with its fish. Some of my photos from these trips can be viewed here.

Peace.

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!

Spring at Kanopolis Lake

I was recently hiking at Kanopolis Lake, its great to have Spring here finally! Some my photos from this trip can be viewed by clicking here.

Peace!

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.