The early signs of Spring are making themselves heard or, rather, seen. Temperatures are beginning to warm up, trees are beginning to bud out, and glimpses of whites, yellows, and purples are starting to peek out. With all these signals of Spring, my motivation to get out to photograph is also being rekindled, so I decided to make a trip to Burns Park in North Little Rock.
A large part of the park had been closed since a tornado tore through the area on March 31, 2023, on a 34 mile path of destruction through Little Rock and North Little Rock. A major interstate runs through the park, but it’s not something I had ever noticed on any of my previous trips through the area I was in. But, on this visit, it was a bit sad, not to mention rather unnerving, to not only hear the traffic but to also be able to see it through the few trees that were still standing after the tornado had passed through.
As I continued along the road, I came upon the one-room log structure known as Heilman Cabin. Having photographed the cabin in the past and never being satisfied with the results, I kept driving. But, as I went by, I suddenly stopped in the middle of the road (fortunately, there was no one else around!). What had caught my eye was those early signs of Spring: the greens of the grass, some budding shrubbery in the background, and the foreground tree that arched over the cabin. I backed up, parked my truck, grabbed my gear, and began to scout out a nice composition.
I eventually discovered this particular scene. It emphasized the bright green of the fresh grass and the new buds on a background plant. But, what really brought it together for me was the white blossoms, possibly from a nearby dogwood tree, that covered the ground like the last vestiges of snow. It reminded me that, during this time of year, we walk a very fine line between the coldness of Winter and the freshness of Spring. And, on this particular morning, the needle was pointing more toward the side of Winter rather than Spring.
As I created this image, I also made an important discovery for myself. By focusing on the closest foreground object I want to be sharp then using the depth of preview button in combination with the live view feature on my Canon 5D Mk IV, I can select the aperture necessary to attain the depth of field I want. I’m sure this is common knowledge, and it’s probably sad that it took me so long to figure it out. But, hey, better late than never, right?