It’s hard to believe that Spring is just a few short weeks away. March 20, 2022, to be exact. And, while Winter hasn’t been too bad thus far, I’m still excited for the new season to arrive. Spring brings an invigorating freshness to a landscape that was previously so still and quiet.
When Spring arrives, one of my favorite places to visit is a section of highway known locally as “Pecan Alley.” This section of highway received its name because of how it is lined for several miles with pecan trees that have grown over the highway. In the Spring, the branches of the trees, now covered in new leaves, create a beautiful tunnel that feels so peaceful and soothing.
I had originally discovered this area several years ago while searching images on Google to find new photographic locations and subjects. During one of these searches, I found photographs of Pecan Alley. As soon as I saw these images, I knew I had to find the location.
My first attempt to find Pecan Alley was not successful. I drove all over the area, but, although I found several roads with pecan orchards off of them, I did not find the location I was looking for. I spent several weeks searching the Internet, which is a lot cheaper than gas, for this elusive roadway. Finally, with the help of the satellite view on Google Maps, I was able to find what appeared to be my quarry. So, on a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon (the kind of afternoon that is horrible for good landscape photography), I went on a reconnaissance mission to see if I had found the target area. After about a 30-minute drive, I found the road I was looking for and began driving down it. It wasn’t long before, right in front of me, appeared Pecan Alley!
Excited to have found the section of highway, I waited until the following weekend to go back to the area to photograph it. To make sure I got there in time for sunrise, I got up about 4:30 and was out of the house by 5:00. It had rained during the night, and the clouds had not cleared. In fact, as I drove along, I noticed occasional flashes of lightning in the distance. I was concerned that the conditions would not be very conducive for photography. As I discovered, though, the conditions were actually perfect from a photographic standpoint.
I had two challenges to resolve in order to get this image. First was the lack of parking. The road had no shoulder to park on; there was road, then there was ground. After the rain, the ground had become rather soft and muddy, and I was concerned I would get stuck if pulled onto it. But, having little choice, I pulled off the road and hoped for the best. The best happened that morning, and I, fortunately, didn’t get stuck.
My second challenge was one I had not expected at that time of day – other people driving down the road. This was especially a concern for me since one of the shots I wanted required me to position myself right in the middle of the road. But I figured that, since it was early in the morning on a weekend, I could get my pictures and be gone before traffic became an issue. I was wrong. While I was out there, I probably had six cars go by at a rather high rate of speed. The good thing was that the road was straight, and it was still dark enough that I could see their headlights and move off the roadway long before they reached me.
Although I had to dodge a few cars that morning to get this shot, it was well worth it because I was able to capture an image that represents what I see in my mind when I think of Spring.