Today, we look back at four images I made in March 2015, and they cover several different photographic genres: traditional landscapes, architecture, and wildlife. I can honestly say that isn’t something that happens very often.
I’ve been to Petit Jean State Park many, many times over the years and have visited its most popular location Cedar Falls almost as often. But, I always seemed to have the misfortune of finding the falls to be little more than a trickle. Until, that is, March 2015.
We’d had several days of steady and, at times, heavy rain, so the volume of water was quite high. That was evident as I made my way down the trail and could hear the roar of the water long before I reached the waterfall. Once I got to it, the sight was something to behold. I’d never seen anything like it.
Cedar Falls, Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas, March 2015
The 4,226 foot long Big Dam Bridge is, according to Wikipedia, “the longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge in North America that has never been used by trains or motor vehicles.” The bridge was opened to the public in September 2006. One of its more interesting features is its LED lighting system that contains 160 LED light fixtures on the piers, 16 LED light fixtures on the towers and 63 light fixtures on the walkway that are programmed with several different lighting displays, including special lighting for holidays.
I made this photograph early one morning while my wife was participating in an exercise session with her workout group. I liked the way the lighting system was illuminating the bridge, and I thought the lights, which changed every 20 to 30 seconds, would make for some interesting photographs. I got several nice images of the bridge that morning, but this one was my favorite.
The Big Dam Bridge illuminated in the morning darkness, Arkansas, March 2015
The sky began to brighten shortly after this, so I headed to a little sandy area at the bottom of the bridge in the hope of photographing the sunrise. But, as the sky got lighter, I could see heavy clouds overhead. I waited hoping for a small break in the clouds, but that break never came. As I began to pack up, I noticed a piece of driftwood that had washed ashore. As I looked at it, I began to see the action of the water as it swirled around the wood, the pier as it extended into the river, and the texture of the rocks lining the pier. I was able to make this image just before a larger wave washed in and swept the driftwood back into the river.
A piece of driftwood lying on the bank of the Arkansas River, Arkansas, March 2015
When I think of pelicans, I think of Florida. I don’t think of Arkansas as pelican country. So, when I noticed a few minutes later a number of pelicans floating around in the river, I was both surprised and elated. Naturally, I had to get some photos of them. I watched this small group of three birds for several minutes and noticed how they seemed to follow each other up and down the river like three amigos. They were really a lot of fun to watch.
Three pelicans floating in the Arkansas River, Arkansas, March 2015
Here’s a little bit of trivia for you – the pelican is not Florida’s official state bird. It’s. . .Louisiana’s. Florida’s official bird is the mockingbird. I never would have guessed that.
By now, my wife’s exercise group had wrapped up their session, and it was time to go home.
Well, that’s it for this look back to March 2015. Thank you for reading!