From the Field: Spring 2026

From sun to rainy, from hot, summer-like temperatures to cool, fall-like temperatures, this spring had a little bit of everything. But I didn’t let any of that keep me from getting out with the camera.

Blanchard Springs

March saw me making a trip to Blanchard Springs in North Central Arkansas. I arrived at the Blanchard Creek trailhead well before the 7:30 sunrise and waited in my truck waiting for the sky to get brighter. In between little cat naps, I listened to the first early chirps of the birds as they awoke and noticed the trees in front of me with their outstretched branches and limbs silhouetted against the brightening sky.

I had barely stepped out of my vehicle when the colorful spring buds of a couple of trees right in front of me caught my eye. Grabbing my camera, I tried to find a composition I liked, but nothing was working. That’s when I noticed another branch covered in colorful spring buds standing out against the background forest still covered in the early dawn shadows.

Spring Awakens A tree begins to bud as spring arrives, Arkansas, March 2026

Making my way along the trail—a concrete sidewalk, actually—I noticed what appeared to be a large Sycamore leaf lying on the ground. It wasn’t the best looking leaf and looked to have been lying on the ground for some time, but I made a mental note to watch for more. Soon enough, I came across this small green plant emerging from the leaf clutter, including a Sycamore leaf. I found the juxtaposition between that emergence of new life among the decaying leaves rather compelling.

Emergence A small spring plant emerges from among the decaying leaves around it, Arkansas, March 2026

The sun had risen high in the sky when I returned to the parking area, and the trees I had noticed earlier but couldn’t find a good composition were now backlit. Fortunately, the background was still in shade so it provided a nice contrast that allowed the leaves to stand out from the background. The lighting also highlighted the yellows, lavendars, and greens in the leaves which provided a nice layering effect.

True Colors Colorful backlit leaves signal spring’s welcome arrival, Arkansas, March 2026

The light was getting more and more harsh with each passing minute, so I decided it was time to head home. But, I hiked one last, short trail to the base of the dam that creates Mirror Lake. I’ve photographed the waterfall that’s caused by the spillover of Mirror Lake a few times before, but it had been a couple of years since the last time. I felt like I was in a cathedral as I stood at the bottom of the dam hearing the sound of the falling water.

Rock Bottom The bottom of Mirror Lake Dam, Arkansas, March 2026

Lake Sylvia Recreation Area

For my April outing, I headed to the Lake Sylvia Recreation Area. I arrived in the darkness to a sky full of heavy clouds. As I waited for the light to get brighter, I noticed the dim morning light was being reflected by the clouds and creating a curious ethereal glow on the top of the dashboard. It reminded me of Disney World’s Haunted Mansion where you can kind of see but not really. A few minutes later, a bird began to squawk rather loudly and for quite some time. I guess it woke up on the wrong side of the nest and wanted everyone to know it!

Shortly afterwards, I got out of my truck, gathered my gear, and began making my way along the trail. I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful day with the heavy clouds creating a beautiful light and the sound of water droplets smacking on the leaves below. It was almost magical.

As I walked slowly down the trail, stopping every few yards to look around and see what might catch my eye, I found myself growing more and more frustrated with every passing minute. Here I was in a quiet location with the greenery of spring all around me, and I couldn’t find a single thing that really stood out to me!

Standing there feeling sorry for myself, I had a bit of an epiphany—maybe the true subject wasn’t a particular tree, rock, or blossoming flower but rather the feeling of peacefulness and tranquility I felt in that space, and I needed to find a way to show that in a photograph. A few minutes later, I came across this scene that shouted to me “Look! Spring has arrived!”

Spring is Here The lush green forest signals the arrival of spring, Lake Sylvia Recreation Area, April 2026

I wasn’t quite ready to go home when I eventually made my way back to the parking area, so I came up with another plan—walk 20 minutes down the dirt and gravel road that winds its way through the forest, then turn around and walk back, and just see what I might discover.

Nothing struck me as I reached the end of my 20 minutes, so I began to head back to the parking area and go home. As I turned around, I happened to notice a light fog had begun to move through the trees above me creating a sense of quiet mystery. I stopped, grabbed the camera and tripod and quickly found this composition. The fog left as quickly and silently as it had arrived, and I finished the walk back to my truck and went home.

Rolling In Fog wafts through the treetops, Lake Sylvia Recreation Area, April 2026

Lorance Creek Natural Area

My first May outing was a return trip of sorts to Lorance Creek Natural Area. It was at Lorance Creek in November 2025 where I realized how good I was at photographing obvious subjects; when it came to less obvious subjects, well…I wasn’t very good at that at all.

This trip also marked two firsts for me as well. This was the first trip to Lorance Creek since I established my 2026 photography goal of being more proactive in my photography. It was also my first time to visit Lorance Creek in the spring; all of my previous visits to Lorance Creek have occurred during late autumn or winter. I had no idea what to expect, so it was a perfect “test” for my proactive photography practices.

I arrived just as the sky was beginning to show that pre-dawn glow. Closing my eyes, I listened to the sounds of the birds waking up and the sound of the occasional car driving by. I also noticed the constant low yet jarring hum of the vehicle noise from the nearby interstate. It was a sound I don’t remember hearing on my previous trips. I’m sure it was there, but I just didn’t notice it. Finally, with enough light for me to see, and I got out, grabbed my gear and off I went.

I hadn’t walked more than maybe 15 feet from the parking lot when I came across this scene. I think what caught my eyes was the way the trees created a pattern of straight lines from one side to the other.

“Ten-Hut!” A grove of pine trees stands straight and tall, Lorance Creek Natural Area, Arkansas, May 2026

I continued on eventually coming to the end of the boardwalk that leads into the swamp area. Nothing was calling to me at that moment, so I began to turn around to leave. That’s when I noticed the way the boardwalk gently curved through the trees that lined both sides creating what felt like a tranquil hallway through nature.

Nature’s Hallway A wooden boardwalk winds through the swamp, Lorance Creek Natural Area, Arkansas, May 2026

As I began to pack up my gear, I stopped and looked upward and saw how the trees overhead were full of fresh spring leaves that looked so inviting against the sky in the background. Again, they provided a sense of peace and quiet that felt welcoming and inviting.

Canopy Trees tower overhead as spring leaves create a quiet canopy, Lorance Creek Natural Area, Arkansas, May 2026

Against the Sky Spring leaves glow in the morning light, Lorance Creek Natural Area, Arkansas, May 2026

Spring Green Spring leaves glow in the morning light, Lorance Creek Natural Area, Arkansas, May 2026

After photographing the amazing canopy of leaves, I made my way back to my truck and loaded everything up to go home. I had no idea if I had actually created any images worth keeping. I realized, though, that I didn’t seem to care if I had or not because I had thoroughly enjoyed my time at Lorance Creek.

That’s what it’s all about, after all.

Collins Creek

I decided to take advantage of the long Memorial Day weekend and made a second May outing to Collins Creek. Clouds, rain, and a possible thunderstorm or two were forecast for the day I went, but the forecast for the entire week up to that day had been predicting rain, rain, and more rain every day. Other than a few minutes one afternoon, the forecasts were consistently wrong. I decided I would take the chance the forecasters would be wrong because, well, they had been all week.

Alas, they weren’t wrong this time, and it rained on me for most of the drive. Fortunately, it wasn’t a heavy rain, and I came prepared, or so I thought.

As I walked the trail through the forest to the waterfalls, the only things around were me, the birds, and the sounds of raindrops hitting the leaves. Throw in the dim, diffused light, and it was an incredibly quiet, peaceful, almost surreal experience. If I’d had a chair, I would have sat right there and enjoyed the solitude for a while.

Getting to the creek, I couldn’t help but photograph one of the waterfalls.

Obvious Waterfall along Collins Creek, Arkansas, May 2026

Photographing the waterfall, though, felt like photographing the obvious, the easy. I wanted to photograph the hidden, the unseen. As I stood there, camera in hand, I saw the unseen—the trail that winds along the creek. More specifically, I saw the way the light was filtering through the trees illuminating part of the path while leaving other areas in shadow looking like a path into a fantasy world.

Into the Light Sunlight filters through the trees along forest path, Collins Creek, Arkansas, May 2026

As I slowly walked the area looking for more of the hidden, I looked down and noticed a large puddle of rainwater had collected in a shallow indentation on a nearby rock, and the water was reflecting a tree limb that was hanging overhead. It made me feel like I was looking through a portal into another dimension.

Reflections A tree branch is reflected in a pool of water collected in the indentation of a rock, Collins Creek, Arkansas, May 2026

The raindrops had been falling on my head the entire time, and I was finding them increasingly distracting. In addition, the humidity was so high that the rain jacket I was wearing to avoid getting drenched by rain only served to drench me in sweat. I couldn’t seem to win for losing. After about an hour, I decided it was time to call it a day, and I packed up and headed home.

I ended up getting only 3 images, which was far less than I expected. While that was a little disappointing, I still found the trip to be quite enjoyable, and I’m glad I decided to go despite the weather being what it was…or maybe it was enjoyable because of the weather.

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