I chose the Big Walnut Nature Preserve for the unofficial start of a new book project for a variety of reasons, not the least being its status as a registered National Natural Landmark (NNL), which means it contains “outstanding biological and geological resources.” It’s also a Dedicated State Nature Preserve, which means it’s protected against development in…
As one who’s lived his entire adult life in Southern Indiana, I can say with confidence that we Southerners are pretty smug about our natural heritage — and perhaps a bit condescending about it. Indeed, every conversation I’ve had the past few years regarding Northern Indiana natural areas has pretty much followed the same…
Last week, Steven and I ventured into Owen County to visit at least two locations. Our first planned stop was McCormick’s Creek State Park. We had a few different possibilities for the second location that was dependent on the weather conditions. Earlier in the week, we had approximately two inches…
Gary and I heard McCormick’s Creek long before we reached the Statehouse Quarry, which sits creekside a quarter mile or so upstream from the White River West Fork. And I can’t say I was thrilled when I found the creek a muddy, coffee-with-cream color. The water rushed, unlike I’d ever seen it,…
I’ve long taught my journalism students to think of photography as “painting with light.” The camera doesn’t record the subject matter you see in the viewfinder. It captures the light that is reflected off it.
Indeed, the elements we compose into our final images exist because of and within the light. Without it, color and form are pretty much irrelevant. Many of the greatest nature images ever captured lacked color altogether. Think Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. In fact, without light, color doesn’t exist. (More on that in a second.)
