Weekend trip to the Hill Country

[jeffkohn]

Joe, John, & Roy - Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate the feedback.

Bill (Pelzman) - thanks. I imagine it's a popular tree with photogs, not much else to shoot once you get up there. :)

Bill (Bunton) - thanks. It was a pretty neat road, although it would have been even better without the fence.

Thomas & Laurie - thanks for looking

edd - thanks. I have that same book but couldn't find my copy before we left so I was just going off some reports from the wildflowerhaven site, and some of the spots ended up being farther apart than I planned for.

[xseption]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

edd - thanks. I have that same book but couldn't find my copy before we left so I was just going off some reports from the wildflowerhaven site, and some of the spots ended up being farther apart than I planned for.

I hate when that happens ... it does look like you enjoyed yourself and got some exercise ... I have never been to Inks Lake, and you have now inspired me to go

[jeffkohn]

How were the wildflowers at Enchanted Rock?

Sorry, missed this at first. Not a whole lot of flowers in the SNA that I saw, some brown bitterweed in areas but not a whole lot else. Some of the roads in that area had nice coverage though. I'd say there were more wildflowers in Inks Lake SP (especially brown bitterweed, but also bluebonnets and a few others).

I'd guess some of the cactuses in that area will be blooming pretty soon. Lots of them had green buds on them.

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by xseption

I hate when that happens ... it does look like you enjoyed yourself and got some exercise ... I have never been to Inks Lake, and you have now inspired me to go

If you do, be sure to hike the Pecan Flats trail, it was a really nice hike and not too long. That's where I took shots 1 and 3. Also the area around Devils Waterhole is pretty neat.

[xseption]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

If you do, be sure to hike the Pecan Flats trail, it was a really nice hike and not too long. That's where I took shots 1 and 3. Also the area around Devils Waterhole is pretty neat.

I am a hiker (done some backpacking as well), so I don't mind a few miles to see great views.

[tropicdiver]

Jeff, really like the early morning colors you captured. Well done.

[jeffkohn]

Thanks Bob!

[tjavery]

Wonderful photos, Jeff. They're all very good - each scene is a perfect capture of the important elements (e.g. flowers, sky, road, etc.) arranged so they "make sense". By that I mean that when you look at each photo, it's so pleasing to the eye. The compositions have such a nice balance.

I think I like the first one the best. The colors are vivid and pleasing yet not "overcooked". I love how the bands of pinkish rock mimic the bands of pink clouds, and also how the bands of rock help to nicely separate the areas of flowers and trees.

The lighting and time of day of the first and fourth shots are awesome! I love the soft light and vivid colors. I think a lot of people don't shoot during those times (pre-sunrise or post-sunset), but there are amazing photos to be made. It may take longer exposure times, but the saturated colors that appear in the photo are often more vivid than seen by our own eyes.

p.s. Your pano and wildflower shots (other threads) are really nice too!

[jeffkohn]

Thanks TJ, I appreciate the feedback.

The lighting and time of day of the first and fourth shots are awesome! I love the soft light and vivid colors. I think a lot of people don't shoot during those times (pre-sunrise or post-sunset), but there are amazing photos to be made. It may take longer exposure times, but the saturated colors that appear in the photo are often more vivid than seen by our own eyes.

Yeah I think sometimes you can get better results when the sun is just below the horizon, rather than just above it. And the contrast range is often more manageable, too.

[Joe A.]

Like 1 and 2 best, especially the Mexican Poppies in 2.

[JohnT]

Very nice command of early morning light!

[jeffkohn]

Thanks Joe and John, I appreciate you looking and taking the time to comment.

[mjdmike]

Great shots Jeff. I really like #3. Very nice sky color, the comp is good, and the road flows across the image like a river. Now if only that was an old rugged cedar post fence...

Great job on these.

[wapiti]

Well, I thought that I knew the Hill Country, but Keyserville Road is a new one to me. Where is this location? Probably near Keyserville. Right.

[jeffkohn]

Mike - thanks for the feedback. I agree about the fence, really wish it had been a little more rustic looking than chain-link (or better yet, not there at all).

Bill - it's a dirt road in the Loyal Valley area, about halfway between Fredericksurg and Mason.