Horsehair Frost, December 29, 2005

Horsehair and frost on barbed wire near Ponca, Nebraska, December 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Your standard horse photo must be of the animal's eye, as close as possible. I have seen it many times, always with a notarized seal to show that the photographer is adhering to the law. I cheated. The asymmetry of the curved hairs around the barb creates paths for the eye to follow, and the limited depth of field keeps the background from intruding, though there is enough detail back there to keep it interesting as well.

Driftwood along the Missouri River, December 16, 2005

Driftwood along the Missouri River shoreline in Ponca State Park, December 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

On a cold December afternoon I went looking for driftwood, or anything else that worked in a riverside composition. There is plenty of texture to work with when you add snow and ice to the beach. Blowing sand adds its own look to the snow. The driftwood too has a lovely patina, not just bone-white branches. The composition is a fore-mid-aft arrangement, though I would like to have the foreground wood just a bit higher in the frame. The gap between it and the middle wood is a hair too much for clean eye flow.

Moon over the Missouri River, November 13, 2005

The moon over the Missouri River. Ponca State Park, 2005.

While on a walk along the Missouri River shoreline, I found an arrangement of simple shapes that felt like a good fit. The trees along the far shore provide some context, keeping the scene from becoming purely abstract. The foreground spit and clouds above balance each other, while the moon and its reflection on the far right create another counterbalancing element. In looking at the arrangement, I think that if the moon were farther to the left, perhaps in the opening between the clouds, the composition would feel calmer. I'm perfectly happy with it as-is, since it provides tension in that location.

Highway 20 Tree, Merriman, November 11, 2005

A lone tree near the entrance to Cottonwood Lake State Recreation Area on Highway 20 near Merriman, Nebraska, November 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The turn toward Cottonwood Lake State Recreation Area is just west of this tree, long since cut down. On several trips down Highway 20, I made it a point to stop and photograph the tree. On this particular day, the clouds created a great sky, and I decided a simple single-point perspective would showcase the scene. The tree adds a final element on top of the road, landscape, and sky, off center to throw in some tension to the composition.

Sunset Music, October 30, 2005

Sierra in Chadron, Nebraska, October 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sierra needed some photos for a project, and I thought it would be fun to take some musical-type photos. This was some good timing for us, with the sun setting and an excellent arrangement of path, grass, and clouds. I like the sun, but I'd better get rid of that tiny little pole that's cutting into the sun. Maybe the tiny bit of tree near her arm, too. That should clean things up nicely.

Moon over Chadron, October 14, 2005

Moon over Chadron, Nebraska, October 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Continuing the fall color theme, though this time in black and white. I was out shooting in the hills south of Chadron throughout the evening and past sunset. This scene is just after the sun set, leaving soft light and the moon — just enough light on the foreground so I could balance the moon exposure without blowing it out. I like the lines of the tree branches, but the moon is necessary to make the photo worth keeping.

What about a moon in middle? (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The top photo shows the real moon position that night. But I do like seeing a central moon through the branches. The obvious next step is to have three moons through the branches. I don't think a larger moon would be the right fit, though. The tree is still the main subject, and the moon is simply a nice cuff link.

Hiker on the Edge at Fort Robinson, September 10, 2005

A hiker rests on the edge of a bluff in Fort Robinson, September 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

There is immense scale in the bluffs at Fort Robinson, and this is one way to show the height and especially the distance of the landscape out here. The evening sun brings out the details of the land below.

Loitering Turkeys, August 14, 2005

Turkeys explore the grounds at Binkard Hill. "Every so often a flock of turkeys swarms into the backyard. They stay for about a week and the place is a mess after they leave. Cars on blocks, trash everywhere, and for some reason a fridge from the 1950s. The menace has to stop." Ponca, Nebraska, August 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Turkeys like to stop by the backyard as they move through the park next door. Sometimes they come up near the house, sometimes even with baby turkeys. I was able to sneak up for a bit on these two hens and take a photo before they ran off. I like the balance and triangular arrangement of the two turkey forms, and the soft glow of their wattles in the morning sun.

Evening at Powder Creek, May 21, 2005

Moon over Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, May 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Rocks on the shore at Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, May 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Clouds reflected on the water at Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, May 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trees in the water at Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, May 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trees in the water at Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, May 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset reflected on the water at Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, May 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Rocks on the shore at Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, May 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Spire at Toadstool Park, April 24, 2005

Spire at Toadstool Geologic Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

This spire has since fallen limply aside, but it makes for a good bit of punctuation in the scene, standing erect in the foreground and pointing toward the middle and background. I try to return to this place from time to time and note how erosion has shriveled the spire since its fall.

…

Wait, it looks like what?!

Toadstool Geological Park, April 24, 2005

 

Sod house at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Fenceline at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Bend in the Big Cottonwood Creek at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hoodoos at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hoodoos at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sandstone detail at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Spire at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hoodoos at Toadstool Geological Park, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sandstone Views in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 17, 2005

 

Sandstone and trees in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Photographer and sandstone in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sandstone formation in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sandstone and footprint in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Flag Butte School in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The corner of Highland Center Cemetery in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Stream in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Windmill and butte in Dawes County, Nebraska, April 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Devils Tower, March 8, 2005

 

Deer near Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

View toward the Bell Fourche River from Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Detail on Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Tree and rocks at Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Looking up at Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Tree and clouds at Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Burned trees at Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Devils Tower, March 2005. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)