Falls Park in the Snow, December 30, 2015

Snow at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, December 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

I'm usually looking for water photos at Falls Park, but it's good to look at the surroundings from time to time. They've got decorations on the light poles, footprints in the snow, and people on the observation platform kind enough to point for me. I appreciate the help. Next edit needed for this composition will be to tame the tree branches intruding on the upper right.

Rabbit Skull, March 28, 2015

Rabbit skull posed in the Nebraska National Forest, March 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Staged photo of a rabbit skull with some flowers and warm evening light. I played with the placement so I could get a low angle that included the sky. The rabbit skull is a fascinating piece of engineering with distinctive latticework along the sides up front. I assume they cut down wind resistance and allow the rabbit to corner better while achieving maximum speed. I like the clouds in the background. They have an interesting linear character that contrasts with the rounder shapes in the foreground.

Rock Formations at Toadstool Park, May 4, 2014

Rock formations at Toadstool Geologic Park, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Toadstool Park is a great place to study near-far relationships. There are plenty of high and low areas, so it's easier to get the camera close to the ground without crawling on your belly like a snake and possibly catching a snake doing the same thing. The foreground element is a set of small layers, providing a bit of a mirror to the overall layered scene. The middle element is a great wrinkly buttocks, pointing toward the hills in the background.

Rocky Scenes at Toadstool Geological Park, May 4, 2014

 

Hoodoos at Toadstool Geologic Park, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Cactus at Toadstool Geologic Park, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sandstone layers at Toadstool Geological Park and Sugarloaf Butte, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Cliffside at Toadstool Geologic Park, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Rock formations at Toadstool Geologic Park, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Rock formations at Toadstool Geologic Park, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Horseshoe bend on the Big Cottonwood Creek at Toadstool Geologic Park, May 2014. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Delicate Arch, December 22, 2012

Mid-morning sun warms hikers as they explore Delicate Arch in December 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

It's a bit of a hike up to Delicate Arch. Not terribly strenuous, but watch out on some of the ledges if there's snow and ice on the ground. The overcast clouds opened in places with whisps and blue sky. The sweeping curve of the rocks leading to the arch is a balancing element against the more random clouds above. The distant La Sal Mountains behind the arch provide more depth. I like the strong reds of the rocks, punctuated by snow here and there.

Puget Sound Shoreline, June 30, 2012

Shoreline view toward Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington, July 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

My first visit to Seattle, and of course I had to take a look at the Space Needle site. There’s quite a bit to see, from sculptures to architecture to the coastline. I was drawn to these rocks and the clouds beyond. It’s a straightforward fore-middle-background arrangement. I like the smaller rocks in the left corner, which add their own color and texture to the scene.

Pine Needles on the Rocks, October 8, 2011

Pine needles on rocks in Grace Coolidge Creek, Custer State Park, October 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

A foggy, rainy day in Custer State Park is great fun. Even if you're not shooting, the heightened aerial perspective gives the park a different look. Grace Coolidge Creek flows near a small cave, Hole in the Wall Picnic Area. I liked the look of the fine pine needles on the mossy rocks in the stream, and played with an arrangement of the rocks with a long exposure. I like the contrast from the soft light on the water against the darker rocks, along with the dark green color contrasted with the bright yellow-orange needles and leaves.

Hillside Variety at Fort Robinson State Park, March 12, 2011

 

Horses on a hillside at Fort Robinson State Park, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Horses on a hillside at Fort Robinson State Park, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Horses at sunset in Fort Robinson State Park, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Yucca and rocks on a hillside in Fort Robinson State Park, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hillside tree root in Fort Robinson State Park, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sunset over Smiley Canyon in Fort Robinson State Park, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Tree at sunset in Fort Robinson State Park, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Frost on Dinosaur Hill, March 5, 2011

 

Frost outlines a tree overlooking Rapid City, South Dakota, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

S. faberi in the snow at Dinosaur Hill in Rapid City, South Dakota, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Frost covers the side of a pine tree in Rapid City, South Dakota, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Frosty trees in Rapid City, South Dakota, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Frosty trees on Dinosaur Hill in Rapid City, South Dakota, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Overlooking Rapid City, South Dakota, March 2011. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

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)

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)