Sunflowers at Fort Robinson, August 2, 2015

Sunflowers at Smiley Canyon in Fort Robinson State Park, August 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The Jeep trail at Smiley Canyon has wonderful views of Fort Robinson, including Johnson Lake to the north. At this time of year, the sunflowers are out in force and provide natural foreground and framing objects. Some are more weathered than others. I like the variety of trees throughout the scene, leading from the near hill off to the lake in the distance.

Sandy Hills at Cape Kiwanda, May 19, 2015

 

Beachgoers on the shoreline at Bob Straub State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hikers on the sandy hill at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trees and foliage on the sandy hill at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trees and foliage on the sandy hill at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

View from the sandy hilltop at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

View from the sandy hilltop at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Walking the Dog, Arcadia Beach, July 2 2012

A beachgoer walks her dog near Lion Rock at Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site in July 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

My first visit to Arcadia Beach was at low tide, making for great access to the rocks and tide pools on the shore. I had my infrared camera and this was a good spot to show the contrast of the rocks and organisms. The lady and her dog finish the scene and provide some scale, while the tide pools in the foreground provide depth.

Infrared Tree on the Hill at Fort Robinson, May 19, 2012

Infrared view of a hillside tree at Fort Robinson State Park, May 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

This trail starts at a spur off Soldier Creek Road in Fort Robinson. When you drive up to the parking loop and reach the top, there is a chance the hillside will be covered with longhorn steers. At that point, you have to ask yourself, "Do I feel lucky?" Well, not really, punk. And you save that trail for another day. The trail proper leads back into the hills for a lovely day hike. At the start you can climb the nearest hill and see over the landscape back toward the fort and up toward the reservoir. If you are shooting infrared, you can see the far hills even more clearly. This view wouldn't work in this lighting if not for the foreground tree, which provides some much needed contrast.

Snow at Toadstool Park, February 18, 2012

 

Frost on the rocks in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hoodoos and cairn in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hoodoos in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hoodoos in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hoodoos in Toadstool Geological Park, with Sugarloaf Butte in the background, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Bush and hoodoo in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Contrail and hillside in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Cliffside cactus in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Swale and windmill in Toadstool Geological Park, with Sugarloaf Butte in the background, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Windmill and water tank in Toadstool Geological Park, February 2012. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

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.

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)

Sunset over the Buttes, Fort Robinson, November 6, 2004

Sunset over Red Cloud Buttes at Fort Robinson State Park, November 2004. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

On one of my first trips hiking in Fort Robinson State Park, I found this shot of one of the buttes at sunset to be a keeper. I have pushed the color contrast a bit beyond reality, but there is a sense of light and shadow I want to convey with this treatment. I'm normally not a fan of the whole orange-teal look. There is some delicate texture in the sandstone of the butte, and I like the tree on the left as a bit of punctuation for the scene.