Sunset over Fort Robinson State Park, July 23, 2013

Sunset at Smiley Canyon in Fort Robinson State Park, July 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

This scene at the top of the Smiley Canyon jeep trail at Fort Robinson has plenty of detail to explore. That’s also a weakness, but in the intricacies there is beauty. Note the little cactus in the foreground and the trail snaking through the background. The triangle formed by the two near trees and the setting sun. There’s a little too much going on, but I’m still drawn to it.

Tree on a Hill in Chadron, Nebraska, July 20, 2013

Sunset in Chadron, Nebraska, July 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Evening in Chadron as I hike around the hillside on the south end of town. At sunset the skies can light up in oranges, purples, and blues, and tonight had an excellent selection of clouds. This tree on the hillside provided a good detailed counterpoint to the gentler curves of the clouds.

Jeep Trail Scenes at Fort Robinson State Park, May 26, 2013

 

Yucca along a Smiley Canyon trail at Fort Robinson State Park, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Smiley Canyon jeep trail at Fort Robinson State Park, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Blufftop view at Fort Robinson State Park, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Windmill at Fort Robinson State Park with Crow Butte behind, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trees on the Hill, Nebraska National Forest, May 11, 2013

Trees on the hillside in the Nebraska National Forest, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

This is a shot I initially left alone, but on a later browse through the photos decided to elevate it. I like these simple arrangements. There's a certain elegance to the subtle gesture of the tree on the right, and the balancing trees on the other side. The clouds add a final background layer and keep the scene from being perfectly flat.

Rainbow over Nebraska National Forest, May 8, 2013

Rainbow over the Nebraska National Forest, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

There I was, out at the Black Hills Overlook trail and what did I see but an empty memory card slot in my camera. That's a lesson you have to repeat from time to time, but hopefully it happens less than once every five years, and then only on incidental shoots. Heck of a time to only have a mobile phone for a camera, because a shower came and went, with the rain backlit by the sun, and then glowing patches of light and a rainbow. These photos hold up well enough at small sizes, so I'll take it. Note the range of light and shadow, where the sun hits only certain areas. The foreground tree is a natural start, with the right-hand branch pointing toward the rainbow and middle tree, then you can follow the curve of the rainbow back to the front.

Black Hills Overlook Trail, May 5, 2013

Trail along the Black Hills Overlook in the Nebraska National Forest, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

It's a clear blue sky, and I'd sure like to see some clouds up there. But the blue contrasts nicely with the dead orange needles in the trees. The Black Hills Overlook got burned during the 2012 wildfires in the region, and six months later the area is regrowing, but the blackened trees will take a while to recede. The trail meanders up the hill, providing a nice curving counterbalance to the large tree in the foreground and leading quite literally from front to back. With a stately look like that, the clean blue sky feels appropriate.

Tree Skeletons in Chadron State Park, May 5, 2013

 

Burned trees in Chadron State Park, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trail along the Black Hills Overlook in Chadron State Park, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trail and burned trees along the Black Hills Overlook in Chadron State Park, May 2013. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)