Colors of Arkansas

I’ve known Arkansas for four years, and somewhat like an arranged marriage, have fallen in love with it gradually. And the best part about falling in love has been the fall. I’m drawn to colors of fall foliage like kids are drawn to candy—and if the kids can have fun trick-or-treating so can I with my camera.

One of my favorite spots for capturing fall colors is Mount Magazine—the highest point in Arkansas at 2,753 feet. So one fine morning I along with my wife and son drove down to our favorite spot. On the way to Mount Magazine the magical mist and fall colors at Cove Lake stopped us in our tracks.

As I moved around the lake, I realized the colors at the north side looked best. A tight composition seemed to work best for the shot. Unfortunately, I was only carrying my favorite wide-angle 24mm prime. So I borrowed my wife’s super-compact super-zoom P&S camera, zoomed in, held my breath, and took the shot. The result to me looked incredible.

OK, so now it was time for me to get back to my 24mm wide-angle for one of my favorite compositions—sun rays piercing through the woods.

Then a bit of a morning stroll in the woods …

And then, after snapping a few family photos, we decided to move on to Mount Magazine—the highest point in Arkansas.

One of the distinguishing landmarks of Mount Magazine is the artfully gnarled bonsai-shaped cedar tree—most likely the most photographed tree in Arkansas! The tree is shaped by an unlikely artist—the constant winds at the top of the mountain.

A couple of bird’s-eye view shots from the top of the mountain will give an idea of how pretty Arkansas looks during fall—you can’t help but fall in love!

And speaking of the most photographed tree, how can I not include the most photographed rock in Arkansas—the Whitaker Point.

And if you are from out-of-town to visit the Whitaker Point, here’s a little tip on the best place to stay. It’s Azalea Falls Lodge and it’s Arkansas’s best kept secret.