"Great Blue Fishing"...

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) catches a fish.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # K01_6335c. December, 2019.

"Head Splash"...

This is that peak moment the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) spears it's head into the water after a fish. Yes, he caught the fish. More photos to be shared as I review them.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # K01_6330a.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Leaf Crater"...

Nature has a way of everything just falling into place. I discovered this leaf that had fallen perfectly inside a fallen tree. The time of day allowed for a shadowed side inside the mini-crater. Mother nature was looking back at me as I photographed this. If you let your imagination flow, imagine the crater is an eye and the leaf is the pupil.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # IM5_5021bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Around the Corner"...

You never know what's around the corner. You may be cold, in the dark, but around the corner, light is golden and abundant.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas. November, 2019.
Photo # IM5_4968bws2.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

Porsche GT3RS

The Porsche GT3RS in black-and-white.
Photo # KSA_1932-43bwc.

"The Silence of Arches"...

Built in the 1930's, ivy and erosion now consume the abandoned Carden Bottom school. These arches cover the pathway from the school building (right) to the gym (left). The gym, built in 1936, had burned some years ago. The school building has subsequently fallen victim to fire as well. You can almost see the children walking and playing in this pathway. Hopefully, the public can learn from these abandoned mistakes and provide better, continued use of these wonderful structures that were built to last.

This is one of many photographs I've made of this historical place.
Location: central Arkansas.
Photo # IMG_6424-27hdr2. January, 2013.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Turbo Sketch"...

Porsche 996 Turbo in a digital pencil sketch.

Porsche Palooza, 2016. Arkansas.
Photo # KS9_9278_sfn.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"The Jungle"...

In a world where our wild habitat is shrinking by the minute, fewer of us appreciate how delicate this planet is. What is a "jungle"? The irony of one of the definitions is that it's a location marked by a struggle of survival. In modern days' context, that meaning takes on a new meaning.

There are those who are fortunate to live within a few hours of a state park. This photograph is from one of those state parks. Is it threatened? Yes. We have to be proactive to save these wild places, or they will be gone within the next generations lifetime.

Technical note: if you study the photograph closely, you may notice several starbursts (suns) in the corner. The light from the clouds was thin (intense) in several places, allowing the long exposure to expose the multiple thin clouds to appear as sunbursts.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas. 2006.
Photo # 2006512DSC_220121bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Cockpit of the 356 (1600S)"...

The Porsche 356 became increasingly popular in the 50's and 60's, and even until today. This photograph I converted into a sketch/drawing through several iterations to represent the simplicity of the design. Hope you enjoy.

Porsche Palooza 2008.
Photo # 81108_KS10406hr_ssl.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Scaley Patterns"...

An immature Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) sits on the crest of a rock. Notice how it has its toes raised off the rock to keep them cool from the heat of the rock in the sun. I found the juxtaposition of the light, shadows and patterns interesting.

Eastern fence lizards decrease insect and arachnid populations, which can be pest species in some areas. Their prey include a number of invertebrates such as ants, beetles, moths, spiders, grasshoppers, and stink bugs.

Male Eastern Fence lizards have brightly colored underbellies, some with blue. Males often do "push-ups" or head-bobs to attract mates and to warn other males encroaching on their territory. These are usually in 5 second durations.

Within the past 70 years, according to a study published in 2009, eastern fence lizards in parts of their range have adapted to have longer legs and new behaviors to escape the red imported fire ant.

Photo # 81019_KS10151bw. October, 2008.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Suspended Simplicity"...

There was a time when man-made structures blended more with our environment. They were part of our environment and often a background in our memories. They were simple, functional, an usually minimally intrusive. Will the next generation be able to say the same?

Bridge near Morrilton, Arkansas. July, 2008
Photo # 8705_KS10118-9cbws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Covered Bridge"...

Over a dozen years ago, I photographed this covered bridge. It's a popular location for photographers, which offers it's own challenges. Hope you enjoy.

Location: Burns Park, Little Rock, AR. September, 2006.
Photo # 2006910DSC_0035bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Elk in Horseshoe Park"...

Over 25 years ago, I photographed this herd of elk in Horseshoe Park. The snow began to fall heavy, quickly, as it often can do in Colorado. The Elk were oblivious to the weather change and continued to blend into the landscape.

Elk - Horseshoe Park - Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado, 1994.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.
Photo # CO_35_15bw.
Fuji Velvia.

"Oak Veins"...

Some may look at this photograph and see a large oak tree in winter, with a complex, frozen web structure in the background, while others see it as is. This is a macro photograph of an oak leaf showing the veins and midrib. The Midrib helps to keep the leaf in an upright position and is the central vein of the leaf.

Photo # KS9_0763b.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography. May, 2016.

"Absorbing the environment"...

I often like to take extra time to absorb the environment. When you slow down, you find more to appreciate.

Ozark National Forest, May, 2013
Photo # KS2_6300bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Golden Shadows"...

Often there is more to what you see than what meets the eye. You may be surprised by what you're seeing in this photograph. The golden hue in the background isn't a sunset, instead it's the head of a golden mushroom. The dark, vertical shadows are shadows from individual blades of grass. The rough globs is simply dirt atop the mushroom. Or is it? You can decide what you see in this photograph. Interestingly, if you view this from across your room, you'll have yet another perspective.

Photo # 9926_KS10289. September, 2009.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Water: Nature's Paintbrush"...

Sunlight highlights dance on top of the water as it flows past this leaf fallen on a rock. There are a variety of metaphors in this photograph, including the fragility of the leaf, the stability of the rock which the leaf rests, yet the varying power and detail of the water that flows around the rock.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas. July, 2009.
Photo # 9719_KS10048bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Beneath the Surface" (black-and-white)...

While we're out and about in our above-the-ground world, we often forget that there are other parts of this world that are often underappreciated and often undiscovered. In fact, we have yet to explore much of our own underwater world. As always, I spent most of a day appreciating and photographing this special grotto. Regardless of how many times you visit a special place, you just can't get enough of it. What may surprise you is how deafening this waterfall can be. Spending hours here, then going back to the surface was as if I had been teleported to a silent room full of trees. This is located near the township of Batson, where the population density is only 7 people per square mile! Over one-third of the residents heat their homes with wood instead of electricity or gas. It's such a treat to still have townships like this to visit and spend time.

Johnson County, Arkansas. March, 2015.
Photo # KS7_5924-33h1bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Shadows of Light"...

A single leaf stands-out in the snow against the shadows of the tree it fell. The location and perspective of where this leaf fell in the snow caught my eye.

Central Arkansas, March, 2015.
Photo # IM5_0524bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Art in Motion: Bloom Swirls"...

The swirls and textures of the petals of the dogwood tree invite a second look and appreciation.
According to research, Dogwoods often take five to seven years before they begin to bloom in earnest. It is often good news that it takes a while to bloom, because the plant is happy and healthy rather than being under stress.
Also noted as a life lesson.

Photo # IM5_4796abwsc. April, 2019.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Nature's Musical Notes"...

Nature can be inspirational regardless of the season. At one time, this green leaf supported a flower higher up the stem. Now that the flower is gone, this is the moment that this leaf shows us that there is more to nature than we often appreciate. Notice the resemblance of the shape of this leaf to a musical note. Nature is great and small, at the same time.

Photo # K01_2180_bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Quiet Times"...

It is peaceful when the lake is quiet, even when you hear the smallest sound echoing off the water.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas. 2012.
Photo # KS1_7676-7677hr2_bw2.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Cotton Gin Treasure Box"...

Near the office of an abandoned cotton gin, a tool box leans out the window. To the right, is the alleyway for the scales. I have the full story and more photos of this cotton gin. Great backstory dating back to the Hunt (trucking) family.

Read my full story about this Cotton Gin here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kellyshipp/17084631990/in/album-72157629764922331/

Photos were made with the approval of the land owner.
Photo # IMG_1782-1806_hdbws. February, 2012.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"The Hand of Nature"...

Alongside the bank of this stream, an oak tree clings to the bank. If you look close, you'll see five roots (title hint: five fingers) that reach from the base of the tree. This single frame has many metaphors. I hope you enjoy.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas. Feb, 2012.
Photo # KS1_7288bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Waterfalls and Textures"...

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas. December, 2011.
Photo # IMG_0457-61bw3.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Which way did they go?"...

An entertaining, perplexing, mixmaster of white-tailed deer tracks in the snow.

February 10, 2011.
Photo # KS0_3489bw.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.

"Liquid Silver"...

Water has many textures. This waterfall exudes an interesting fresh quality and texture, almost metallic.

Woolly Hollow State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # KS1_3177-83. Jan, 2012.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Porsche Design"...

The design of these exotic, sports cars is often far ahead of its time, even if you trace them back to the 70's and 80's.

Porsche Palooza 2016.
Photo # KS9_9089bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"A Pearl with Wings"...

Unfortunately, Blogger is full of bugs and it's impossible to post a photo, so I'm posting a link to a reliable place: https://500px.com/photo/290966215/-a-pearl-with-wings-by-kelly-shipp

A Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterfly pauses collecting pollen.

Phot # IBU1141. September, 2005.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography

"Nature's Patterns"...

Black and white detail of a dragonfly.

Photo # DSC_0032bw. July, 2005.
(c) Kelly Shipp Photography.