Two things here’ First a few from Congaree National Park near Columbia, SC. This is a preserved cypress swamp along the Congaree and Wataree rivers. When I was there only the boardwalk and one other trail were not flooded. So I walked the boardwalk. I was there midday on my way home from the beach. I think the light would have been much better close to and just after sunrise.
The other images are from a sunrise at my usual morning walking spot on Lake Lanier. I was at a different vantage point than usual, but the light just happened, so I stopped.
I drove to Pawley’s Island to photograph birds and other stuff at Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens. It was a quick trip, only one day photographing, but it was productive.
A few sunrises and the blooms on the cherry trees at the subdivision entrance
It was an eventful couple of weeks. We had a lot of rain, and Lake Lanier rose to about a foot above full pool. One morning while watching the sunrise, I managed to dump my good camera into the lake, and that made the thing unrepairable. So I pried open the checkbook and purchased a whole new kit: Sony a6700 with a kit lens (16-55 mm) and a Tamron 17-70 mm f/.28 lens and a Sony 70-350 mm f/4.5-6.3 lens. This will be my whole kit for as long as I can avoid breaking it too badly.
Once I got the new gear and figured out how to set it up to my liking, I got some nice images at my usual sunrise spot: West Bank Park. I also took time in there to hike Sawnee Mountain a couple of times, and there’s an image from that in there also.
A couple of crisp late winter or early spring mornings at Lake Lanier. Not spectacular sunrise color, but pretty reflections and such.
A February morning at Lake Lanier. Cold, but nearly calm. Just a few clouds to provide color, and a few geese to add interest.
Not a lot of opportunities but I did get out some. A few hikes along the greenway or in the parks, and a few sunrises.
Yet another sunrise walk at West Bank Park on Lake Lanier. The clouds obscured most of the color most of the time, but there were a couple of breaks. Then, on the walk, I found a nice set of reflections in the lake. That image is very heavily modified with the software, but I am pleased with the result.
More sunrise sat Lake Lanier on cold, breezy mornings typical of winter in Georgia. It was cold enough to sting my cheeks, but not cold enough for frostbite. On the first morning the light wasn’t great, but this was the last chance before several days of clouds and rain. We’re getting enough rain to bring the lake back from 8 feet below full pool to only 3 feet low, with more rain on the way.
On the second morning, after several more rainy days, it was more of the same. The lake is now up to just a foot or so below full pool. The forecast was for partly cloudy, but the partlies never showed, so I photographed the trash cans just on a whim.
At this time of year he sun is getting to an awkward position with respect to vantage points for good compositions. Good images may be hard to find for six weeks or so.
A hike on Sawnee Mountain and a couple of sunrises at West Bank Park. The fungi was plentiful on the mountain, but not much else to photography. I had one sunrise on a clear morning, so I looked for nice lighting on things. The other morning we had excellent color, the best we’ve had in some time. All done with either the 85 mm macro lens or the 35 mm prime lens. No zoom lenses this year is the plan.