Tyler State Park, Part II

Click here for Part I.

By the time Ginny and I had walked halfway around Tyler State Park Lake, I knew our little outing was exactly what the doctor had ordered.  The scenery was beautiful, the temperature was comfortable, and the lighting was perfect.

One great thing about the late afternoon light was how it focused my attention.  Gaps in the trees caused certain areas to be spotlighted, which then made them natural candidates for photos.

I was going for another abstract effect here off the surface of the water.  Still not exactly what I have in my mind, but closer.

Interesting color and texture on this turning leaf.  And I like how it stands out from its surroundings.

The Lakeview Camping area gave me three trees right next to each other that were all either at or near their peak, yet still very different in appearance.  One...

...two...

...and three.  The low sun provided some striking contrast.

As my loop neared an end, I was rewarded with a giant blast of fall color right by the water.  A wooden dock provided a nice anchoring element for the scene.

I stayed in this one spot for a while, shifting position slightly and recomposing the image trying to capture the tranquility just right.

I think this is probably my favorite.  Great color and detail on the shore and in the reflection, with the dock adding a touch of context.  There were two little kids who ran out onto the dock briefly before I was set up, and I wish I'd been able to get them in the scene, too.  But they ran back off quickly.

The sunset was lingering, which was nice.  It extended my options.

Nearly back to my car, but I stopped here for the last beams of sunlight over the trees on the far shore and the warm golden color.

OK, so I technically passed my car and revisited a spot on the lake where this tree was catching the real last rays of sunlight.

I thought about sticking around for twilight, but since I was eminently satisfied with what I'd already gotten I decided to call it a day.  We circled the lake in about 2 1/2 hours and I was nicely ahead of my planned schedule.  So Ginny and I hopped back in the car and headed home.

We spent a total of seven hours on our little trip, which is comparable to the hikes we took in the mountains back in Colorado.  And while the walk here wasn't nearly as grueling, I have to say that the scenery was similarly rewarding.  A perfect fall afternoon!