Among the many, many things the pandemic took from me over the past year was my annual pilgrimage to Ennis to take pictures of the bluebonnets. This year, I was very gratified to go back.
My big decision every year is where to go for sunrise. I completely botched that this year and went first to the Ennis Veterans Memorial Park, where I saw no bluebonnets whatsoever in the predawn darkness despite reading online that they had a beautiful patch. After making a mental note that it might be worthwhile to scout locations in the light myself rather than relying on what complete strangers post on the internet, I hurried to Sugar Ridge Road. I'd also read that things were beautiful there, and I'd had success there on my first visit back in 2015.
Score another success for Sugar Ridge Road! I found a scene I liked and managed to set up in time to shoot it before sunrise...
Score another success for Sugar Ridge Road! I found a scene I liked and managed to set up in time to shoot it before sunrise...
... and immediately afterward. I've been increasingly annoyed by the significant amount of lens flare I get in my sunrise and sunset photos, so I took off the polarizing filter to see if that helped at all. I'm not honestly sure if it did or not.
Turning 90 degrees to the right I also had a lovely view. Always advisable to look around you before assuming the only thing worth seeing is in front of you.
The property across the street from the field is really gorgeous as well. The hilly terrain and fence provide some interesting challenges for composition. But if I lived here, I think I would just walk outside every morning and pinch myself at my good fortune.
I'm not that put out by the fence, actually. I suppose the image would be stronger without it, but there may be a powerful message about man's attempt to claim ownership over natural beauty in here. Or it might just be a fence.
I'm not that put out by the fence, actually. I suppose the image would be stronger without it, but there may be a powerful message about man's attempt to claim ownership over natural beauty in here. Or it might just be a fence.
Golden hour means close-ups get warm side light.
I'll confess to having hopped the fence in the previous shot back in 2015 to get a closer view of the reflection on this pond. This year I opted to respect the property line, and it's likely a good thing I did since the likely owner came strolling out to fish.
Speaking of ponds and reflections, I'd gotten back into my car to head off to another spot when I nearly passed another, closer, and arguably more striking pond. So I stopped and shot that one as well, because why not?
The day was off to an amazing start, and I still had eight more stops marked on my map to check out!
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