a.d. elliott - Take the Back Roads

Dear Henry, Do you remember when I told you I was inspired by Anna Atkins, the English botanist? In addition to being one of the first female photographers (if not the first) she also used to preserve images through cyanotype photograms - laying material over chemically treated paper, which was then laid in the sun. Her book, "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions" is considered to be the first book illustrated with photographic images, although it was William Henry Fox Talbot's book "The Pencil of Nature" that was the first book which used camera produced photographs (versus photograms).  His book was also the first to be commercially produced. I had seen images of her cyanotypes and was inspired to pick it up and have been trying to duplicate the detail and feel of her work. And I finally think I would be proud to show her my work. xoxo a.d.

Dear Henry, I get to work from home (which I love) - but it is nice to get away from home. But even then, sometimes getting out of the house isn't a rest. Because I am generally with Fish and sometimes it is really nice to be ALONE - which is impossible at home, I have far too many animals (3 cats, 1 dog). So I decided to head out to Lake Hamilton Arkansas for an "evening away" (planned before we knew of the upcoming storm system), and catch some early morning "sunrise over the Quitchitas and/or Lake Hamilton" photographs on the way back (and maybe sneak in a spa treatment, Hot Springs has wonderful spas). But this Spring has had some erratic and powerful storms. I wasn't too worried when I left, I checked the radar on the map and was positive I was going to be between the two bands of storms the entire time  - and here you thought I was being irresponsible for leaving during last nights weather activities. And really, I was right, I stayed bet...

Dear Henry, This waterfall is called Moonshiner's Falls. It is generally the barest spring unless it rains.  It is a short mile hike right before Devil's Den State Park.  You can park in the area right near the sign. The hike isn't too bad, with my trekking poles, it was easy, however, it is important to remember, you will be walking back uphill.  I was disappointed when I looked up the name, hoping to get the backstory on house, perhaps some juicy details about the moonshining business that used to thrive in this area. Nope, there is nothing of the sort. It may not, in fact, be anything more than a place to stay while hunting.  From what I can gather, ATV'ers discovered this find only a few years ago and because it was a tiny home tucked in a bluff next to running water, it must be a moonshiner's cave and the name stuck. I somehow doubt it was used regularly for moonshining, although everyone says it was - the water source only runs during the rainy seas...

Dear Henry, Today I am thinking of things philosophical - and ended up editing a picture that reminded me of that philosophical.  The photo was of a narrow path, next to a bluff, over jagged rocks and clumps of last year's leaves, with a waterfall pouring over the trail. I remembered that I had seen this side fall during our latest hike and wanting to get a shot of it, but it was rather challenging to do. It was raining that day and had been raining heavily for weeks (I suspect this waterfall exists only during heavy rains).  The trail had the interesting "floaty" feel of ground that is so saturated that the entire forest floor feels as if it is suspended in a lake and that you are walking on an air mattress.  The rocks were also pretty mossy and slick (I really had to rely on my trekking poles) and I was convinced there were copperheads under each and every one of them (I am always positive there are venomous snakes under each and every rock and all the piles of...