by hankinslawrenceimages | Jan 10, 2014 | News, Virginia, Workshops
In late December, Bill and I made a quick trip to Chincoteague VA. We spent time photographing and figuring out details for our January 24-26 workshop we’ll be teaching there.
I thought I’d share some of the photos I took that weekend.
We photographed a wonderful sunrise in the marsh
Sunrise at Chincoteague © 2013 Patty Hankins
Sunrise at Chincoteague © 2013 Patty Hankins
Some wildlife – including a pony who was where he wasn’t supposed to be 🙂
Snow Geese at Assateague Light © 2013 Patty Hankins
Willets and Snow Geese © 2013 Patty Hankins
Great Blue Heron © 2013 Patty Hankins
Pony at Chincoteague © 2013 Patty Hankins
Sunlit marsh grasses
Marsh grasses © 2013 Patty Hankins
And ended the day with a beautiful sunset.
Chincoteague Sunset © 2013 Patty Hankins
We’ve still got a few spaces left in our workshop if you’d like to join us in Chincoteague on January 24-26, 2014.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Dec 29, 2013 | Videos, Virginia, Workshops
Bill and I went to Chincoteague, VA last weekend to work on plans for our January 24-26, 2014 Landscape Photography Workshop we’ll be teaching there. We had a great time photographing – so we recorded a short video to share some of the photos we took.
We’d love to have you join us for the workshop – all the details including registration info are on my website.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Feb 6, 2013 | Photo Locations, Virginia
Over the weekend, Bill and I headed out to Great Falls National Park in Virginia. I wanted to take some photographs of water at different shutter speeds for a video I’m working on for my FantasticPhotoTips.com site. What I didn’t expect was to find some wonderful opportunities to photograph raging water and ice!
The water levels have been very high recently at Great Falls – the ones we saw on Sunday morning are the highest I’ve ever seen them. The water was raging down the river. Most of the sections of the falls we usually photograph were hidden beneath the water.
What I did see was some areas where icicles had formed on the trees on the rocks in the middle of the river – and the contrast of that frozen beauty with the raging water. It was wonderful to photograph.
Here are some of my photos from the other morning.
© 2013 Patty Hankins
© 2013 Patty Hankins
© 2013 Patty Hankins
© 2013 Patty Hankins
© 2013 Patty Hankins
© 2013 Patty Hankins
In the past, most of visits to Great Falls have been in the spring, summer and fall. After my visit this weekend, I’ll definitely head back there more often in the winter!
by hankinslawrenceimages | Oct 29, 2012 | Maryland, photography, Virginia
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One of the best things about being a nature photographer is that I have the opportunity to photograph in so many wonderful National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. In recent years, I’ve been everywhere from Death Valley to Yellowstone, Acadia to the Everglades – with lots of trips to the Smokies along the way. When I start planning a trip – I have to decide – am I going somewhere new? or will I return to a favorite location?
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Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
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Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
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New places are always a delight – a chance to see new vistas – and discover new wildflowers to photograph. But when I visit somewhere for the first time, I always have the worry that I’ll miss something important because I don’t know where to go or when to be at just the right spot. With research, and checking with friends and helpful park rangers, I usually have a good idea of the best places to go – and always have a wonderful time.
When I head back to somewhere I’ve photographed before – there’s always a feeling of coming home. I usually have a few favorite spots that I know I’ll return to and have some ideas on new places to explore.
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Some of my favorite places to visit in the winter are the wildlife refuges and the seashore on the DelMarVA Peninsula. I usually find some birds to photograph at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland – and there is always the chance of photographing the wild ponies at Assateague and Chincoteague islands in Virginia. The marshes and beaches provide wonderful opportunities for landscape photographs. What’s wonderful about heading to these locations in the winter is more wildlife, shorter days (so sunrise is a little later in the day), fewer people, cooler temperatures and no horseflies or other biting insects!
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Assateague National Seashore
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Assateague National Seashore
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Bill and I will be heading back to Chincoteague, Assateague and Blackwater in December to photograph some favorite locations – and we’ll be leading a workshop there in January 2013. We’d love to have you join us at our Capturing the Beauty of the Landscape: Chincoteague, Assateague and Blackwater on January 18-21, 2013.
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by hankinslawrenceimages | May 12, 2011 | Flowers, Liliaceae Family, Virginia, Wildflowers
Trillium Grandiflorum (c) 2011 Patty Hankins
Last week, I had the chance to explore the G.R. Thompson Wildlife Management Area in Virginia. Located in Northern Faquier County, the Thompson WMA is less than 90 miles from Bethesda. So easy to visit in a day trip. I’d heard about this area from Elijah Goodwin (@Whimbrelphoto), another photographer in the Washington DC area. Elijah generously shared with me information about what wildflowers were blooming and where to find them.
Showy Orchis (c) 2011 Patty Hankins
Thompson WMA was established when George Richard Thompson donated 4,000 acres of land to the state of Virginia, so that hunters could continue to hunt in the area. What this has meant is that there are now 4,000 acres of land preserved in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Parkway. And in the spring – the woods are full of wildflowers.
Wood Betony (c) 2011 Patty Hankins
In just a few hours the other morning, I saw and photographed numerous species of wildflowers. There were some of the largest patches of May Apples (podophyllyn peltatum) that I’ve ever seen. There were thousands of White Trillium (Trillium Grandiflorum) in the area. I’ve heard that there may be millions of them at Thompson WMA – there are quite literally fields of them. I saw several groups of Showy Orchises (Galearis Spectabilis), as well as Wood Betony (pecularis canadensis), Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubis) and Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides).
May Apple Blossom (c) 2011 Patty Hankins
There are several parking areas that provide easy access to the area. I parked at Stone Ridge Parking Area and found plenty to photograph. I’m told that there are wonderful photographic opportunities at the Trillium Trail parking area as well. Numerous trails run through the WMA, including a section of the Appalachian trail. The trails I hiked last week were in excellent condition and easy hiking.
Trillium Grandiflorum (c) 2011 Patty Hankins
Based on how the peak bloom of wildflowers progresses in the Appalachian mountains, my guess is things will be blooming in the woods at Thompson WMA for a few more weeks. I’m hoping to get back there at least once more this spring to do a little more exploring – and will definitely head back there next year in search of the early spring wildflowers.
