Reelfoot Lake

[Travis Rhoads]

I spent a couple of days at the end of September up at Reelfoot Lake State Park in the NW corner of Tennessee. It was a solo camping trip that was primarily focused on long exposure photography. I had shared a couple of these on FB and made a video about it on my YT channel, and Jim asked me to share a set of images over here. I am finally getting around to it. This pandemic has made a mess of life this year, and other health concerns in my home have made it even harder...time seems so limited. Anyway..I thought I would share this set here. It was my first time to Reelfoot, and if I can get the memory of the most violent mosquitos out of my head, I will go back one day.
#1: The Odd Couple

#2: Awkward

#3: Stillness

#4: Reelfoot Blues

#5: And The Clouds Break

#6: Stick The Landing

#7: Sunrise on the Sunday just before I packed up camp and left.

 

[AlanLichty]

Stunning imagery Travis - hard to pick favorites out of the group when they are all nice to view. Looks like a very successful outing although your comment about violent mosquitoes is hard to ignore.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

Stunning imagery Travis - hard to pick favorites out of the group when they are all nice to view. Looks like a very successful outing although your comment about violent mosquitoes is hard to ignore.

Good morning Alan. Yes, picking favorites on photos is like picking favorites on your kids...hard to do...so I only had one child! Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the skeeters were violent...I had bites through two layers of clothing, big clumps of them...they were relentless and miserable. If I go back, it might be this winter when it is really cold so that there are not any of them around. The lake freezes up at the edges and some of the lake plants die back in the cold making the shoreline more accessible and photogenic. So a winter trip might be in order.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Fantastic set Travis, like Alan, I can't pick a favorite, they are all stunning. Good to see you back over here.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

Fantastic set Travis, like Alan, I can't pick a favorite, they are all stunning. Good to see you back over here.

Thank you Ben. Despite the weather while I was there I was pretty happy with what I came away with. I will see what I can do about my activity level...spare time is at a minimum despite WFH!

 

[JimFox]

Thanks so much for sharing these over here Travis, we always enjoy when you have time to post here.

I was reading your write up while looking at your #1 photo and I was feeling so at peace with that first image until.... I read the part about the mosquitoes.... and now I am feeling like I need to slap my arms at imaginary mosquitoes.

This is a super cool series, each of them a winner. It's great that you got away for a few days here. It's been such a crazy year and I have found when I have been able to get away and out in nature is the best cure of all.

Is there a lot of trees out in the bay to choose from?

#1 is my favorite, the simplicity of it and the hint of lines in the sky really draw the eye in. #3 is my next favorite followed by #5 and 6.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

An impressive set. The long exposures work well for this location.

 

[MonikaC]

Beautiful set, Travis! Worth the battles with mosquitos IMO. From the comfort of a mosquito-free room, anyway.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Beautiful series, Travis. I have been missing your wonderful photography.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

Thanks so much for sharing these over here Travis, we always enjoy when you have time to post here.

I was reading your write up while looking at your #1 photo and I was feeling so at peace with that first image until.... I read the part about the mosquitoes.... and now I am feeling like I need to slap my arms at imaginary mosquitoes.

This is a super cool series, each of them a winner. It's great that you got away for a few days here. It's been such a crazy year and I have found when I have been able to get away and out in nature is the best cure of all.

Is there a lot of trees out in the bay to choose from?

#1 is my favorite, the simplicity of it and the hint of lines in the sky really draw the eye in. #3 is my next favorite followed by #5 and 6.

Thanks for the encouragement Jim. Actually, #1 and #7 were the least impacted by the mosquitos, those are both out on the end of a really long boardwalk...it was when you were on shore or in camp that they were just awful! It was nice to get away, it is good for the mind...there are not a lot of trees out in the water, most of them are along the shore of the lake, and many of them you can't really get a good angle on...some due to shoreline reeds and plant life that grows really tall in the summer. I am hoping that in the winter that stuff is gone and presents other compositions that I found but wasn't tall enough to shoot.

An impressive set. The long exposures work well for this location.

Thanks, yes, LE was my main goal, getting back to shooting these again. Reelfoot was a great catalyst for that.

Beautiful set, Travis! Worth the battles with mosquitos IMO. From the comfort of a mosquito-free room, anyway.

Thank you, yes, the images were worth it in the end, often there is some sufferage in getting a good image, this place was no exception...pretty sure I got tagged by a spider at some point too...I have one wound that just won't heal and it has been over a month!

Beautiful series, Travis. I have been missing your wonderful photography.

Very kind of you, thank you.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Beautiful set, very productive trip I'd say, and gave you something fun to work on back home. I like The clouds break, and sunrise, but the first is my favorite by far, print worthy for sure.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

Beautiful set, very productive trip I'd say, and gave you something fun to work on back home. I like The clouds break, and sunrise, but the first is my favorite by far, print worthy for sure.

Thanks Jim. It was very productive, I find that time on my own is very productive, there is no one telling me to get moving and I can spend as long as I want to in any one place. The first one is likely to be the new piece in my dining room, pretty big too.

 

[dan swiger]

Great set, but for some reason, the 1st two in B&W are my favorites.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

Great set, but for some reason, the 1st two in B&W are my favorites.

Thanks Dan. Glad you like #2, it is one that I am particularly happy with, I quite like the minimalism of it.

 

[Bob]

These are truly beautiful Travis. I agree with Jim Dockery the first one is magnificent and should be printed.
Bob

 

[Travis Rhoads]

These are truly beautiful Travis. I agree with Jim Dockery the first one is magnificent and should be printed.
Bob

Thanks Bob, I appreciate that. Even my wife liked the first one...so once I can make it happen, I plan to print that one pretty big.