Jon Buffington
Well-Known Member
A couple months back, my wife and I ventured up into KY and explored some of Big South Fork National Recreation Area by vehicle. We came to this overlook and the Rhodendron was just starting to come out. This overlook is a good 3 or so hours from home and I contemplated an afternoon run afterwork 1 week later hoping for full blooms and promising light. So it was a Friday, no rain in the forecast but with some partial cloud coverage. I was hopeful. I strapped my tripod to the back of my Suzuki V-Strom (ADV bike) and put the camera in the tank bag and took off early from work. This is a fairly remote area of KY, in the former coal mining country (in fact, that is Blue Heron mining camp along the banks of the river) and the quickest route is the remotest, requiring about 30 miles of dirt road navigating to cut miles and time off. I arrived just before sunset and was hoping for good light. The rhodendron was still about a week away however there was some coming out to add to the foreground. The light show didn't happen as planned however the view was amazing and a touch of side light came in at dusk along with some warm side light. I turned around and rode home, getting back about 11pm. I will have to revisit this area again down the road....thinking fall leaf season. I do have a promising B&W captured on film from the week before I will post in the future. Anyways, here it is.
