Hiking and Biking by Shelter #2

Today's post comes after a journey down the three-quarter mile paved hiking/biking trail by Shelter number two. It is absolutely beautiful and fantastic. The trail is pin-drop quiet and the trees are ancient and all encompassing.

As I hiked along the path, only the rustle of the leaves brought sound to my ears. Halfway down the trail, I heard a wood pecker and the "creaking door" sound of branches rubbing together. It was eerie and peaceful at the same time. Out here, you are all alone with nature. On my way back up the trail, a red tailed hawk spotted my progression and circled several times overhead. Very cool.

The title to this post is a bit misleading as one of the photos in my "Nathan's 9" for this post is actually of a structure in the front of the park. The remainder of photos are along the trail, all of which can be found in my installment located here: Nathan's 9

Thanks for tuning in!

Nathan

Spring is Coming!

Today held absolutely perfect weather. I stopped for a few minutes outside of the Shelby Forest General Store and grabbed a few photos while there. You know, I must have been a kid when I last went into the old General Store but it looked the same as I ever remembered it - from the outside at least.

Once in the park, I really just milled around taking everything in. I was a bit surprised to see so much neglect in the park. A derelict building stands just to the right as you enter the park and even a concrete slab (remnant of what once must have been some kind of building stands adjacent to the new Visitors Station. Part of me wanted to go inside and inquire about what has transpired since I was last here but another part of me wants to explore it on my own for awhile first.

The photo above is one from my session. It is also part of a new feature I'll attempt to maintain called "Nathan's 9" where, each post, I'll pick out 9 of my favorite photos to share. Please check them out here: Nathan's 9

Enjoy!

Birth to the Blog!

This is my first installment as I've just setup this blog for my photography of Shelby Forest. Since I am a photographer who always seems to be "on the go" I believe that a blog will work more quickly than a website for this cause.

I grew up in the surrounding area just down the road from Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. My grandparents took me on many camping trips there when I was young and I spent more than a few weekends there during my high school years with my friends. As I wrote in the description at the top of this page, this blog is, in some small way, intended to represent my vision of the park. In a much larger way, I hope that it can help attract visitors and interest others in an area which I find to hold great beauty and peace.

I'll begin posting more as I go along. Please drop me a line anytime. I'd love to hear from you.

->Nathan