While I don’t consider myself to be a true, dedicated landscape photographer, I do appreciate a good landscape — and landscape photography does fit quite nicely with the travel work that I do. To really be a landscape guy, I’d need to be much more dedicated to scouting out locations and patiently waiting for the light in all seasons and weather conditions. Unfortunately, I’m usually moving to fast for that and have to shoot what I can before moving on to my next location. I admire those that are dedicated to landscape photography, however, and wish it were a larger part of my DNA.
That said, I enjoy photographing landscapes when I can, and making the most of the weather and light that I encounter. My favorite spots are often those that you might not consider inherently photogenic. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Great Plains, but I love a weird outcropping of rock from an otherwise grassy plain above almost anything.
In late September of 2016, a short hike through northwestern Nebraska brought me to just such a place: Toadstool Geological Park in Nebraska.
A small group of us set off on foot from the Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed museum and made our way north shortly after sunrise. We made our way through a series of ravines as the landscape gradually became more alien and moon-like. Grassy flatlands became populated with oddly-shaped rock outcroppings — some of which mushroom shaped, lending the name to this geological park.
The weather perhaps wasn’t the best for photography, but I made the most of what I had. And I do plan to return when I can spend more time and be a bit more patient and thoughtful. Until then, here are a few more images from my first visit here to Toadstool Geological Park:
