The U.S. Drought Monitor lists Oklahoma in the exceptional drought category .
I have been documenting drought conditions as they affect Oklahoma’s lakes and rivers. On a recent trip to Chandler’s Bell Cow Lake, the trees in the lake drew my immediate attention.
I previsualized the picture and made plans to return during the best light to get the shot I wanted.
Many trees were not removed before filling the lake, and now with low lake levels they stick out above the surface more than usual and have a very strong visual appeal – like a weird ancient forest.
I spent a few hours there this past weekend getting pictures of a particularly interesting dead tree near the shore at a swimming area.
The fantastic shapes of the trees make great silhouettes at twilight. A long exposure captures the fading light as twilight reflects in the still water.
Later I used a low exposure to capture a scene near a brightly lit dock that threw directional light onto trees near the bank.
The place is so interesting that it is the location I chose to meet with Craig Day, a news reporter from News 6, the CBS affiliate in Tulsa, who wanted to interview me about my work. The segment should air in the next week. Check back for more details and a link when it comes out.
