Over a decade ago (August 15, 2011), I published a blog about Crystal Cove State Park on California's Pacific coast, that included several photos and comments about the assortment of colorful beach umbrellas, that sprang up from the sand like springtime flowers. Here is one of the photos I included in that blog:
That blog was picked up by Hearst Publications, so it made me realize that I am not the only one who finds pleasure in seeing these "made for shade" devices in photographs! Since I live in a land-locked state with no oceans, I had never thought of owning a beach umbrella. However, on a recent trip to the Florida coast with family members, I purchased one of these umbrellas (as well as a beach chair), and brought it home with me to Arkansas, with the goal of doing some photography "experiments" with it.
I was successful in wading across the two creeks carrying these items to my desired location, which was an outcropping of flat rocks on the second creek. It does not take a genius to figure out that a pole is not going to stand up by itself on top of flat rocks, so I had to find a little patch of gravel between the rocks to use as a base.
Once I saw that the umbrella would stand up on its own, I stepped back to get a photo of the umbrella and chair, with the small waterfalls in the distance. 
Once I saw that the umbrella would stand up on its own, I stepped back to get a photo of the umbrella and chair, with the small waterfalls in the distance. Out of curiosity, I also took a photo of the chair by itself, facing the waterfalls, and the umbrella not in the picture. Then, I waded across the creek, and shot a picture with mostly creek in the foreground, umbrella on the right, and waterfalls on the left.
Standing beside the waterfalls, I took a photo of the chair and umbrella in the distance.
The next photo was intended to show the rock "bridge" that crossed the creek at this location, creating the one foot drop that caused the waterfalls
While I was spending all this time on the flat rocks,, I noticed they had some similar attributes to the "Turtle rocks" I have photographed at Petite Jean State Park in Arkansas. (See blog dated April 16, 2015 for info on that state park visit)
Here is a photo of the placard at Petit Jean State Park that tells visitors about the turtle Rocks: 
While I was spending all this time on the flat rocks,, I noticed they had some similar attributes to the "Turtle rocks" I have photographed at Petite Jean State Park in Arkansas. (See blog dated April 16, 2015 for info on that state park visit)
Here is a photo of the placard at Petit Jean State Park that tells visitors about the turtle Rocks: 
My plan was to come back to these turtle rocks on another trip, and bring my tent, for a photo shoot. (After all, a tent is basically an umbrella that goes all the way to the ground!) I have always dreamed of taking a photo of a tent after dark, with it glowing from a lantern that was on the inside of the tent. Knowing the logistics of such a shot would be a challenge for me, because it would involve hiking in the dark, carrying a tent and lantern on my back, while wading across creeks, I thought perhaps I should do a "practice run" of such a photo, closer to home. The first step is getting the tent set up:
I managed to get it set up, and did so in the daytime, so it would be easier.
Another thing I learned by spending the time outside on this unseasonably warm February day, was that it was a good time to look for a "root" photo, that would be a visual aid for me to learn one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses.
Sycamore trees are prevalent along the creek, and often their roots are exposed, as they cling tenaciously to the bank, to keep from falling over
The verse I am trying to memorize is from Revelation 22:16 of the New Testament, and says
I managed to get it set up, and did so in the daytime, so it would be easier.
My "TENT IN THE DARK" photo is less than stunning!
Even though I was not at all pleased with the photos in the dark, it was a valuable lesson. I learned that mosquitoes will find me and bite me at twilight, even though it is February! One reason I was doing this photo experiment in the winter is because ticks and chiggers are less likely to bite me then. So it did not occur to me that I should have put on mosquito repellent if I was going to be outside at twilight . Also, I realized that there is no need to carry the tent the long hike to the waterfall , because the waterfall would not show up in the dark, without some special effects such as "light painting" that I have heard renowned photographer Tim Ernst discuss. If you Google "How to take a photo of a glowing tent at night", there are numerous video/text tutorials that give details on obtaining such a photograph that could be used for advertising or gallery exhibits. They were more than I wanted to tackle, as all I wanted to use was my iPhone and no tripod!
Sycamore trees are prevalent along the creek, and often their roots are exposed, as they cling tenaciously to the bank, to keep from falling over
I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.
Can you see in the photo below how an "offspring" is coming out of an opening in this ancient sycamore tree??
The bright light shining though the top of the photo can remind me that the verse includes the phrase "bright Morning Star" . Even thought this photo shoot did not produce any particularly stunning photographs, it was such an enjoyable day to be outside in God's Great Outdoors, and it gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!! Tricia
