2020

Last year, when I was writing about my favorite pictures from 2019, I wrote “I’m looking forward to what should be an interesting 2020.” I said that because we had just found out that Caroline was pregnant. But I had no clue that we were all about to get ourselves into in the strange and turbulent year that was 2020.

We welcomed baby Elliott to the world in August, and having a baby in the middle of global pandemic was definitely unique. But he is healthy and happy, and Jonah has thrived in the role of being a great big brother.

Despite lockdowns and social distancing measures, I did attempt to get out and take a few pictures. It meant finding places that would be devoid of people, and adapting to wearing a mask (which still causes the viewfinder to fog up on the camera). 2020 was definitely not the year that anyone expected it to be, but here are some of my favorite pictures taken from a challenging and truly interesting year.

#25:

Big Dam Bridge, North Little Rock, Arkansas.
It was a cold winter night with a thick fog, which picked up and carried the blue lights from the bridge out across the river. This was taken in the glory days of January, before having to worry about having on a mask or keeping a proper distance from anyone else.

#24:

Magnolia Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
Waterfalls in Arkansas are becoming increasingly more popular and more crowded. In order to avoid the crowds over the weekend on this visit to Magnolia Falls, I decided to start hiking right before sunrise (which meant leaving home at 3:45 AM to get there). But it was worth it, there wasn’t anyone else there and the falls are amazingly beautiful.

#23:

Near Stuttgart, Arkansas.
These metal silos sit along a dirt road deep in the Delta. A few fluffy clouds were drifting through the thick heat and humidity that day.

#22:

Lorance Creek Natural Area, Arkansas.
I was too late in the season to catch the autumn leaves on the many trees at Lorance Creek. But that did leave the chance to see some of those fallen leaves trapped in the current of the creek, slowly swirling in the shallow waters of the swamp.

#21:

Balanced Rock Falls, Buffalo National River, Arkansas.
This unique little spot sits near the Buffalo River. A huge boulder is somehow perched over the waterfall, looking like if you were to move an ancient relic nearby, the rock would dislodge and start rolling towards you like in an Indiana Jones movie.

#20:

Bridal Veil Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.
We had booked a quick trip to Oregon in February, and somehow managed to squeeze in the trip before everything stopped in March. It was a blessed time when we could ride on a plane, eat out in a restaurant, and be around other people.

There was a good crowd of people here at Bridal Veil Falls, one of the hundreds of waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. This is the view of the Bridal Veil Creek, just below the falls (you can see the spray from the falls at the top of the photo behind that massive moss-covered boulder).

19:

Lower Ken Smith Falls, Buffalo National River, Arkansas.
It is a long hike through Hawk Hollow to reach Smith Falls (especially if you’ve fallen out of shape like I have). And so of course, about halfway through the hike the sun came out and there were bright blue skies overhead. Which is not the ideal conditions for waterfall photography. Luckily Smith Falls was still mostly in shadow when we got there, with a beam of light from the sun shining through the trees above the 72 foot-tall waterfall.

18:

Slippery Hollow Natural Area, Arkansas
This area has to be one of the most aptly-named places in the state (joining the ranks of the waterfall named Falling Water Falls). The hollow has several springs, which have turned most of the rocks here into a slick moss-covered Slip 'N' Slide.

#17:

Short Beach, Oregon.
Portland is a great city to visit, thanks to its perfect location. A short drive east takes you by the massive waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. A short drive west brings you to the Pacific Ocean. This rocky beach sits below Cape Meares and is where a small creek runs in and meets up with the ocean. It’s a nice place to sit and enjoy the view.

#16:

Elaine, Arkansas.
These fields here really look no different than any other soybean or rice field in the flat lands of the Delta. But they have a deep and dark history. It was near this field where the Elaine Massacre started in 1919, which resulted in the murder of hundreds of people. I’m not sure if it was my imagination, but there was an eerie feeling in the air here.

#15:

Hodgson Water Mill, Missouri.
In the summer, we booked a cabin in the Ozarks for a few days as a sort of “isolation vacation.” It was also the last time we’d be able to make any sort of getaway before the baby was born. The cabin was located near the Arkansas-Missouri border, and I had time to slip over and get a few pictures at the beautiful old mill. It’s said that this is the most photographed place in Missouri (I’m sure that the Gateway Arch or Busch Stadium get more pictures), but no one was keeping track of how many pictures were taken while I was there.

#14:

Portland, Oregon.
One night while in Portland we stopped to get a few pictures of the White Stag Sign, which was built in 1940 and greets people driving across the Burnside Bridge. It is an iconic part of downtown Portland, and one I wish that Little Rock could copy with their own version (if I won the lottery or was an eccentric millionaire I would totally build one and donate it to the city).

#13:

Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
There are several homes along this scenic little dirt road, except it’s not the easiest place to reach. To get here, you have to ford Big Piney Creek. But it is scenic enough for the effort when you have this view from your front yard.

#12:

Little Rock, Arkansas.
It had been a rainy day, and right at sunset the sun broke through the storm clouds and produced this pastel-colored sunset over downtown Little Rock.

#11:

Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.
I know this is a cliche photo of a touristy landmark, but Multnomah Falls is one of the most iconic and breathtaking waterfalls in the US. It’s definitely worth fighting the crowds (at least it was when this was taken, before Covid really struck) to see it in person.

#10:

Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
A horse grazing in a field by a massive old and abandoned home. I would love to see what the inside of this house is like.

#9:

Six Finger Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
A storm dumped a lot of rain at the end of October, which gave us waterfalls and fall colors at the same time (a rare treat). This was a 15 second exposure, taken as it was getting dark.

#8:

Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
We ended up spending more time taking pictures of this road than anything else that day. It passed through the Ozark National Forest and had a nice little bit of fog too.

#7:

Buffalo National River, Arkansas.
In real estate they say the most important thing is Location, Location, Location. Well this Ashe’s Juniper tree has situated itself in an amazing position, overlooking a scenic bend in the Buffalo River.

#6:

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.
This was taken from the rooftop of The Waters Hotel, where a bar allowed a chance to get a few outdoor and socially-distanced drinks. It also provided a view of this great sunset over Bathhouse Row and Central Avenue.

#5:

Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
This old blue recliner sits on the sprawling front porch of an abandoned home. Judging by the thick coating of dust and dirt, it looks like it’s been a long time since anyone has sat down for a spell here.

#4:

Haw Creek Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
Haw Creek Falls are just a few feet tall, but for what they lack in height they make up in length. The waterfall stretches across the creek, and was matched with some good fall color.

#3:

Buffalo National River, Arkansas.
Golden evening light bathed the gnarled trunks of the old Ashe Juniper tree, which overlooked the calm waters of the Buffalo River.

#2:

Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock.
The annual fireworks show at the State Capitol is one of the best holiday traditions in the state. Luckily the state went ahead with the show this year, but they did away with the ceremony and kindly asked people to wear masks and social distance. I have to admit it was a good change, because in years past the ceremony and speeches could drag on a bit too long.

#1:

Cedar Creek Grist Mill, Washington
This place has been on my photography bucket-list for years, and I was luckily able to make a quick drive over into Washington state to get a few pictures during our visit to the Pacific Northwest. On our way home, at the airport in Portland, we started seeing people wearing masks. It’s crazy to think back at how much has changed since then. 2020 will always be thought of as a memorable year. Hopefully 2021 will be too, but for all the right reasons.

Thank you again for anyone who reads these posts and looks at these pictures. I hope you all have a great and healthy new year!

Oregon: Portland

I wish we had a longer trip so that we could have done more in Portland, which is one of the coolest cities in the US. There are so many breweries, great restaurants and funky shops there. We stayed in a little place by Hawthorne Street and spent a good chunk of our time there (mostly at the Back Stage Bar at the Bagdad Theater). I had this one song stuck in my head while we were there....



Portland was founded way back in 1845, back when this was near the end of the Oregon Trail. It has since grown into the second largest city in the Pacific Northwest. We did head into downtown Portland one afternoon and walked around some. We passed by Pioneer Square, which has this view of the Pioneer Courthouse. The courthouse was built between 1869 and 1903 and is the second oldest federal building west of the Mississippi River and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest.



I dodged people on the sidewalk and tried to get a shot of the trees and buildings that line the square.



Next to the courthouse were fountains which were adorned with statues of local wildlife. Here are some frolicking otters enjoying the dry fountains.



One night we stopped at one of the most iconic places in downtown Portland - the White Stag sign. The massive sign was first built in 1940 and greets people crossing over the river on the Burnside Bridge. It's such a neat thing to have downtown that I wish Little Rock could copy it and make our own version (if I won the lottery or was an eccentric millionaire I would totally build one and donate it to the city).

Oregon: Tillamook

We left the coast and rushed towards Portland since we had dinner reservations (at Bamboo Sushi, very good). But we had to make another stop in Tillamook because a massive and vivid rainbow was stretching across the road in front of us.



Tillamook was incorporated in 1891 and has a population of about 5,000 people. The town is nicknamed "The land of Cheese, Trees and Ocean Breeze," and is home to the Tillamook Cheese Creamery (I wish we had time for cheese tasting). We did have time for one quick shot of the rainbow over the Tillamook County Courthouse, which was built in 1933.

Oregon: Cape Meares

From Cannon Beach we headed south, following the coast as the road curved up and around mountains and forests. It was a slow drive, since there were many scenic viewpoints to stop at and take pictures.



We drove to Cape Meares State Park, which sits on a headland over 200 feet above the ocean. There are some great views at the park, including this one looking towards these massive cliffs. The cliffs highlight the geologic activity that long ago created the Oregon coast. Here you can spot dark lines in the rock, which are basalt that was formed from lava flows about 15 million years ago. The lava came from a massive volcano that was located hundreds of miles away in what is now Idaho, and amazingly that volcano is still active (it has shifted over time thanks to the continental drift - it's now the volcano that sits underneath Yellowstone).



There is a small lighthouse at the end of Cape Meares, which was built in 1890. It's only 38 feet high and is the shortest lighthouse in Oregon. It operated until 1963, but it is still open for tours during most of the year (except when we were there, naturally).



And the view looking south from Cape Meares, as the waves rushed towards the shore.



One of the beaches you can see from that picture is called Short Beach, so we headed down that way to explore. There is a trail to Short Beach that is short, but it is steep as it drops down the hill. It's a neat little spot, the beach is covered with stones that have been made smooth and curved after being exposed to the relentless waves of the Pacific.



Short Creek flows into the ocean here, passing by a nearby rock that is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Oregon: Cannon Beach

The next day we headed out from Portland and drove west towards the coast. Along the way we stopped at a little rest stop, which was built alongside this scenic little creek. One of my favorite things about this area is how there is always moss coating the trees.



The first place we wanted to visit, Ecola State Park, was unfortunately closed due to a landslide. So we headed on to Cannon Beach, a quaint little town right on the ocean. The beach is beautiful, and was busy with people (and seagulls) even though it was a little chilly outside. Cannon Beach is actually named after a cannon. In 1846, a cannon from a Navy ship washed up on the shore nearby. It was from a shipwreck, along a notorious stretch of water dubbed the "Graveyard of the Pacific."



The beach is home to the iconic Haystack Rock, which is one of those places that you see in a bunch of pictures but it is breathtaking to see in person. The massive sea stack looms over the beach, looking much larger than it does in photos.



The rock is 235 feet tall, and some claim that it is third tallest intertidal structure in the world. During low tide, the rock is home to animals like starfish, sea anemone and crabs. In the summer, terns and puffins nest on the rock.





If it looks familiar, it's because Haystack Rock and Cannon Beach have appeared in lots of movies, including Kindergarten Cop and The Goonies.



Haystack Rock is made of basalt, and was formed by lava flows that poured out from the Blue Mountains and Columbia Basin about 15-16 million years ago. Next to Haystack Rock are some smaller rock pillars, which are called "The Needles."



And one last shot from Cannon Beach, as the sky was reflected in the sand below.

Oregon: Multnomah Falls

Towards the end of the day we were finally able to make a stop at the mighty and majestic Multnomah Falls. There are over 90 waterfalls just on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, and Multnomah ranks as the tallest and most popular. It also easily ranks as one of the most iconic waterfalls in the country. If you do a google image search for waterfalls, chances are you'll find several pictures of Multnomah Falls in the search results.



The falls drop in two steps. The upper falls plunge 542 feet, and the lower falls drop 69 feet (with a 9 foot elevation drop between them), creating a waterfall that is 620 feet tall total. Multnomah is the tallest waterfall in Oregon, and is credited as being the second-tallest year-round waterfall in the US. It creates a pretty stunning view to see in person.



A picturesque stone bridge crossing between the falls was constructed in 1915. On our last visit here in 2014, the bridge was temporarily closed after a falling boulder smashed through part of the bridge.



Since it is such a beautiful spot, it's no surprise that this is an insanely popular place. Over 2.5 million people visit the falls every year, making it the most-visited natural recreation area in the Pacific Northwest. It was pretty crowded when we were there, but I joined the masses and made the short but steep walk up the hill to the bridge between the falls. This is the view looking back down at the base of the falls.



And the view looking at the upper falls, as mist and spray coated the camera with water.



Near the base of the falls is the Multnomah Falls Lodge, which was built in 1925. The lodge and the the falls just barely escaped the flames of the massive Eagle Creek wildfire.