TexasGirl Photography

There’s a little wilderness near where we live that has become one of my favorite places to photograph. It isn’t really a secret, but the kid in me likes to think of it that way, and claim it as something special and apart. Probably I have written about it here before, but the whole point of having a favorite is revisiting it, right?

I’ve been there in every season, but since it’s overgrown to the point of being nearly impassable during the summer, I go there most in the late autumn and winter. My daughter used to like finding sticks and whittling them into terrifying spikes with her swiss army knife, but she joins me less these days.

The Secret Place is formed by a clump of trees that bend in beguiling fashion, hunkered down by the edge of a creek and reservoir that I’m assuming are part of the Brushy Creek system. Sometimes, I get lucky and roust a cranky Blue Heron. Sometimes, we wade in the creek (when it’s deeper and flowing) and find fish.

By now you are probably getting an idea of my obsession – I’ve photographed the Secret Place with nearly all of my cameras, including various Polaroids, pinholes, and formats. I have yet to take any large format gear there, but considering the crop of images I’ve already made I think I can probably give that a miss.

In February 2021 the Secret Place was worth the effort of trekking to in the snow; I will admit I found it difficult to photograph but of course I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. The reservoir was frozen over and amazing in its winter beauty – something we don’t often get to see here!

Since I mentioned Polaroids. . . .

And, last but not least, here are a few photographs I made of details there this past autumn with my (GASP) digital camera and a Lensbaby

If you’ve gotten this far, THANK YOU for indulging me and for having a look at my obsession! If you’d like to read a poem on the subject, you can click here.