ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE OZARKS

My favorite time of year—dogwoods are finally starting to open up in the Ozarks. (At Drury University, Springfield, Missouri)

Pinhole image of the North Fork last fall, still bearing obvious evidence of the historic spring flood. (In Ozark County, Missouri)

Unintentional pinhole panorama from a hike down to Big Bluff a few months ago. (Ponca Wilderness, Buffalo National River)

Pinhole image from a recent hike. Never said things weren’t a little weird in the Ozarks. (In Christian County, Missouri)

Ready to leave a dark and dreary winter behind. (In Christian County, Missouri)

Up with the sun this morning, looking for musky. (On Fellows Lake, north of Springfield, Missouri)

Up on the northwestern edge of the Ozarks, where the Sac meets the Osage. (In St. Clair County, Missouri)

I promised two nice ladies I wouldn’t go blabbing about their special spot. (Somewhere in Douglas County, Missouri)

While the freshman move onto campus, there are others just passing through. Kudos to the Drury Grounds crew for planting a stand of milkweed in front of Olin Library. (at Drury University, Springfield, Mo.)

Interrupting dinner (in the backyard, Springfield, Mo.)

So this is why we grow sunflowers. (In the backyard, Springfield, Mo.)

The Ozarks are home to a number of great game fish. The common carp is not one of them ... but maybe they should be.

On the Little Sac this morning, where there may or may not be fish. (North of Springfield, Missouri)

Still figuring out how to make effective use of the pinhole camera—chiefly, remembering to advance the film. Luckily, experimentation and happy accidents are close cousins. (Double exposure, at Sequiota Park, Springfield, Mo.)

Two frames from my maiden voyage into pinhole photography. (Frame 1: South Creek at Springfield Botanical Gardens; Frame 2: Obligatory Stone Chapel photo)

Better make it a quick run, storm’s rollin’ in. (At Two Rivers Bike Park, Christian County, Missouri)

Say what you will about Bradford Pears, but they do have one thing going for them: contrast.