This is an image of a section of the Smith River, as it flows through Henry County, Virginia. It’s a popular recreational location for kayakers, canoeists and trout fishing enthusiasts. It’s also a popular place for photographers like me.
A colorful mix of butterflies, gathering on the damp sand along the shoreline of the Smith River near Martinsville, VA.
While walking alongside a local river yesterday I saw many colorful photo opportunities being reflected in the water. I used a Fujifilm 55-200mm lens.
We are blessed where we live in rural SW Virginia, by the nearness of mountains, streams, rivers and lakes. The Smith River, a popular kayaking and trout fishing location is a favorite photo location of mine, especially at this time of year.
We are blessed by nature’s beauty living where we do in SW Virginia. The Smith River is just one attraction. It’s a favorite location for trout fishing and kayaking. I love walking along its rocky shoreline … with lots more caution than I once exhibited thanks to a deteriorating body.
With ice formations flowing down nearby on this cold day, I recently walked along the Smith River in SW Virginia near Bassett watching a few trout fishermen, braving the cold water and of course the temperature. The river is a favorite for this species of fish and many come from afar to try their luck. Cold weather or not.
Few things make me happier these days, than being able to enjoy times together with family. Daughter Amy is visiting now with her two sons Stephen (right) and Daniel (left). Today, they went with me on a nice walk in the woods near our home, along the Smith River. As we walked and talked, my camera eye spotted lots of interesting colors and patterns you can see below. The trail we walked along the river reminded me of all the interesting sights these two young men will see during their walk down the path they are on, so long as they look around the next bend and experience unknown adventures. Shorty, Stephen will be in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Daniel will enter Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Exciting times for sure for these two guys, and I’m vary thankful to have spent time with them today “in the woods.”
There’s a short hiking trail near our home in SW Virginia, that runs along a portion of the Smith River Dam, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. The trail is just one of the many recreational benefits of living so close. My aging legs and loss of some flexibility makes me move much more carefully and slower than I once did, but no matter, I still like to walk these type trails, Leki Hiking pole in hand. What’s most interesting to me, other than the river, are the rock outcrops that are exposed along the landward side of the trail, with the river flowing just below on the opposite side. Here are several examples of what I saw the day I was there.
One great aspect of living where we do in Henry County and Martinsville, Virginia is the tremendous outdoor recreational activities available. The Smith River lies at the center of that. Trout fishing, canoeing, kayaking and trail hiking along its banks are very popular with visitors and residents alike. I decided the other day to take a look at a river access point near our home, and found some nice colors awaiting. I was especially happy to see the yellow colors in the river itself, as a result of seasonal changing river vegetation I’d not seen before. So, I wandered about the bank looking for possible photo compositions.
Later, I spotted some flowers still in bloom, given the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having. And on one flower sat this lone Bumblebee, most likely feeding one last time before going to places unknown to me, perhaps Bee heaven. It made for a great photo.
