Sometimes I get an itch to go out and explore new areas.  I learn of a promising new landscape photography location and I make time to check it out.  I’m often surprised by how many resources are within a very reasonable driving distance to me.  This new location fits both of those descriptions.  It’s a popular local fishing hole but you don’t want to fish here (there) right now.  I’ll elaborate.

Otter Creek State Park is a local reservoir which features lots of places to fish.  There’s other outdoor activities as well such as ATV trails.  However, this late in the year, the reservoir supply drops dramatically.  The farmers draw upon the supply for their crops throughout the year.  During mid-August to September, you might expect that they harvest many crops.  Such expectations are often correct.  However, this leaves reservoirs drained.  Not even heavy monsoonal moisture can return the water levels to post-snow melt levels.

So, it was time for an afternoon drive.  I also wanted to change things up a bit.  I find I filled my portfolio with lots of red and orange desert photos.  While that’s not a bad thing, it does become a bit monotonous.  So, I wanted to break things up a bit.  Also, there’s a big directional hole in my landscape photo spots which needed filling.  This trip to Otter Creek State Park went quite a ways towards filling that gap.

Upon arriving, it became obvious that fishermen like this area.  There’s a long ramp and a boat launch right next to the visitors’ center.  The map also shows many areas for fishing.  Above all, I saw both seagulls and white pelicans swimming around.  I know pelicans show up where the fishing is good.  During my time there, I heard several splashes which took place several yards away from the nearest swimming bird.  I know there’s fish.

The reason you don’t want to fish here (there) right now is because of the water level.  The water is so low right now that the entire boat launch is out of the water.  There are several feet of exposed ground which show much higher water levels normally.  I can’t tell you if a small row boat or canoe might ground itself out there.  Also, I can’t tell you if you can cast far enough to reach the fish if you’re standing on the shore.

Thanks to the ATV trails, I knew I could find my way around to a good place to stand.  Whether or not I came away with a usable landscape photo was a different question.  Still, I wanted to try.  While I was at it, I also took some time to try for close-ups of the wild birds.  There weren’t so may seagulls in range, but the pelicans made themselves available.

The trick was capturing them without motion blur from a great distance with failing light.  That was a bit of a tall order given the equipment I have.  Still, I captured this shot and was delighted to see it was sharply in focus.

Otter Creek State Park seems like a great place to explore some more.  Perhaps, next time I’ll check it out when there’s more water in the reservoir.  That should make for better landscape photos.  In the mean time, what do you think of this new spot?  Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.