Winter Reflections

I captured this afternoon image on Watson Pond in George L Smith State Park in November, 2023.  George L Smith is a Georgia State Park situated between Savannah and Macon, Georgia.  The park is named after George L. Smith, a former speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives and Emanuel County native. Attractions include a grist mill, covered bridge, and the dam of the Parrish Mill (built 1880). The park's location on a 412-acre mill pond dotted with many cypress trees makes it a destination for anglers and canoeists.  The moderately-sized state park is in a remote location, making it an attraction for bird watchers and naturalists.

I was unaware of the park and its beauty until a bird enthusiast friend of mine mentioned it to me.  I had been to the park in 2022 and had it on my list for a return trip.  In previous trips, I had always been to the park in the mornings and decided this trip I would try the late afternoon instead to see it with the light coming from an entirely different angle.  I also waited until later in the year than before when the fall colors had mostly passed to get more of a “wintery” look.  I was rewarded by a beautiful afternoon with soft light and absolutely no wind.  I still used a longer exposure to eliminate any potential ripples in the water.  I was very pleased with the resulting image that had the “wintery” look I was hoping for with outstanding reflections and just enough color.