This seldom vacationed state has numerous areas of natural beauty that come alive during the spring bloom and fall foliage seasons. In North Little Rock there is a beautiful county park where the Old Mill stands, an icon featured at the beginning of the classic 1939 film Gone With the Wind. I first visited here back in early March of 2002 before I was very serious about photography. Since that time, the Old Mill had been on my bucket list to capture its surroundings in all its glory. Throughout the year, one can come away with some outstanding photos that are different in each season, winter with its snowy accents or fall with its changing color. However, spring was the season I looked forward to, having seen colorful pastels of all of the surrounding flowers, and white dogwood blooms that fringed the edges of framed classic.

For me, it actually took three tries to time the bloom correctly. Beautiful pictures can be taken of the Old Mill prior and post peak bloom. In fact, something is always blooming surrounding the mill.

These two shots above are photos of the Old Mill past peak color, still interesting nonetheless, but without the pastel photo pop had I been there to photograph a month prior during early April.

One time at the end of March I attempted to capture the Old Mill driving all the way from Dallas to Little Rock. Come to find out, spring was only just beginning with only buds and no blossoms. Below, compare the most recent shots taken the first week of April following a normal winter season.

Every time will yield different photographs. In the earlier photographs, the daffodils had sprouted. In the ones above, I focused more on the flowering dogwoods which I think compliment the site the best. Don’t forget near the Old Mill to capture the stone bridge that crosses the water.

Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas and holds some rich civil rights history to explore if you are visiting from out of town. Central High School, run by the National Park Service, is a must-see location to learn about the Little Rock Nine and Hot Springs National Park is an easy drive to spend the afternoon soaking in one of the thermal tubs.

Arkansas is full of little known natural wonders that present beautifully on film (digital sensor for his day and age.) I look forward to coming back again, perhaps during peak foliage in the fall, to capture the Ozarks and the Buffalo Wild River in the northern part of the state. Below are some of my highlights captured during the spring season in the Ozark section of northern Arkansas.

Good luck shooting and let me know how it turns out!