If you see a shot, take it. Don't assume it'll still be there when you come back to it.

Conditions were perfect as I hiked the rim trail around Conkles Hollow in Hocking County, Ohio -- arguably the most scenic area in the state. Colors were at their peak, there was a bright overcast, and the air was still. As you've probably noticed by now, I like to shoot down at landscapes from elevated vantage points. Yet, in this part of the country, because of the heavy vegetation and relatively flat terrain, unobstructed views are hard to come by. From the east rim of Conkles Hollow, there are several clearings, but, here on the west rim, I had to dust off some of my climbing skills and scramble down onto a precarious ledge, which afforded barely enough space for both my tripod and me. You can picture me kneeling between the legs of the tripod and reaching around and setting the lens with one hand while holding a mirror with the other. On top of that, several small shrubs were in the way, so I tied them back with a length of cord I always carry in my pack for such emergencies.

More recently, I've returned to this same location and have had difficulty even finding the spot from which this image was made. It's now heavily overgrown, rendering it impossible to get this shot.