When you think of landscape photography (or when you Google it), you may conjure beautiful vistas of the Rocky Mountains or the crashing waves of the ocean or the expanse of sand dunes in the desert. If you’re thinking of hiking in the National Parks, Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon will likely top your list. The Rust Belt is unlikely to make the cut.
When I first moved to Ohio, I thought the same. And yet, I soon discovered that as you travel between and around Akron and Cleveland, there is an amazing network of trails to hike and a rich variety of landscapes to soak in, not to mention our very own National Park.
This blog is my way of sharing the beauty of Northeast Ohio, as I take you along the many trails crisscrossing the area, with a focus on the Summit and Cleveland Metro Parks systems and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, while sharing some of my favorite photographs from each trip. There won’t be a lot of technical explanations on photography; my hope is that you might be inspired to go see what’s in your neighborhood – and if you don’t live here, maybe consider adding Ohio to your destination list. Some of the posts will focus on specific trails or parks I visit and others will be more general about hiking and nature photography. If you have questions or comments, please post!
I chose the name Wandering Dryad because I’ve always had an affinity for trees. I spent significant chunks of my childhood in the embrace of an elm in our front yard, reading and daydreaming. It broke my heart when she eventually succumbed to Dutch elm disease and had to be cut down. There are certain trails or parks that I visit repeatedly and trees there that I’m always happy to see.
So stick around, share your adventures, and if an image strikes your fancy, click on the store link and buy a print.
~ Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads ~ Henry David Thoreau