23 Jun 2015 501 in pics: Interest in wildlife leads to new hobby

Story and photos
by Jim Belote

An interest in wildlife led me to a couple of biology degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. 

Joining the Air National Guard after graduating college provided my first exposure to photography. But I did not take the photos. An F-4 Phantom jet or some other aircraft did that. My job was to develop the sensitive film from the aircraft.

I am a retired public school principal (Vilonia) and now teach science at St. Joseph in Conway. 

Recently I decided to pursue my interest in wildlife photography and invested in a telephoto lens. In the past few months I have taken many bird photos, as well as some of other critters. 

A friend of mine saw my photos on Facebook and arranged for me to have a display at the Witt Stephens Jr. Nature Center in Little Rock as part of Migratory Bird month.

Some of my favorite areas for wildlife photography are the Lake Conway/Bell Slough area, Holla Bend NWR, Magness Lake near Heber Springs and Boxley Valley near Jasper. Urban areas with good opportunities include the refuge behind The Village at Hendrix and the pond and river near the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock.