Good outdoors photos can be a snap

Working at The Eagle, I get to see a lot of good outdoors photography. Send someone like staff photographers Travis Heying or Bo Rader to some distant and remote place with a telephoto lens that looks like it belongs in an observatory, and good things often happen.

But lately some of the best shots have been taken with a cell phone, right here in the middle of Wichita by Roy Wenzl, one of our reporters. Though a talented writer, Roy is about as far from being a professional photographer as my aged, short and uncoordinated self is from being a professional basketball player. But several days a week, he shoots memorable photos with his iPhone at Chisholm Creek Park, near 29th Street North and Woodlawn.

It all began with sunrise bicycle rides for exercise and to relax. His photography has ranged from broad scenics to closeups of unusual wild flowers and insects that have sent him to see Jim Mason and others at the Great Plains Nature for identification and explanations.

Last year we ran a display of wild flowers Roy photographed in the summer. This year’s spread shows what he’s seen as summer has evolved in to early fall. You’ll find more shots in a photo gallery at kansas.com/outdoors. Look at them and you’ll have to believe that you don’t need to make long drives, or have expensive equipment, to get good outdoors photography.

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Good outdoors photos can be a snap."