The images are breathtaking, many are taken of Arkansas' wilderness at its finest. They are captured in the most intimate way. Photo after photo ... of wildlife, scenery, sheer beauty of the Natural State.
Tim Ernst is the man behind the lens.
"I think it's the most beautiful state in this country," he says proudly.
That beauty is documented in print, most recently in his latest book On the Buffalo River.
His love of Arkansas began early when his father took him into the woods as a boy, and he never really left.
Later in life he helped blaze the Ozark Highlands Trail as well as countless others in the state.
"When I started doing that, there were no guidebooks, no maps," Ernst recalled. "I thought, well we need something to publicize, get people out to use the trail."
So he literally drew a map and eventually published his first book, then 15 more guidebooks followed, along with 14 picture books.
Ernst, still surprised by the popularity of those books, now signs countless autographs. He greets long lines of fans at his seminars, all hoping to meet him
For him, the response is humbling.
For him, the photography is simply his passion - a love for the state of Arkansas.
He captures its beauty in numerous images, with one main purpose in mind.
"My goal, is to get people to learn about Arkansas, get out enjoy it and help protect it," Ernst says.
To view some of his work, order books, and learn more about Tim Ernst, visit his website at http://www.timernst.com/
To ready Tim's blog, visit http://www.timernst.com/currentjournal.html .
