I live on Lakeshore Drive in Dallas, Texas; just a short way from White Rock Lake.  Perhaps because I'm so close it never ceases to amaze me how many residents of the DFW Metroplex haven't ever been to the park and may not even know where it is located!  Can you imagine a New Yorker who didn't know how to find Central Park?  White Rock Lake is our Central Park.  It is called an urban oasis by "For the Love of the Lake" a local association that organizes monthly clean up efforts.  The lake was begun in 1911 as the first water reservoir for the city of Dallas.  The surrounding park was created in 1929.  It is now connected to six other parks totaling 2186 acres.  It houses several historic buildings built by the CCC, has a 11 mile trail that circles the lake, and is home to two sailing clubs and the Dallas Dog Park.  The park is home to 33 types of mammals, 54 varieties of reptiles, 19 kinds of fish, and 217 species of birds.  It takes me between 45 minutes and an hour to ride my bike from my house, around the lake and back depending on the wind and my condition.  My wife and I learned to use our kayaks on the lake and have taken many friends for their first kayak experience on the lake.

Most importantly for me is that it is the place I have photographed more than any other.   Several times a month, I walk out to get the newspaper before breakfast and if there are clouds and the possibility of a dramatic sunrise, I head down to the lake.  The lake constantly amazes me with the variation of scenes that it presents to my eyes.  With these images I attempt to find the beauty in the lake, its surroundings and the people who use it.  I hope these images inspire you to get out to the park nearest you and to support its protection so that all future generations can enjoy the beauty as well.