Seirer_180303_8520159.jpgDisturbance at Dawn With visitors encroaching with the dawn, an elk scampers away at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge near McPherson, Kan. The refuge provides sanctuary for both elk and bison for the enjoyment of the public, but the elk are particularly skittish about such attention. In the summer especially, they are difficult to find.

With visitors encroaching at dawn, an elk scampers away at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge near McPherson, Kan. The refuge provides sanctuary for both elk and bison for the enjoyment of the public, but the elk are particularly skittish about such attention. In the summer especially, they are difficult to find.

Seirer_180303_8520220.jpgA bison lumbers to a hilltop amidst winter grass on the prairie of the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge northwest of McPherson, Kansas. The refuge supports populations of elk as well as bison.

A bison lumbers to a hilltop amidst winter grass on the prairie of the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge northeast of McPherson, Kansas. The refuge supports populations of elk as well as bison.

Seirer _ 171211 _ 8500766.jpgSunflowers (Past Their Prime) In late summer, fields of sunflowers, with their bright yellow faces, have long drawn the attention of artists, Vincent Van Gogh famously among them. But when the weather turns cold, the sunflowers lose their allure as the leaves fall and the heads bow and blacken, creating starkness that's a bit eerie. This small field in northeastern Ellsworth County was left unharvested, perhaps as a treat for wildlife.

In late summer, fields of sunflowers, with their bright yellow faces, have long drawn the attention of artists, Vincent Van Gogh famously among them. But when the weather turns cold, the sunflowers lose their allure as the leaves fall and the heads bow and blacken, creating starkness that's a bit eerie. This small field in northeastern Ellsworth County was left unharvested, perhaps as a treat for wildlife.

Seirer_180203_8501028.jpgWeathering Winter Bison, their coats thick and luxuriant because of the cold winter, roam the prairie at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge north of Canton. The state-owned refuge of 2,800 acres maintains a 200-head bison herd, as well as elk.

Bison, their coats thick and luxuriant because of the cold winter, roam the prairie at the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge north of Canton. The state-owned refuge of 2,800 acres maintains a 200-head bison herd, as well as elk.

Seirer_180110_8500811.jpgA face of sandstone, showing the effects of centuries of erosion, juts from a hillside in a pasture near Kanopolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County.

A face of sandstone, showing the effects of centuries of erosion, juts from a hillside in a pasture near Kanopolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County.

Seirer_180110_8500908.jpgPrairie Mushroom A rock of Dakota sandstone, some 27 feet in diameter, is one of several formations in the aptly named Mushroom Rock State Park in eastern Ellsworth County. The formation, estimated at some 100 million years old, is what geologists call a concretion and was created through non-uniform erosion. The 5-acre park, just north of Kanopolis Reservoir, was given to the state more than a half-century ago. It's likely there are many more such features at the site. But they're still buried by soil.

A rock of Dakota sandstone, some 27 feet in diameter, is one of several formations in the aptly named Mushroom Rock State Park in eastern Ellsworth County. The formation, estimated at some 100 million years old, is what geologists call a concretion and was created through non-uniform erosion. The 5-acre park, just north of Kanopolis Reservoir, was given to the state more than a half-century ago. It's likely there are many more such features at the site. But they're still buried by soil.

Seirer_180110_8500885.jpgLast Light An outcropping of exposed sandstone rocks is illuminated by the last light of a winter day north of Kanopolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County.

An outcropping of exposed sandstone rocks is illuminated by the last light of a winter day north of Kanopolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County.

Seirer_171105_0211.jpgRock Solid The back wall of a long outbuilding, perhaps a milk shed, is made of loose-laid stone that has endured the decades quite well. This shed is on the property of John Siegrist, who claimed a Wabaunsee County homestead near Alma in the mid-1800s.

The back wall of a long outbuilding, perhaps a milk shed, is made of loose-laid stone that has endured the decades quite well. This shed is on the property of John Siegrist, who claimed a Wabaunsee County homestead near Alma in the mid-1800s. Limestone was a common building material in the settlement of the Flint Hills as it is abundant there and trees are not.

Seirer_171228_1010575.jpgMask, Reflections, Shadows The mysteries of a mask are amplified by reflections and shadows at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, where a show explaining a prominent influence in the artwork of Pablo Picasso is drawing large crowds. This mask is among many non-Western works displayed along with Picasso paintings and sculptures; together, they help viewers connect the artist with his sources of inspiration. In 1907, at the age of 25, Picasso became mesmerized with the “exotic” art he found at the Ethnographic Museum of the Trocadero in Paris. At left is a reflection of a video of that museum, which presented its treasures in a rather jumbled fashion. Picasso returned many times and also began a lifelong pursuit of collecting African, Oceanic and Meso-American artifacts. The exhibit, "Through the Eyes of Picasso," was first seen in Paris last year before coming to the Nelson, which is its only American venue. It will be on display here through April 8.

The mysteries of a mask are amplified by reflections and shadows at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, where a show explaining a prominent influence in the artwork of Pablo Picasso is drawing large crowds. This mask is among many non-Western works displayed along with Picasso paintings and sculptures; together, they help viewers connect the artist with his sources of inspiration. In 1907, at the age of 25, Picasso became mesmerized with the “exotic” art he found at the Ethnographic Museum of the Trocadero in Paris. At left is a reflection of a video of that museum, which presented its treasures in a rather jumbled fashion. Picasso returned many times and also began a lifelong pursuit of collecting African, Oceanic and Meso-American artifacts. The exhibit, "Through the Eyes of Picasso," was first seen in Paris last year before coming to the Nelson, which is its only American venue. It will be on display here through April 8.

Seirer _ 171211 _ 8500745.jpgStill Basking A setting sun has left much of this east-facing hillside pasture in shadow. But tall, roadside shrubs, leafless in December, have a height advantage that allows them to linger longer in brilliant sunlight. This scene is in northeastern Ellsworth County.

A setting sun has left much of this east-facing hillside pasture in shadow. But tall, roadside shrubs, leafless in December, have a height advantage that allows them to linger longer in brilliant sunlight. This scene is in northeastern Ellsworth County.