It's only fitting that the Kansas Land Trust's flagship protected property, Akin Prairie, is also the place where Bruce Hogle discovered KLT.  

Bruce, a lifelong hobby photographer from Leawood, first visited Akin Prairie in 2013 after a friend suggested it as a great place to photograph wildflowers. While there, Bruce noticed the plaque indicating that the prairie was permanently protected by the Kansas Land Trust.  

"I went home, looked it up online, liked what I saw, and joined," Bruce said. 

Looking to get more involved, Bruce offered to take photos of KLT easements to share with the organization. Ten years and hundreds of photos later, Bruce's images are a regular sight throughout KLT's website, social media, and promotional material. 
 
“It’s a win-win situation for me. I get to do something I love, and then the Kansas Land Trust gets photos that they can use however they want," Bruce said. 

In addition to being a resource for spectacular images, Bruce donates regularly to KLT and is one of the matching donors for the KLT end-of-year campaign. 

Bruce says, “I’m fortunate to be able to contribute to the 2023 year-end fundraising campaign.  It’s my way of paying it forward, as the saying goes.  I believe in and firmly support conservation and the KLT mission.” 
 
Having spent time on Kansas landscapes in all seasons, Bruce said he can't pick an absolute favorite time of year to shoot.  

He loves the spring, especially the one-to-two weeks after a fresh planned burn. This is when the new grass, a brilliant shade of green, starts to grow back but is still short enough that one can see the ash-covered earth and the rocks that give the Flint Hills their name.  

Summer is interesting, Bruce said, because one can watch the cycle of wildflowers that bloom and then fade as the weeks roll by.  

Fall, when the prairie grasses are turning to golds and reds, is photogenic in a distinct way, and when winter snow covers the landscape, there is yet another fresh look for the eye to take in. 
 
"I see prairie and countryside that you can’t see from the road, which gives me a chance to photograph places that almost no one else has," Bruce said. "I’d rather explore those places than Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, or any other of the many vistas that literally millions of others have photographed. It's really rewarding for me as a photographer to capture something unique." 

“I hope my images of easements may inspire a viewer to find out more about the KLT and its mission, and then consider supporting in their way. “

The Kansas Land Trust thanks Bruce for his generosity and willingness to share the fruits of his talent! 
 
Below are some of Bruce's favorite images from protected Kansas lands accompanied by comments from Bruce. Enjoy!