An online journal sharing my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, spirituality and asking deep questions.
This is an image taken back in 2003 on Foothills Parkway during a week long trip to Smoky Mountains. It was my first experience visiting the park. I loved the park and am surprised I’ve not returned. It was a memorable trip in that I dropped and broke a Nikon 80-400mm VR lens so I spent the last three days shooting with my longest focal length of 85mm.
“All you can work on today is directly in front of you. Your job is to develop an imagination of the possible.”
Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland
While on a trip to the Smoky Mountains I dropped and broke my Nikon 80-400mm VR lens, a $1400 loss. Ouch! Needles to say I spent the last 3 days of our 7 day trip with nothing but two other Nikon lens, a 16-35mm and 24-85mm. Now my longest focal range dropped from 400mm to 85mm, what was I going to shoot?
The first morning we were able to shoot in Cades Cove we were met with fog, wonderful fog. Along with the fog comes the heaviness of the morning dew, so needles to say we were pretty wet by the time we returned to the hotel. I noticed a barb wire fence covered with dew near the Tipton Place and wandered over to have a look-see. I discovered this grasshopper hanging upside down and patiently waiting for the morning sun to dry his body for the days activities. Since the 24-85mm also had macro capabilities it worked great for me to get some nice images. The fog was burning off and you can see the sun approaching in the background. This image was one of my first attempts at macro photography and spurred the purchase a nice macro lens. So, I ended up working on what was in front of me.
Earl’s been posting images of the Smoky Mountains and stirring up some fond memories of a trip I took back in October of 2003 with fellow photographer Jeff Svoboda. Jeff and I spent a week shooting early mornings and late afternoons. My first experience in the park, loved it and hope it was not my last one. What a great place to experience. As I’ve been cleaning things up on my hard drive I’ve also been finding images I’ve forgotten about. Here’s a morning sunrise from Foothills Parkway: First light.
Housing sure has changed over the years. The houses I was raised in was so different than what I raised my family in and their houses are different also. We can go back each generation and see the changes in houses. A smile comes across my face as I look at this image of Jim Bales place in the Great Smoky Mountains. Probably too small for most Americans way of living: no running water or electricity, therefore no microwave, TV, desk lamp, hot water or crapper. Probably would stay on the market too long. And, where’s the 3-car garage?
I’ve found searching our archives to be a good learning experience to touchup a few of these images using the tools and experience we have learned over the past. In October of 2003 a friend and fellow photographer, Jeff Svoboda, and I made a week long trip to the Smoky Mountains. He had been there before and knew where to go and where to stay. If you have never visited the Smoky Mountains I suggest you put it on your list of places to visit. Taken along Foothills Parkway.