Color Landscapes

Clingmans Dome looking toward Fontana

A view from Clingmans Dome looking toward Fontana.

Storm Over the Blue Ridge

Took this Friday evening as I rode through several rain storms on my motorcycle. I love the contrast of the peaceful flowers in the foreground while a storm rages behind them. Yes, I got soaked on my way home.

iPad edit of Roanoke Nightscape

Quick iPad edit of Roanoke Nightscape taken tonight.

Sunset from Devils Courthouse

My son Clint and I took a hike at the end of February 2017 to the top of the Devils Courthouse, which is on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 422.4. It is a pretty short hike to the top from the parking lot. But it is almost all uphill, but so worth the effort. From the viewing area up top you almost have 360 views. But be careful to stay behind the rock wall. Besides the obvious danger of falling to your death, you could be fined $6,000 for going beyond the wall and or 3 years in prison. The primary reason for the fine and jail time is that this is a nesting ground for peregrine falcons, and if you scare off the adults they will abandon the nest along with any young. So have a heart and stay on the trail.

Lake Glenville at Dusk

In late February of 2017 I was driving down 107 near Lake Glenville located just North of Cashiers North Carolina. The sky was getting dark and I was struck by the beauty of the rock and sandy beach area that was exposed by the low water level and how it contrasted with the dark and colorful sky. I decided to stop and try to capture this beauty. It wasn't an easy feat and took multiple exposures to get the effect I was looking for. In the end I went with a lighter long exposure for the foreground and a shorter exposure to capture the beautiful colors of the evening sky.

Courthouse Creek Overlook Sunrise Fall 2016

The view from the Courthouse Creek Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway just west of Highway 215 at Sunrise on a beautiful but cold Fall morning. That white area isn't a lake but fog that is gathered in the mountain valley near Brevard, NC. What a great way to start the day!

Early Morning Delight on South Mills River Road

Last Friday 11-11-16 My son and I dropped my mom off at the Asheville Airport then took a ride up South Mills River Road and were met with an explosion of color as the sun came up and lite the remaining color up on the mountain side. I couldn't help but stop and take a photo. It was magical.

Sunset and Smoke 1

The view from the overlook at Caesars Head State Park on 11-13-16. The smoke from the nearby fire on Pinnacle Mountain was lying low in the valley below and creating a surreal scene for the few on lookers who braved the poor air quality and low temps. It was beautiful but also a somber thing to look out on as each of us knew that just a few miles away the forest was in the fight of it's life as the fires threatened woods and wildlife alike.

Sunset and Smoke 2

The view from the overlook at Caesars Head State Park on 11-13-16. The smoke from the nearby fire on Pinnacle Mountain was lying low in the valley below and creating a surreal scene for the few on lookers who braved the poor air quality and low temps. It was beautiful but also a somber thing to look out on as each of us knew that just a few miles away the forest was in the fight of it's life as the fires threatened woods and wildlife alike.

Falls Last Flash of Color on East Fork

Each day when I drive home I am greeted by the beautiful colors of the trees on each side of the East Fork of the French Broad River that runs along East Fork Road, close to my home. I am usually in too big of a hurry to get home from a long day to stop and take it all in. I realized today that if I didn't stop and take a few photos I would miss the colors so close to home for this year. A lot of the trees have already dropped their leaves. But as you can see a few still have some leaves left on them and the color is just spectacular, even if sparse.

Reflections of Lake Logan

I feel extremely fortunate to have caught these reflections in Lake Logan. I have stopped by this location on 215 several times and most of the time it is too windy or over cast to catch such a reflection. I am especially pleased to have caught it during the peak of the fall colors, which I will admit haven't been too nice this year. But none the less, I really did house the two sides of the lake were lit up with color and how the mountains, docks, and other elements were reflected in the water.

First Light from Courthouse Valley Overlook

The sunrise as seen from the Courthouse Valley Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Highway 215 is pretty special. Especially in the fall. The sun gives life to the colors of the trees in gradual shades for red, orange, green, and yellow. The colors are muted this time of the day but they aren't the real star. The star of the show is the sun itself. It gives warmth and reassurance that we get one more day to get it right.

Lower Cove Creek

Near the lower end of Cove Creek it is so narrow you can almost step across it in places. It is also a little harder to access as it is flanked on each side by laurel bushes. But if you try you can find some nice small falls on this creek where the elevation changes. Small falls like this one are made more beautiful because of he colorful leaves that decorate the rocks in and around the creek.

Cove Creek Falls

This narrow but long falls with many cascades is a real beauty tucked away on Cove Creek. The water level is pretty low but it is still very beautiful to see, and hear as it makes its way down the creek bed. Littered with colorful fresh fallen leaves and surrounded in the canopy above by the same. It is safe to say it is much more striking in person that I was able to capture in this image.

Cove Creek Vehicle Crossing

One of two crossing I came upon while hiking in Cove Creek today. There are pedestrian bridges for those that don't want to get wet. I love the reflection and the leaves in the water.

Cove Creek Eddy

A long exposure of an eddy pool on Cove Creek. The pool was filled with bright colored leaves and the long exposure makes for an interesting look at how the eddy can trap leaves and other objects in the pool of water.

Davidson River Meets Looking Glass Creek 10-17-2016

Some really nice color was found today where the Davidson River meets Looking Glass Creek in a deep slow moving pool of water. This pool gave some pretty nice reflections and made for a fun composition. I was glad I invested in a pair of chest waders today so I could get out deep enough to capture this scene.

Fall on the Linn Cove Viaduct 10-16-2016

The fall colors around the Linn Cove Viaduct at at their peak. The trees a bursting with vibrant color and so much so it makes capturing it a challenge because it looks so unbelievable. It is like viewing a painting made with the brightest colors and contrasts possible. It is much better in person that I can capture it. But if you are going to look at this site you better hurry. This time next week it will be too late.

Sunset at Unicoi Gap 10-8-2016

The Cherohala Skyway is a great stretch of road that connects Tennessee and North Carolina. This image was captured on October 8th 2016. This location was the Unicoi Gap overlook. It was my first trip on the Skyway but I hope not my last. If you get a chance I recommend you check out the 43 mile long scenic highway for yourself. No matter if you start in Robbinsville or Tellico Plains you are sure to enjoy this ride.

Fall on the Davidson River 10-12-2016

This has been a dry fall so far. The water levels are way down and the leaf colors that are usually nearing peak are very dull in some cases brown and dead already. But if you look hard enough you will find little pockets of color around our area. There is still beauty out there. This is a great time to get out and explore the forest and enjoy God's handy work.

The Fall Show Starts Soon

Shhh, my favorite fall show is about to start! Fall is one of my favorite times of year to be doing landscape photography. I am blessed to live in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is Yellow Face Overlook at milepost 450.2. This is only one of dozens of beautiful overlooks on the Blue Ridge Mountains. You don't actually see all of Yellow Face in this image as the top portion is to the upper right of this view and was cropped for composition. I will try to make my way back here before the fall colors peak. It will be interesting to see how the dry weather we have been having effects the colors this year and the peak time. Stay tuned more to come.

Farewell To Summer

On the last day of summer 2016 I took a walk along the Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest near the Daniel Ridge Trail. The line between summer and fall in this area is blurred just a bit by days that can start off cool , reach the upper nineties, and by sunset be down right chilly. I was fortunate to find this small little falls where some colorful leaves had found a perch on the rocks in the Davidson River. By now you can smell a change in the air, the days are growing shorter, and the foliage is already beginning to turn slowly. But summer held on pretty tight today and I even got caught in a summer like cloud burst just as I set up for this shot. It isn't all that surprising, as parts of the Pisgah National Forest is a natural rain forest. By the time you see this we will be officially in fall. I hope to come back to this very spot over and over again in the next several weeks and show you how this area makes the transition into glorious color that we get to enjoy for a few weeks at the beginning of fall.

Mannon Gore Bridge and Fox Creek

The Mannon Gore Bridge in Sunset Beach replaced the old pontoon bridge in 2010. The drive on Sunset Blvd is always special, but when the clouds and sky and grass are all so beautifully contrasting as they were this day it is extra beautiful. This is one of my favorite drives from the mainland across the ICW to the beach. Of course in this picture you are looking back toward the mainland.

Lake Jocassee From Jumping Off Rock 5-26-16

This spot is one I usually visit at sunset. It is a rugged 10+ mile dirt and gravel road to get here. It takes on an average travel time of 45 minutes once you leave the pavement to get here. But it is always worth the effort.

The Viaduct From Below

The Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a favorite subject of a lot of us landscape photographers. The lines are so interesting and this curved bridge has an appeal like no other. When you are on the road you actually feel like you are driving in the clouds. It feels a bit strange to be in the tree line as you drive. This bridge is a work of art. It is a destination in and of its self.

The Path Home Cataloochee 4-30-16

As I walked this path back past the houses that had been in this valley since 1903, to my truck, I wondered what it must have been like to live here over a hundred years ago, and just who had used these paths. Cataloochee does a great job of transporting you back in time. It is the ultimate time capsule.

Bordering Bird Island, NC

These houses on Sunset Beach in North Carolina have an amazing view of Bird Island, a large 1300 acre bird sanctuary that can be accessed and viewed from the beach. To read more about this area see the Wiki Article here: https://goo.gl/nf3YCT

Glen Cannon Falls, Glen Cannon Subdivision Brevard, NC

This waterfall is part of Williamson Creek and the water from it flows down through the golf course at Glen Cannon. It sits nestled behind one of the former holes of the Glen Cannon Golf Course