Smoky Mountains Day 1 itinerary: 9:30pm (CT) – depart Chicago (Midlothian) Drove through the night 8:30am – arrive in the Smoky Mountains Stopped at Sugarlands visitor center Headed to Ramsey Falls (+ coffee) 10:20 – started hike 12:15 – arrived at the fall 1:15 – start descent 3:30 – return… Continue reading
The historic Cable Grist Mill in Cades Cove. Took many, many pictures trying to decide just how I wanted the wheel to look. It wasn’t spinning when we first arrived, but an attendant came and enabled it. Pictures taken with Canon 60D, EF-S 10-22mm lens @ 11mm, 15 sec, f/16,… Continue reading
A second picture of Ramsey Falls – this one maybe more ‘interesting’ than particularly good. I had read about a technique of compiling multiple pictures to gain the effect of using a ND filter and slow shutter. This was the outcome of 21 pictures, all taken at 1/250 shutter and… Continue reading
Alum Caves Trail to Mt. LaConte. This was very near the top of the trail, most of the way was not so consistently treed. Picture taken with Sony a6000, SEL 18-200mm @ 46mm, 1/15 sec, f/11, ISO 200
To redeem myself for yesterday’s mistake, this was the first only salamander we saw on the trip. Saw it hanging out in a little trickle of a stream crossing the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte. Picture taken with Sony a6000, SEL 18-200mm @ 39mm, 1/30 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This was the first salamander lizard we saw on the trip. Apparently there are something like 30 types of salamander in the Smoky Mountains. Camera didn’t like trying to focus on the face in this one, so it breaks the one rule of animal photography and doesn’t have the eye… Continue reading
A shot of some Dwarf Crested Irises that were lining the trail to Ramsey Falls. We were a little early for most wildflowers, but these guys were out. Picture taken with Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm @ 135mm, 1/60 sec, f/8, ISO 100
This is the first log bridge on the Ramsey Falls Trail. I found this bridge to be a bit questionable crossing, but I made it. I’m pretty sure this picture was taken handheld, which is ill advised for a 1 second exposure, but one out of seven or so was… Continue reading
I actually packed my set of neutral density filters just so I could try slowing down the shutter enough to get the softer look to the water. Unfortunately, that also means little details like leaves on tress might be blurred. Probably a good time to take two shots and merge… Continue reading