Smoky Mountains 2015 – Day 1

[singlepic id=1336 w=480 float=right] 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… Continue reading

Cable Grist Mill

[singlepic id=1323 w=480 float=left] 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 @… Continue reading

Ramsey Falls

[singlepic id=1321 h=480 float=left] 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… Continue reading

Salamander

[singlepic id=1299 w=480 float=left] 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… Continue reading

Lizard

[singlepic id=1297 w=480 float=left] 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… Continue reading

Ramsey Falls

[singlepic id=1294 w=480 float=left] 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… Continue reading