[singlepic id=1409 w=480 float=left] The Mt. Laconte Lodge at, you can probably guess, the top of Mt. Laconte. You can rent cabins there for an overnight stay at the top of the mountain, which, with a little additional planning can be made into a small through hike with light packs… Continue reading
[singlepic id=1378 w=480 float=left] A random sculpture from around the Grand Rapids area – this one is in the park along the Thornapple River right below the upper dam seen in the background. I don’t know the significance of the two characters sitting on the fish-log. Picture taken with Sony… Continue reading
[singlepic id=1377 w=480 float=left] Mark has some nice flowers in his front yard and it had just rained (this was a few weeks ago before tulips were gone for the year). Sometime I like having pictures with the subject in a corner, particularly if I’m trying to use it for… Continue reading
[singlepic id=1376 w=480 float=left] I got off the water just in time to avoid the lightning, but the clouds were pretty cool looking so I lurked around the park just under the upper Thornapple River dam to take some pictures. Picture taken with Sony a6000, SEL 18-200mm lens @ 18mm,… Continue reading
[singlepic id=1375 w=480 float=left] I call this the proof of sighting picture – it’s not really good at ISO 3200 and still a slower shutter – but we saw our bear. It wasn’t until our last day, and completely by chance that we saw a black bear along the road… Continue reading
[singlepic id=1373 w=480 float=left] Took an evening to experiment with moonrise photography and took this one of the moonrise over Reed’s Lake in East Grand Rapids. I think the key to moon photography is having a clear view of something interesting but far away to make a foreground. I only… Continue reading
[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
[singlepic id=1329 h=480 float=left] The trail up to the Chimneys in the Smoky Mountains. There is supposedly a gorgeous panoramic view at the top. It was white for 360 degrees, but we kind of anticipated that given the fog on the trail which was pretty cool in and of itself…. Continue reading
[singlepic id=1328 w=480 float=left] The rare, and much sought after, Stinking Benjamin! A red variety of trillium that we were keeping an eye out for the entire trip. From Wikipedia: “The flowers have the smell of rotting meat, as they are pollinated by flies.” Picture taken with Sony a6000, SEL… Continue reading
[singlepic id=1326 w=480 float=left] Here’s a creepy crawly (millipede) that we came across because, when you’re in the woods and you see a bug, you aught photograph that bug. Found on the trail to Rainbow Falls. Picture taken with Sony a6000, SEL 18-200mm lens @165mm, 1/60 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1600