Landscape to Portrait

While Shooting landscapes in the Deep Creek area of GSMNP.  We attracted a fair amount of attention and had plenty of pleasant conversations with a number of passersby, including this couple, who asked me to take a their picture with his iPhone.  The iPhone picture was made just around the bend you see on the right side of this image, on their way up to see one of the local waterfalls.  A short time later they re-emerged  on their way back, we obviously hadn't gotten much further up the trail.  As they stopped to talk again she burst out that they were now engaged.  He had planned on having a photographer with them to capture the moment as he proposed to her at the waterfall, but the cold, icy, day kept the photographer from their appointment.  At that moment they asked if I would take their picture.  I of course agreed and removed my camera from the tripod, tried to quickly change all my settings from landscape mode to portrait mode, made of couple of quick test shots, chimped the results made a couple of adjustments and ended up with this image.

Cheers,

Mark

Welcome, Rocky Fork Tennessee, to Conservation

Welcome, Rocky Fork Tennessee to conservation

As many of you know this is one of my favorite places to visit.  I was first introduced to the area as a member of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy http://www.appalachian.org during one their scheduled hikes.  That day the weather unruly and flash flood warnings were in effect so the hike was a short walk and brief history of the area lead and presented by SAHC board member David Ramsey.

After hearing that  the final step in the conservation process was complete, I was again motivated to return.  I set out alone just after 6am and aside from one hunter who was "taking his rifle for a walk" I remained the only one in the area.

It was close to 30 degrees in the valley around the river, but much warmer with bright blue skies along the open ridge.  I spent the morning photographing some of my favorite spots and also explored new areas.  The light throughout the morning was quite magical and while some rays of light were better experienced than captured, there were plenty of wonderful photo opportunities.

Along with the recent conservation of approximately 10,000 acres, about 2,000 acres will be dedicated to the Tennessee State Park system making this Tenn. 55th State Park.

Additional information about the area can be found here http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/LWCF/web-2012/3_Rocky_Fork.pdf

Cheers,

Mark