Photo of the Week - Go with the Flow

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Fair warning.  I won’t post for a while. My life will be topsy-turvy, and maintenance of this blog is way down on the priority list. I’ll go with the flow…

Best wishes.

Photo of the Week - Union Station Hotel Architectural Details

Union Station Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee

The Union Station in Nashville was built and used in an era when train travel was elegant and passengers worn their Sunday best clothes. Construction of the station began in 1898 and completed in 1900. Structural elements include Victorian and Gothic designs. My photo above features architectural details at one end of the atrium, including a gold-leaf medallion.

The facility closed in 1969 and went through a long period of abandonment. It was finally converted to a luxury boutique hotel in 1986, and further renovated and rededicated in 2007. Marriott proudly lists this property as an Autograph Collection Hotel. The accommodations here are too pricey for my budget. However, I was able to photograph the interior briefly during a photography workshop in 2015.

Photo of the Week - Stained Glass Ceiling

Union Station Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee

Instead of featuring a landscape or a critter this week, how about something a little different? I love to photograph beautiful architecture too! This image shows a detail of an exquisite stained glass ceiling.

Photo of the Week - Eagle Spirit

Teton Raptor Center, Jackson, Wyoming

As we start a new chapter in our beloved Nations's history, I thought that an eagle portrait should be featured this week!

Photo of the Week - Morning Light at Oxbow Bend

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

As we brace ourselves for a winter filled with cold temperatures, snow, and ice, we hold tight to the vision and promise of the spring season.

Photo of the Week - Old Stone Bridge at Elkmont

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

After living in east Tennessee for 36 years and numerous trips to the Smokies, I had never visited the Elkmont area within the park. The oversight was rectified this past October. One of the highlights is an old stone bridge over the Little River near the campground. I will definitely go back to explore the area further!

I failed to post a photo last Wednesday, thanks to a computer software malfunction. All is well now. To make up for my absence, here is a painterly version of the photo too.

I'll let you decide which one you like best!

Christmas Blessings

St. Matthew’s Church, Kalispell, Montana

I featured this photo several years ago and decided to share again. It was taken in broad daylight, but I added a starry sky background for artistic expression.

Photo of the Week - Autumn Ballet of Water and Light

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

I was doing some landscape photography with a Chattanooga friend one morning in late October. The light was starting to peek over a mountain ridge at this one spot along Upper Tremont Road. We had to set up and shoot fast to capture soft diffused light on the water. I noticed a beautiful green reflection on the background stream, thanks to the rising sun. I took a couple of clicks, and then the reflected and the soft shadow lights were gone. Conditions can change quickly in the mountains, so you have to chase the light!

Photo of the Week - Gentle Creek Flow

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

I have a basic step-by-step system for editing an image. But one of the variables is the crop. I usually leave the photo as it was shot. Sometimes, I will do a panoramic crop to emphasize the subject matter. And every now and then, a square crop tells the best story.

For those who wonder, I’m doing okay. My heart is not into blogging and chattering about this and that. My weekly photos will have to suffice, and I continue to post them for your enjoyment.

Priorities remain vastly different than they use to be in the past. I’m not the same person that I was a couple of years ago. For example, this is no longer my favorite time of the year. It is simply a time to endure. I count my blessings and carry on.

Photo of the Week - Elkmont Troll Bridge

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

I have visited the park many times over the years, but I had never explored the abandoned Elkmont area. That omission was remedied during my late October trip. Among the many historical treasures is this charming little bridge. It has been commonly referred to as a troll bridge, but I think it would be quite suitable for a hobbit on an adventure. Now that I know where it is located, I’d love to go back and photograph it during the spring season.

P.S. I’m happy to report that the Noah “Bud” Ogle cabin featured in my photo last week survived the fire. I saw pictures on Facebook that showed charred trees nearby, but the cabin and its little outbuilding looked just fine!

Photo of the Week - Noah "Bud" Ogle Cabin in Spring

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

It was bittersweet to visit this cabin and photograph it with Pris, my sister-in-law, this past April. My husband and I visited had a memorable photo shoot here not long after we met. That was way back in the ancient film days, many decades ago. Per a Facebook post, this cabin may be gone as a result of devastating wildfires in the Smokies and the Gatlinburg area. So far, I haven’t been able to confirm its status from a news source.

The impacts on historical structures and park acreage are very sad. But the impacts on human lives are even more so. Heartbreaking stories are now unfolding. Lives, homes, businesses, and jobs have been lost. Please pray for the people of east Tennessee and help if you so feel inclined.

Photo of the Week - Mountain Water Beauty

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Can you stand looking at another autumn stream shot from the Smokies? I didn’t take many photos on my recent trip due to a deteriorating and painful right knee. However, I got out in the field a couple of times to test out my new Fuji X-T2. Here is a fine example of the camera's quality. Sweet!  

After working with the X-T1 for the past year and a half, it was a breeze to transition to the new model and start shooting right away. I am completely sold on the Fuji mirrorless cameras and lenses!  The X-T2 will now serve as my primary camera, and the X-T1 will be used as a backup.

Photography Print Competition Results

I thoroughly enjoyed the first Great Smoky Mountains Photography Summit last year and made many dear friends. So it wasn’t a difficult choice to go again this year. It is held in nearby Townsend, Tennessee. The summit gathers together some of the best nature and wildlife photographers and instructors in the country. There are five days of shooting, instruction, critique, camaraderie, and a print competition.

Due to travel time constraints, I didn’t enter the print competition last year. This year I entered all six categories: macro; mobile photography; black and white; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes; flora and fauna. Below were my choices for 16” x 20” prints.

Photo of the Week - Dawn Break at Oxbow Bend

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Once again, I’m going to post and run. I’m sorry, but free time is rare in my life. I sure could use a personal assistant! I have late-breaking news to tell, but that will have to wait for a couple of days. Go ahead and sit on the edge of those seats…

In the meantime, please enjoy this black and white rendition of beautiful Mount Moran, as seen at Oxbow Bend of the Snake River. I have been bombarding you with very colorful Smokies images for several weeks. So it is time to mix things up a bit and celebrate simplicity.  As always, click on the image to see it bigger!

Photo of the Week - Fall Day at Lynn Camp Prong

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Photo of the Week - Traveling the Country Road

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

In the rush and busyness of everyday life, please don’t let this autumn season pass you by. Get out there and enjoy the beauty!

Photo of the Week - Autumn Forest Whispers

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Nature is dressing up and putting on a show this month. The forests are calling my name...

Photo of the Week - Forest Serenity

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

This photo was taken last year, and it serves as a reminder why October is one of my favorite months. Color changes are already starting here in east Tennessee. I’m charging up the camera batteries and preparing my camera equipment. Goodbye summer, hello autumn!

Photo of the Week - Waterfall Along the Little River

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Now, doesn’t this scene make you want to dip your toes in a mountain stream for a while and enjoy an autumn day in the Smokies? The beautiful fall season is right around the corner, and it can’t come soon enough for me!

Photo of the Week - Tranquility Along the Stream

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Tranquility in nature is an abundant gift. Immersed within the stillness and beauty, complexities of the world are stripped away. Life is simplified. Priorities are rearranged. Worries are diminished. Whispers from God are heard. Hearts are healed. Blessings are counted.