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!