Clingmans Dome View

New Found Gap Sunset

Sweet White Trillium

Roaring Fork Fall

Moments before sunset on Clingmans Dome

Moments after sunset on Clingmans Dome

April Sunset from Clingmans Dome This is a south-facing view (toward NC) from the Clingmans Dome parking lot just as the sun was setting beside the mountains toward my right. My friend and I were attempting to photograph a colorful sunset, but one was not to be seen this night. Instead, we got to talking and I started to look around. I turned my attention toward the south and that's when I saw this shot. The the shade had just reached the foreground, which made this shot work rather well. I like the layering effect of the various shades of blue.

Frosty Spruces on Clingmans Dome It was late October 2006, my first ever trip to Clingmans Dome. In the past, I'd always seemed to arrive when the road was closed. Down in the Sugarland Valley, it was merely a cool and rainy gray day. But at the top of the mountain, it felt like a January blizard. Rocks seeped icicles instead of water. Evergreen needles were covered with an organized poweder of white: ice crystals or frost. This picture shows the mood. See below for a closer shot of frosty white spruce.

Large White Trillium I found these flowers along the Cove Hardwood nature trail near the Chimney Picnic ground. It was a rather sunny day, except for a few passing clouds. So I waited for a thin cloud to diffuse the sunlight before snapping the shutter. I needed a wider angle than my typical wildlflower lens, so I mounted my 24-85 zoom lens on to my Nikon D200 body.

Wild Ginger Flower I found this wild ginger plant while walking along the Cove Hardwood nature trail near the Chimney Picnic area. About 1/3 of the way into the trail, I saw a whole bunch of these plants on a hillside. From the downhill side of the patch, I was able to capture this shot using my D200 and 200 mm micro lens.

Little Brown Jugs Little Brown Jugs is a close relative of Wild GInger (to the left) but I had never before seen it until April 2007 when a friend pointed it out along the road to Greenbriar Trail. I returned to get this photograph the next morning when just a small hint of sun was peeking through the clouds. I used my Nikon D200 and 200 mm micro lens.

Frosty Spruce on Clingmans Dome It was late October, 2006, and I went to the top of Clingmans Dome. I knew it would be cloudy, windy and cold, but I had no idea how cold! The white spruce branches were beautiful thans to the frost formations along each needle-shaped leaf. I used my Nikon D70 and 200 mm micro lens, set on a tripod of course. It was extremely windy, so I had to wait for a lull before snapping the shutter.

Fall Color Along River Road It was late October 2005, my first fall trip to the Smokies. On this bright and sunny fall day, my photo opportunity was limited due to the large amount of contrast in the light. I found this shot in the woods along River Road, just a few miles west of the trail head to Laurel Falls. Having gotten a late start that morning, this was one of very few scenic shots I got that day.

Fall View from Foothills Parkway It was late October 2005, and I was on my way home from my first fall trip to the Smokies. I drove along the Foothills Parkway and stopped to get this shot looking into the valley nearby and also glimpsing the Smokies in the distance. It was a beautiful day. I could have spent hours just sitting there.

Stream Along Newfound Gap Road It was late October, 2006, and I went to the top of Clingmans Dome. I knew it would be cloudy, windy and cold, but I had no idea how cold! The white spruce branches were beautiful thans to the frost formations along each needle-shaped leaf. I used my Nikon D70 and 200 mm micro lens, set on a tripod of course. It was extremely windy, so I had to wait for a lull before snapping the shutter.

Dutchman's Breeches Dutchman's Breeches is one of many wildflowers that bloom in the Smoky Mountains each spring. I found this beautiful plant on the Cove Forest nature trail near the Chimney Picnic area on New Found Gap Road. I got this shot using my D200 and 200 mm micro lens, mounted on a Gitzo tripod using a "Really Right Stuff" ball head. If you look carefully at the most distant flower, you can see that it has passed its prime and is starting to wither.

Roaring Fork It was March 2007. I happend to arrive the day that the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail was opened for the season. It was an exciting surprise, because I expected the road to be closed. I stopped about 3/4 of the way into the drive so that I could get this shot off of one of the many narrow bridges that cross the stream. I had to work quickly since there was some traffic and there was not enough room on the bridge for me and the cars.