trees

Twin Arches- Defying Magnificence

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The beauty of life and exploring is that sometimes you can’t digitally capture what the eye sees. There are so many magnificent things to see in real life that just can’t be recreated. It’s easier to carry my camera in hand on hikes because I never know what will catch my eye, but there are times where I just don’t even attempt the photo for this reason. Twin Arches offered many of these opportunities to just enjoy what nature had to offer. This hike is located in Big South Fork and is part of the National Park service. Encompassing over 125, 000 acres in Tennessee and Kentucky, this area offers every type of recreation for those adventure seekers.

Knoxville’s 2023 Bonsai Society Show

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Knoxville Botanical Gardens hosted a bonsai show displaying over 50 specimens. Achieving a mature-looking bonsai can take 5-25 years that results in a visually captivating living piece of art. Years and often decades of dedication, patience, and skills are involved to cultivate these miniature trees.

Autumn Morning Hike

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Early morning, when the leaves are beginning to change and there is a cool breeze and an overcast sky, make the ideal conditions for my favorite time to hike. When I saw these Junipers, I knew that these photos would be my favorite. Hall Bend Loop is a 5-mile trek located near TVA’s Tellico Dam that meanders along the lake for a good portion. At some points along the trail, the buzzing sound of traffic fades and you feel as f you are miles deep in the woods.

Dreary Summer Day on the Dragon

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Tail of the Dragon- Calderwood Dam Overlook

I love when I come across photos that I have forgotten about and never posted! This was taken near the end of the summer in 2022. This is on the Tennessee side of the infamous Dragon at the Calderwood Dam Overlook. Bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this roadway is a motorcyclist’s and speed racer’s dream with 318 curves in 11 miles! Personally my favorites part is stopping for dinner at the Tapoco Tavern near the end of the highway on the North Carolina side. They truly have the best burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches. The outdoor patio has such a warm and inviting atmosphere with a nice view of the river running by (cell phone photo below. Peep the moon!)

The Completed Foothills Parkway

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I am so fortunate to love in the Great Smoky Mountains! The national park just completed one of the most beautiful parkways that Tennessee has to offer. The views this drive offers is absolutely amazing! Usually driving in the park, traffic gets jammed because there is a bear in sight. On this road, traffic stops for the unbelievable mountain views! The entrance to this section of the parkway is only 20 minutes from my home, so this is such a treat. I cannot wait for a cloudy day!

I am always trying to find new editing styles and I came across this vintage-y one to try on a nature shot. What do ya think??

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Vintage Smoky Mountains
Mountain Flare

Rain Over the Smokies

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      One of my favorite feelings is being on the TIP-TOP of a mountain. Specifically miles deep into the woods and up the ridges of these peaks. There is absolutely nothing like being on the tip-top crest, maybe 3 feet wide, and a view opposite of this.
Thankfully, I have a special spot close to home that gives me that “top of the world” feeling 🙂
Hidden behind the lush green, and deep down in the valley, is a view of Pigeon Forge to the left and Wears Valley Road travels all along the right.

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Impromptu Family Photo Session

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I was so glad that I got the inquiry for this impromptu family session! It was absolutely freezing, but these guys held it together like champs in this 25 degree weather. Being last minute, I was limited to scheduling, but Alecia was more than willing to work with my time and they were able to come to my place of work- Bluff Mountain Inn Wedding Venue.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your family vacation’s memories!
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Downtown Knoxville, TN

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Knoxville

Downtown · Sunsphere · Old City

Stars of Greenbrier and Henley Street

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Sometimes I will have a vision of a photo and sometimes it will take me years to grab it and sometimes it is something that I have to do right then and there. Night photography is becoming more and more of an interest for me, so now I am trying to expand a bit.
Last night the image of Greenbrier in the Great Smoky Mountains popped into my mind. This would probably be one of the most photographed areas in this section of the park. I set up my tripod at around 9 o’clock. Thank goodness being a hiker has provided me with awesome shoes because I had to stand in the water with the tripod to get that angle I was looking for. Let me tell you, 30 degrees in the Smoky Mountains is a lot warmer than 30 degrees a mile high in Boulder, CO. When I saw the back of my camera, I got so exceptionally excited!

The photo below of Knoxville, Tennessee’s Henley Street Bridge has been in my vision for at least 2 years. Can you believe that?? I walked by the spot and looked out and saw the view of Henley Street and thought that I would love to photograph from here. So about a week ago, I went for it!

stars, night, water, river, long exposure, great smoky mountains

Stars Over Greenbrier

Henley street, night, night photography, bridge, water, long exposure

Henley Street Bridge of Knoxville

Photo of the Month

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I love to travel and I was finally able to get off of the east coast and head out west to the beautiful Boulder, Colorado. This photo was taken on the road to the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory.  A short drive from town and passed a neighborhood, this area seems like it is in the middle of nowhere! I parked along the side of the road, hoping that no other cars would come by. I propped up my little tripod on the roof of my car and while getting my settings down, I could hear coyotes yelping in the not-too-far distance. Being alone in the dark on this alienesque road, my nerves got to me and all of the knowledge for a sharper image eluded me. I just felt like I needed to get out of there before being abducted by aliens or chased by coyotes!

The anxiety was worth it!

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