Spring in the Smoky Mountains

Been very busy these last few weeks, which has slowed me down on my own work. A trip to beautiful Cades Cove, TN a couple of weeks ago garnered much photographic fruit. The “tree” was full of a harvest of wonderful images to be captured, but when is there ever a time in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and especially Cades Cove, that there isn’t a great phot-opportunity? I know, crazy right?!? So with that in mind, I could share a dozen or so images from the day, but then that would make me have to choose, so if I’m going to have to do it, it would be easier to choose just one. So this is where I’ll leave you, on the road in to Cades Cove, Laurel Springs road, as the sun was beginning to break through the dense morning fog, we rounded a corner and this is the glorious sight we saw.

Morning Has Broken

On a final thought, I leave you with this. If you’ve never been to Cades Cove in the GSMNP, I urge you to go. Also, get there EARLY. The gate is open at sunrise, and that is when the dance between mother nature and humans begin. You will not be sorry, this is the one thing I can say with 100% certainty. Get out there and explore it!

Mr. and Mrs. John Evans

Here is a look at my most recent event, a wedding at Castle Ladyhawke in Tuckasegee, NC. Thank you John and Christina, wishing you all the best on your journey together!

If you’re planning a wedding and need a photographer, please give me a call at 828.371.7801 or email me at tmi-imaging@morrisbb.net

Make all of your moments, Timeless Moments.

Eric

It’s Been A While

Well, it honestly has been almost a month since my last entry. I need to do more, to get my work out and build my “foot print”. I’ve never been a very good self-promoter. I try to rely too much on my end product and not so much on the pushy part of actually selling ME and my work. I’m trying though. Facebook has been a challenge, I’m sure other blog-tographers would agree. We want to share our work with the world, hoping it gets noticed and that somehow we’ll be that much closer to our goal. What’s my goal? Am I even sure? I know this, I love to take pictures. Always have. Now, I am looking to actually share my love of photography with others.

The Tower – Castle Ladyhawke

The Wolfe Family photo session

Soco Falls, Cherokee NC

Signs of Spring

Dillsboro, NC

My “Lab”

Experimental Fruit

Franklin, NC

My Jeep in the snow

03-06-13

03-11-13

Autumn’s Approaching

Living in Western North Carolina, the seasons have begun to shift from Summer to Fall. This is one of my favorite four seasons, ok, there are only four, but I love them all! The colors of Fall are what bring many visitors to my part of the country. With easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, there are a bevy of things to do and see. The town I live in, Franklin, NC, is also a gateway town of the Appalachian Trail. Recently I spent a couple days over in Cades Cove, TN. It is an old settlement that has been preserved by the GSMNP. There are numerous old homes, barns and buildings to see and tour. Cades Cove is an extremely popular place to go, I’ve met people along the 11 mile loop road from places as far away as Ohio, Michigan and California. I will be posting a short series of images from my time at Cades Cove in the coming days, I hope you enjoy them. If you’d like to read more information about Cades Cove, The Great Smoky Mountain National Park or the Blue Ridge Parkway check out all the links from your favorite search engine. I could post a hundred different links and still not cover all of the things to do. Let me know what you think, leave a comment if you’d like!

You can view more of my images of Western North Carolina, The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway and some of my other favorite images at: http://www.facebook.com/tmi.imaging leave me a quick hello and let me know you linked off of my blog. Thank you!

Mingo Falls – Cherokee, NC

Mingo Falls in just outside Cherokee, NC and is one of the most unique waterfalls in western North Carolina. Height reports vary from 120 feet to 200 feet tall, but all this photographer knows is that it is beautiful. When you arrive at the parking area, you are greeted with stairs, ascending up and bending out of site. It seems, at first, like you could walk for a long time, but within 10 minutes, you hear the loud rushing water. As you round the final corner, you see a foot bridge. To a first time visitor, it isn’t until you step up onto the bridge and look left, that the size and up close view hits you. You’re withing feet of this magnificent site! There is a scramble trail to the left of the fall, up to the top, although I have yet to attempt it. Regardless of your climbing skills, Mingo Falls is a secluded gem that you must get out to see if you’re in the Cherokee, NC area. Take Big Cove Road (right turn off Hwy441 W) as you head toward the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The one road sign that is up is very difficult to see, but it’s a right turn off of Big Cove Rd. Drive straight about 500 feet and park.

Into the river

A lot of times, landscape photographers get caught up in the “Big Picture”, the broad view, the wide and sweeping dramatic shots. Most of the time, that’s exactly what landscape photography is. However, there are places where I like to get down close and get intimate with my subjects. Other times, as was the case with this shot, I don’t have much of a choice! I am a forgetful person at times, and on this evening, I didn’t have my tripod. So, that said, if I wanted any long exposure shots of this gentle cascade, I had to improvise. Very simple – set your camera down on some STABLE rocks, adapt your settings for your desired look, set the automatic timer and press the shutter. This shot was taken along the Tuckasegee River the other night on my way home from a long day in Asheville. I had spent the day with my wife, Sonya, and we had done some “urban exploration” while experiencing Bele Chere for the first time. As we passed through Dillsboro, NC on our way home, the sun was in perfect position to get some long exposure shots of the river. Enjoy!

Bridal Veil Falls, NC

Nestled along Hwy 64 between Franklin, NC and Highlands, NC – Bridal Veil Falls is unique in that, you can park and walk under it OR if you’re wanting a nice scenic shot of your vehicle under a nice waterfall, you can park under it too! If you’re driving to Franklin from Highlands, Bridal Veil is the first waterfalls you will come upon. If you happen to be visiting in winter, the road is blocked for safety reasons. Side note, I was under this waterfall photographing some great icicles one winter standing near a young lady also photographing. We heard the cracking and popping of ice, by the time we realized what was happening, SLAM! A four foot long chunk of ice had crashed within 10 feet of us. Scary stuff, we were fortunate. SO, stop by and have a look, just be aware of your surroundings. There is also a hidden scramble trail that will take you up to the top for an even more unique view.