Category Archives: Photo Blog

There is still a little snow in the higher elevations

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I know we did. We closed the store so Lois and I actually got to spend a day together. Of course we had lots of company but we had a really good time.

I waited until the snow cleared out on Tuesday, then hiked up to Hen Wallow Falls from the Cosby campground. There was about an inch of snow in that area, but little flow over the falls and very little ice. Not quite that cold yet down lower. Mt Leconte and Mt Guyat got a pretty good coating, but 441 was closed in the morning so I didn’t drive into Gatlinburg. Unfortunately starting hikes further up in the hills is becoming more difficult since many of the seasonal road closures are in effect. Looks like I will have to start doing longer treks with the equipment to get the shots I’m looking for. We have been a little warmer the last couple days so the snow is disappearing at a pretty good rate. We’ll have to see what next week brings.
Bc

After a rainy day in Gatlinburg

Today doesn’t look too bad. The sun is out for now although the clouds are building. 441 over Newfound Gap is currently closed. They are getting ice and snow there along with Mt Leconte. The hourly forcast shows the snow as starting to taper off around 4pm and is a 40 to 60% chance from 4p to midnight. Accumlation is expected to be less than an inch, so it is tough to tell when the road will reopen.

There are a few people walking around today. Yesterday was extremely slow, with a drizzle all day long.

I did finally complete moving the studio at home, which with the Art and craft show Saturday has kept me from shooting this week. I’ll be in the shop for the next 2 days, and family in town for the holiday so it will be next week before I’m back out there. Better get long the johns warmed up. Even if I start in the lower elevations in 40 degree weather I can end up in the 20’s in the higher elevations. So its shooting in winter mode from here on out. Keep the batteries warm!

The Art and Craft Guild of the Smokies had a show in Newport on Saturday. A bit on the slow side but it gave me chance to talk with some of the other members see what kind of work they do. They have a pretty broad range, which is nice.

Still working on finding a good HDR program to work with. I haven’t been too happy with the results I’ve gotten in Photoshop. I’m playing around with photomatix to see if I like it, and an article in Outdoor Photography had a reccomendation for another one. I’m pretty picky about it. I’m trying to get one that will let me relatively easily combine the images for as realistic effect as possible. I’m working more with composite images now, so when I combine the HDR with composites I’m looking at anywhere from 9 to 15 images to make a print, sometimes more, so the processing can be extensive, especially when the post HDR processing has to match for each of the composite images to give a natural effect. It is pretty interesting though. I feel like I am just scratching the top of what I can do to move in new directions.

That’s all for now.

Bc

More snow today at higher elevations

Mt Leconte received a couple inches according to the NWS page, about 1 inch at Newfound Gap, and an inch is being reported at Cades Cove. 441 over the mountains is currently closed. Clingmans Dome, and the Cataloochee entrace road are also closed at the moment. Seasonal road closings have begun as well. Most of the snow looks like it is currently falling around the West end of the park and the Cherokee/Pisgah Natl forests. We had a lite dusting in the Cherokee foothills. Traces are also reported at Sugarlands and Oconaluftee.

I’m stuck moving the studio from the off the garage into one of the bedrooms so I can’t get out to do some shooting today. My camera is feeling neglected. So are my hiking boots. We had someone in the shop the other day who had hiked up to Ramsey’s Cascade and said the waterfall was partially frozen, and looked gorgeous. I may try to get up there early next week if the weather stays cold.

I have a show tomorrow at the Westend Baptist Church in Newport. It is put on by the Art and Craft Guild of the Smokies, so no shooting tomorrow either.

November 19, 2008


There’s snow in dem der hills!

Actually quite a bit has disappeared. Newfound Gap road was closed a large part of last Saturday, but was open again on Sunday morning. Shamed to say I did not get out. I have been busy this week, and was going to go today, but have decided to move the office closer to the center of the house. Yesterdays report showed 7 inches on the ground on Mt Leconte, and 4 inches at Newfoud Gap. I have heard rumours of snow on Thursday, so we will see.

This is from the last snow in late October.

A late October Icing on Leconte

A nice change of pace but didn’t quite get the fall/winter contrast I was looking for. I couldn’t get up the road until later so I didn’t get a chance to do any hiking that day. Oh well, its early, there should be more to come.

Bc