Layered Pano

Layered Pano.

I love the layers of the mountains here in the south. This image was from our recent session at Clingman’s Dome with the Out of the Great Smokys and Out of Chicago. This is a 5 image panoramic to show more of the scene. For this image I used my Tamron 150-500mm Di III VC VXD lens on the Sony a1, Manual Mode, f6.7, shutter speed of 1/200th of a second, ISO 100, tripod, Acratech Panoramic head and leveling base. #withmytamronmirrorless #withmytamron #tamron #tamronlenses #tamroncreates #TamronLensesUSA #TamronImageMaster #tamron150500 #BearWoodsPhotography #nature #naturephotography #sunset #epicsunset #clingmansdome #gsmnp #tennessee #outofchicago

Hyatt Lane

Hyatt Lane.

It is going to take me weeks to finish processing all the images from St. Augustine and the Smokys, but I will do my best to post as many as I can. In the Smokys the Out of Chicago team housed all of the instructors in Tiny Homes, and it was really awesome. It was my first experience in a Tiny Home and I really loved it. The attendees at the event were fantastic, and it was such an honor to be teaching beside some of the best in the nature photography industry. I look forward to the next event with them! This image was from Thursday morning when we took our group to Hyatt Lane in Cades Cove. The conditions were really perfect. I used my Tamron 35-150mm f2-2.8 Di III VXD lens on a Sony a1, Manual Mode, f16, shutter speed of 1/5th of a second, ISO 100, tripod, Acratech Panoramic Head and leveling base. #withmytamronmirrorless #withmytamron #tamroncreates #TamronLensesUSA #tamron35150 #TamronImageMaster #zoomlens #BearWoodsPhotography #acratech #gsmnp #smokymountains #outofchicago #cadescove #hyattlane

The bridge at the end of the road

The bridge at the end of the road.
I have so many images from the Great Smoky Mountains that I haven’t shared yet, so you may see a few over the next few weeks. This image was made from the bridge at the end of the road in Tremont. It was fairly bright outside, but cloudy, so I used a 5 stop Neutral Density/Circular Polarizer combination to slow the water down. The greens in April are so amazing, I think I like it better in spring than in fall, at least it would be a toss up.
Tamron 17-70mm Di III-A VC RXD lens on a Sony a6600, Manual Exposure mode, f22, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/4 of a second, Sirui tripod, Acratech Panoramic head and leveling base, H&Y K series CPL, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #withmytamronmirrorless, #tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron1770, #tamronglobal, #Acratech, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops

Patterns

Patterns.
When we visited the Tremont area at the end of the road, we started walking along the Middle Prong talking about compositions. I explained I look for shapes vs elements when I compose an image in my mind. Here I saw how the tree repeated the pattern of the rocks below and flowed like the river below it. Slowing down the exposure helps to create the line of the water. The little water in front of me helps to lead the viewer’s vision into the frame as well. I tried to point out, find a subject see its shape, then find other shapes and then see if those shapes are elements that can offer visual flow and interest into the image.
Tamron 17-70mm Di III-A VC RXD lens on a Sony a6600, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1.6 seconds, Sirui tripod, Acratech Panoramic head and leveling base, H&Y K series CPL, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #withmytamronmirrorless, #tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron1770, #tamronglobal, #Acratech, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops

The Curve on Tremont

The Curve on Tremont.
I have been photographing the Smoky Mountains area for 40 years or so, and one area that has always been one of my favorite areas is along the Tremont Road. I have one place I stop almost every time, I call it “the curve”. It is an area that you can get low to the water and capture images, or you can photograph it from the road. This image was made one morning when our group ventured out in the rain. Rain is a great time to photograph moving water since the contrast of light is so low, and using a circular polarizer makes the saturation pop. I was so proud of the group standing out there getting soaked, but I know the images were worth it for them. We decided at that point though, they had braved the elements enough and we decided to drive through Cades Cove instead. I think standing out there everyone learned how adverse conditions can make for great images. One tough group!
Tamron 17-28mm Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 100, shutter speed of 2 seconds, Sirui tripod, Acratech Panoramic head and leveling base, H&Y K series CPL, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #withmytamronmirrorless, #tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron1728, #tamronglobal, #Acratech, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops

How processing saved an image

How processing saved an image.
The first day I was in the Smokys scouting before our workshop, we went into Cades Cove. Traffic wasn’t that bad, so my nerves were okay. As we were leaving we drove up as a “bear jam” was dispersing. We sat for a little while talking when the young bear walked back out of the woods. He fed for a while but when one photographer got too close he started to go up a tree. The photographer was way too close and people like him should be banned from all parks, but that is another story. From where I was I could see the cub poke his head around the tree. I did a few images but at a fairly low shutter speed, 1/125th of a second. In this image the bear slightly moved his head just enough to make it a reject in my mind. However yesterday I started trying Topaz Labs Sharpen AI. It detected the slight movement and corrected it. I’m not a huge fan of technology in processing, but I will admit, it saved the image! I will have to try it on a few more images, but I am impressed.
Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon Z7 via the FTZ adapter, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 2000, 1/125th of a second, handheld, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #withmytamrong2, #tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamronglobal, #tamron150600g2, #BearWoodsPhotography

Along Tremont

Along Tremont.
One of my favorite areas in the Great Smoky Mountains NP is Tremont. This is probably my favorite section of the Tremont area to photograph. It is one of those locations that whether it is photographed from the roadside or down on the rocks at the river it has produced some of my favorite images of the area. The “electric” greens of spring add to its beauty.
Tamron 17-28mm Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f22, ISO 100, shutter speed of 5 seconds, Sirui tripod, Acratech Panoramic head and leveling base, H&Y K series CPL, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #withmytamronmirrorless, #tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron1728, #tamronglobal, #Acratech, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops

The Troll Bridge

The Troll Bridge.
In all the times I have visited the Great Smoky Mountains NP I have never been to “The Troll Bridge”. I have been down the trail it is off of, but never knew its location until yesterday. Our group went yesterday morning with the directions and guiding from my friend George Mraz. I showed them a few compositions I would do, and why I liked them, then everyone worked the scene. I look forward to seeing their images not only from here, but from all the locations we visited and photographed this week.
Tamron 17-28mm Di III RXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f16, ISO 100, shutter speed of 2.5 seconds, Sirui tripod, Acratech Panoramic head and leveling base, H&Y K series CPL, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #withmytamronmirrorless, #tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron1728, #tamronglobal, #Acratech, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops

Smoky Mountain Sunset

Smoky Mountain Sunset.
Just a quick post before our workshop group meets to head out for another day of great photography. Last night was forecast to be our only really clear night for sunset so our brave souls headed to Clingman’s Dome for a “brisk” sunset. It was about 25 degrees and breezy, but they toughed it out and were treated to a classic Smoky Mountain’s sunset. This is a tough group! I will admit, I even was a bit cold, and those of you that know me, that doesn’t happen often. Great job group!
Tamron 70-180mm Di III VXD lens on a Sony a7Riii, Manual Exposure mode, f22, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/2 of a second, Sirui tripod, Acratech Panoramic head and leveling base, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #withmytamronmirrorless, #tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamron70180, #tamronglobal, #Acratech, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops

Compositions and skies

Compositions and skies.
As I was looking through some images of the Smoky Mountains I found a couple of images from Clingman’s Dome near sunset. Being so high up, you see the layers of ridges below. The haze causes the fading of detail the more you look into the scene. When we talk to our participants about composition we mention the “weight” of the scene. If there is more happening in the foreground, you frame it so more emphasis is on the foreground. The same for the sky. What happens when you have some balance of clouds and foreground though? You break the rule of thirds and split the frame 50-50 down the middle. Rules of composition are merely suggestive and loose guidelines. You do what looks best to you for each situation.
Cecil and I are very close to announcing our latest project, so stayed tuned!
Tamron SP 70-200mm f2.8 Di VC USD lens on a Canon 5Diii, Manual Exposure mode, f4, ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui tripod, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #Tamron, #tamronusa, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #tamronglobal, #tamron70200, #Sirui, #BearWoodsPhotography, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops