Let me introduce you to the Great Smoky Mountains! Or Shaconage, as the native Cherokee called the area. Shaconage, meaning “place of blue smoke”, is the most visited national park year after year, and the place I call home! The majority of my images are from the smokies, and for a good reason! The photo opportunities are endless. No matter what genre of photography you are into, you can find something here to capture.
The park was established in 1934 and is over 522,000 acres between Tennessee and North Carolina. At 6643 feet, Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in the park, as well as one of the most popular spots for sunset, sunrise and astro photography. Mt. Leconte is the runner up in elevation and just as popular. There is a lodge to stay in at the top of the mountain if you can get a reservation, but the only way to get to and from is to hike it.. the shortest route is around 10 miles! If wildflowers are your thing, there are over 1500 species of wildflowers inside the park, many of them can be found by simply hiking on one of the 850 miles of hiking trails! How about wildlife photography… aside from being the salamander capitol of the world (with over 30 species) you can also find black bears, elk, deer, wild turkey, otters, owls, coyotes, fox, bobcats and more! You can visit several areas within the park to get a glimpse of life long ago by walking through historic homesteads, barns, churches and grist mills. I could go on for days with interesting facts about these mountains… instead let me tell you what they mean to me. A few words come to mind.. peace, inspired, family, spiritual… just to name a few. I was born not to far from here, so were my parents and grandparents, and who knows how many others. I have raised my children here, hiking, exploring, camping, learning … these mountains have been their backyard play ground their entire lives! When I’m on a trail or sitting by a stream, or anywhere in the park really, I feel at peace. Its a calm like no other, I feel safe… I feel at home… I feel the energy and strength of those who came before me. After all, life had to have been tough in these mountains all those years ago! These feelings inspire me to create photos of, not just a place, but a way of life… my life!
I hope everyone has an opportunity to visit this magical place, and I hope they take from it some of the same feelings I get every time I step foot inside park boundaries! If you are ever in the area, please feel free to reach out to me. I love telling people about this amazing national park! Hopefully we will run into each other on a trail or at an overlook taking sunset pictures together!! See you soon!