These were taken with a Canon 5d Mk II and Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS. I think. It is approaching evening near Wilbur Dam in Elizabethton, TN:
1. Looking across the lake, the fog is about 4′ – 10′ deep on the water.
2. Orange sunlight filters through the trees, revealed by the fog.
3. A fisherman is silhouetted against the orange-lit fog. I would have given this guy a buck to close his mouth.
4. Another fisherman prepares to cast.
5. Fog was washing over the dam in huge waves, driven by the breezes that were blowing down the lake.
6. A lone fly fisherman stands below the dam in a foggy valley
7. A sepia version of the scene
8. The TVA fencing took on a ghostly appearance in the limited visibility
9. Some geese swim away from me, seeking the safety of the lake.
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12. An older gent gets a bite on his line and works to reel it in
13. Silhouette at sunset
14. Just more scenery
1. I submit for your consideration one timber rattler, approximate age 14 years old, who was cooperative enough to let me take these photos of it.
2. A good set of rattles… it acquires a new one each time it sheds. They shed every 1-2 years… 1.4 years on average (thus my age estimate).
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4. I’m glad it was mellow.
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6. The reason I was up there… to see the Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower
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9. There was a combination of two reasons that stopped me from going to the top. First, the stairs were missing. You can see where the stairs should be there is still a handrail, and brackets for the steps. I was game to climb this, and began doing so. That’s when the second factor kicked in… a nest full of very energetic hornets was being shaken with each step I took, and they began to swarm. I didn’t want to get up there and get attacked while unable to make a quick (and safe) descent, so I decided discretion was the better part of valor.
10. The building at the base of the tower.
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14. In addition to venomous snakes, there was an abundant variety of mushrooms in the area.
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1. Leaves along the trail on Buffalo Mountain
2. Sunshine breaks through the canopy
3. Trail to the overlook on Buffalo Mountain
4. Remains from the fire last year.
5. Tangled remains
So I went to the quarry cave again, this time with nonspecific. I hooked up the remote switch and set the camera to the bulb setting, so I could hold the shutter open as long as I wanted. Then came the fun part… using my extra-bright flashlights to “paint” the cave with light, only lighting the areas I wanted. It was nearly dark by the time we left, and definitely dark by the time we made it back to the car. As nightfall approached, a heavy mist settled into the cave, making for a surreal experience. When the lights were off, it was pure black, and when on, it seemed pure white, and you could barely see any better. Also strange, was that just 10 or 15 feet apart, and I couldn’t understand Kara at all, due to all the echoes. In short, I had a blast. :)
Then suddenly, photos:
Near the entrance:
Exposure Time: 30.000 s
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO equiv: 400
Lighting: natural lighting from left, lesser so from right, fill-in by flashlight
Side chamber:
Exposure Time: 77.000 s
Aperture: f/7.1
ISO equiv: 800
Lighting: generous and erratic use of 2 high-power flashlights :)
Side chamber:
Exposure Time: 156.000 s
Aperture: f/7.1
ISO equiv: 800
Lighting: No flashlights close the camera or within line-of-site of the lens. Two flashlights were held fairly still for about 45 seconds, and then waved around for fill lighting for the remainder. This seemed to work well, and cut down on the mist haze, getting a crisp view of the far wall.
I also took more HRDI fodder, we’ll see how that goes.
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These were taken at Grandfather Mtn, NC, with a Canon 5d mkII and a Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3.
From two weekends ago, at Grandfather Mountain. Yes. I have been that slow.
Took this in the front yard… actually put it on the tripod, used mirror lockup, etc.
These were shot with a Canon 5d Mark II, and a Sigma APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM, except the ladder shot. That one was the Canon 17-40mm f/4.0 L.
This past weekend I took Lorelei, Hannah and Storm up to Roan Mountain. We had intended to head to Cloudland but the gate was closed. We instead parked and went up into the balds of Carver’s Gap. In the summertime this would probably be a low meadow full of Queen Anne’s Lace, but now everything is dry and dead and flat. The Queen Anne’s Lace stems have turned stark white, and are all bent in the same direction by the wind. They looked like the bones of a forgotten, spindley alien. I liked the stark white contrast against the darker trees and rocks.
While down at ground level, I also shot this silhouette-ish shot of the weeds against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
1. Tall girl.
2. Frisbee dude, catching
3. Frisbee dude, throwing
4. Out behind the main stage
5. Storm caught this, and also found the pottery she put it in.
6. Juggler with light-up pins
7. They change colors. :)
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11. Shorter exposure
12. Looonger exposure
13. Just liked this one because it is surreal
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15. Storm making faces
16. Switching to fire…
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18. This was my favorite of the fire pics.
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2. Nighttime view, looking out our tent & across the lake
3. Our tent (blue) at lakeside
4. Night shot, inside the main stage tent, before the festival opened
5. Interior detail, main stage tent
6. The only heated space we had access to, the lakeside cafe.
7. Performers, I didn’t get their name.
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9. Two of the food vendors, taking a break
10. Impromptu night jam
11. Storm and her new friend Elliot, building a dam
12. Lorelei being expressionless, because I pointed a camera at her
13. 3:1 aspect of tents along the lake
14. Another dam… this is all she did the first day we were there.
15. I don’t need no steenkin bathing suit
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17. Clouds are starting to burn off. It was so beautiful there.
