A very short trip to Cades Cove

goofry

For spring break, the family decided to take a trip up to the Great Smoky Mountains. For those of you that haven't been, there are countless oportunities for nature and landscape photography in the park. One of the most visited areas is Cades Cove. Typically the cove is a nature photographers paradise.

While we were there for 4 days, the schedule only allowed me to make one trip out during our visit. This means a 5:30AM wake up time in order to drive over from our cabin and to beat the sunrise.


I always love the sunrise in Cades Cove. There is usually a fog that lays low in the cove floor which makes for some interesting shots.



You are almost certain to see deer in the cove.


Sometimes even an action shot (although I wasn't quite ready for this one).


A couple more deer in a nice setting:


What are you looking at?


Another action shot:



Now for a few landscape shots without the wildlife. I notice the fog rolling over the tops of the mountains for the next few shots.





There are a few of the old buildings left from years ago when this area was home to a few families.

The Cades Cove Methodist Church. This is a photo from behind the church. I was hoping for more foliage, but spring has not really sprung yet in the cove. I think I will try this shot again in the fall for some more color.


And of course, the obligitory shot of the Cantilever Barn.


From the other side of the Cantilever barn:


Carter Shields place (maybe):


Sometimes the deer let you get really close:


There are also several places around the cove for some good waterfall shots. By the time I got around to getting the tripod out for the water, it was really too late in the morning for the shots I like to get. The sun was a little too high and too bright. (Note to self, make sure to bring the 72 to 77 adaptor to be able to use my ND4 filter for the longer exposures).


More to come...

goofry

That was it for the morning in Cades Cove. I ran out of time and needed to get back to the cabin. We had to get back to driving go carts in Pigeon Forge and don't forget the Outlet malls, plus, I needed to restock on mountain taffy, fudge and pecan logs.

I was pretty happy with what I got that morning, but I also wanted the wife and kid to get to see Cades Cove. After all, I have been there countless times for photography and they had never been. So it was set, we would go there for the evening for a horse drawn carriage ride through the cove and maybe a picknik.

Well, the go carts took longer than expected so we ate a quick bite for dinner and decided to just drive the cove. All worked out well. When we got into the cove, the horses were out grazing in the pasture.

I really liked the setting sun backlighting the white horses:


And the brown horses:


and all the horses:



We stopped in the back of the loop at the Cable Mill area. There are several buildings in this area including the Mill, a house and several barns not to mention some old farming equipment.


The old mill:



The rest of the five miles of the loop was pretty dark as the sun had already set. But there were still photographic opportunities:


That is about it for the cove. I have a few more pictures to share from the ride across the mountain towards Cherokee, NC on the way back home. Back with those in a little bit...

goofry

The final post
I was hoping for a much better selection of flowers and trees blooming for spring, but we were just a week or two early this year. I did want to check out an area that is known for it's wildflowers.

The trail is located at the beginning of the Chimney Tops picnik area. I was in luck, there were a few flowers blooming. And best of all, the wife and kid went on the hike with me

One of the little white flowers:


White Trillium:


More


Yellow Trillium


This is what the entire forest floor looks like throughout the trail:


I just liked the look of this old tree's roots (it must have fallen years ago)



And of course, a few shots of my partners on the trail.
The trail blazer:


He has his own camera, but decided to just bring his binoculars so he could scope out our path:


The two most important people in my life:



And now, for those of you who have stuck it out through this post, one more wildlife shot.

I have only seen one bear in the GSMNP over many years visiting. I told my son to keep his eyes out while we were driving and he might see a bear. Well, sure enough, my better half spotted one on the side of the road. We had to drive for a while before I could get turned around, but the back track was worth it. These are not the best pictures since the sun was straight up, but still, it is the closest I have ever been (and care to be) to a black bear.


He was hungry and just looking for food, so he didn't mind all the cars stopping on the side of the road.





That's it folks, that's my one and a half day of shooting in the park. I hope you enjoyed.

Thanks for looking,

dadwtwins

This is a gorgeous place. I have never visited the Smokey Mountains and after veiwing your pictures it is now a must visit. Thank you for the share

LensCap

Absolutely wonderful series! My photography class went to the Cove in March and we had a big time, it's a wonderful place to shoot!

1andyw

Beautiful work!

Thanks for sharing,

Andyw

davemj98

Thanks
for the trip down memory lane!
Regards, David

goofry

Dadwtwins, Thanks for the comments. Funny thing is, I would love to spend some time out on the west coast. I guess we all get used to what is close.

Lenscap, I don't know how you do it living in Knoxville. I think I would be MIA every weekend with all the trails and places to shoot.

1andyw, thanks for the comment.

Davemy98, thanks for the comment. So how long has it been since you were in the smokies?