One of the greatest joys of my life is the knowledge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park I have had the good fortune to accumulate over the past sixty-five years of visiting, and then living, in this awesome landscape, Shaconage. So when Bonnie and I left Asheville yesterday intending to end the day, three weeks after the summer solstice, at Morton Overlook for sunset, I was able to describe for her almost exactly where the solar ball would drop in relation to the valley of Walker Camp Prong. What I could not predict with certainty were the exact conditions that would obtain on our arrival. For those, one just has to show up.
A focal length of 72mm, just slightly into short telephotoland, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted, to include both sides of the valley and the receding ridges coming in from either side. An aperture of f/20 provided depth-of-field from the camera-to-subject distances. A shutter speed of 0.8 second at ISO 250 allowed for the appearance of sharpness in the distant trees, even with the slight breeze that was present, without the introduction of excessive noise into the file.
There have been time peroids when I would be at Morton for sunset 4-5 days out of a week. It is such a wonderfully tranquil place, and it’s never the same no matter how often one visits.
Love the “S” curve leading us to the sunset. Also like how you exposed properly to get enough detail in the trees. It is tricky sometimes and I am guessing you used a GND filter. Generally I hate it when there are clouds at sunset, but in this case, they cooperated and really enhanced the scene. Last but not least, that leads to your statement, “one just has to show up.” You never know what nature will do. On the days you feel there are ideal conditions, they may turn on you at the last minute. On days you think it is not worth the effort to go, you may get the best scenes nature has to offer. You will never know unless you show up!
Hey Kev. It’s always good to have you with me and to read your thoughts and observations. Over the years I have really enjoyed the lines and curves created by all the intersecting ridges and valleys below the overlook. They offer many possibilities that vary with focal length choice. Your intuition about the use of a GND is right on. In situations like this I could not compress the dynamic range without my reliable old 5-stop. It’s been a great tool over the years. There are many reasons to appreciate or to despair the presence of clouds at sunset. Generally, though not always, I have appreciated them, but you make a good point. And lastly, there is no substitute for “showing up,” and you have stated the reasoning precisely. Hope you and Elizabeth continue to be safe and well Talk soon.
Howdy Don, I love Morton’s Overlook, it’s a much better scenic spot than Clingman’s Dome, in my opinion. I think the “V” shape framing of the mountain slopes cradles the sunset in a beautifully relaxing and protective composition. I got my shots there back in the days of my film shooting time. It was a little more difficult, and hop to get back to the Smokies soon with digital.
Mike D.
P.S. sorry I didn’t get to re enter my comments from last weeks image.
Howdy Michael. No problem about your previous comments; I just felt badly that I had inadvertently erased them. It’s always good to hear from you. I think you have nailed the allure of Morton Overlook exactly. It is the spot to capture receding ridges of this sort in the park (without a hike); and the fact that it faces West is just icing or gravy depending on your perspective. I hope you won’t return to the Smokies without letting me know. The power we now have to control dynamic range alone is worth being here with digital technology. Film was great, but…. Walk in Beauty, my friend.
Morton Overlook is a favorite of mine. So, good location, good timing, add a little knowledge, inspiration, preparation and voila: good results!
Well done
Thank you, Don
Hey Lee. It is great to hear from you. I hope you and Marietta are safe and well. You have been on my mind lately for many reasons, but mostly simply wondering how you are and what form of creative photography you have been expressing; still film?, still B&W? I’d love to talk about your adventures any time you want to come down the mountain and up Beaverdam (or down, depending on your route). Take good care, and thank for all of your kind words. And, of course, any time you want to meet us at Morton Overlook, just let us know.
Superb!
Hello Dr. Miller. Thank you for joining me. It’s great to hear from you. I hope you are safe and well in Grainger County. I am honored by you single word, and I would love to hear what you’ve been up to. Every time we pass Overlook on the way down Sugarlands Valley I think of you at that scene with all of the straight poplar trunks working to get a pano just right; and it turned out quite well. Take good care and be safe.
Thank you. This is a real Ahhaaa! So delighted to come home after a long day working in my daylily garden and find this beauty waiting for me. I look forward you pictures so much in this time of uncertainty.
Hey Linda. It’s always good to hear from you. I hope you have been safe and well in Ashfield. Thank you for all of those very kind words. I am honored to be able to share with you the wanderings of my camera. Daylily gardening and the beauty of the mountains: what a wonderful combination. Please take good care.
Don, what a pleasing and energized image! And, I really like your observations about returning to a place over and over. I have a favorite building in Missoula (an old grain elevator that the town slowly grew around) that I go photograph each time I’m there. It’s fun to try sunrise, sunset, clear skies, stormy skies etc to experience different moods. Had a nice hike on Friday with our 12-year-old in Shenandoah NP. Ray
Hi Ray. It is always with pleasure that I receive your comments and observations, regardless of the tenor, I know they will be thoughtful and heartfelt. You have described, exactly, the notion and reasoning behind returning to a place over and again. Each time a place speaks to us, it creates a mark on the surface of our hearts. That mark is made more permanent each time we return; and we recall the times we have gone back and the creations we have expressed, no matter how often we go. Complacency and boredom are never part of the experience, only the joy of seeing an old friend for the thousandth time. Thanks for sharing the beauty with us of hiking with young ones. They are the reason we strive to preserve the Beauty of our world.
This image embodies so much of what you have tried so valiantly to teach me and your other students over the years. Light, line, shape, scouting your location — though “scouting” does scant justice to how well you know the Smokies. Thank you, Don.
Ah Donald, it’s always a pleasure to have you join us. I do appreciate your thoughtful comments and kind words. In your case, my teaching did not even have to be valiant. As with all of your endeavors, you approached photography with a mind wide open and a desire to absorb. Morton Overlook is the Smokies quintessential line and shape location; and when you throw in the vagaries of light, there is something good waiting to happen. If you’ll share your whereabouts, I’ll call you; it’s time to catch up, my friend. Be well and safe, and Walk in Beauty.
Ahh,even I, a fairly new photographer, has had the pleasure of shooting in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. I have returned there several times and seen so many things worthy of my camera’s eye. Although I have not made it to Morton yet, it is now on my list of places to explore. Thanks Don for sharing this beautiful image and your thoughts.
Hi Donna. It’s great to hear from you. I hope you are safe and well in Macon County. I very much appreciate your kind words and your taking the time to share them. Of this you can be certain: the more you return to the Smokies, the more smitten you will be. Those mountains enter your bloodstream sometimes slowly, sometimes in a rush; but once they are there, they will draw you in and returning will not be a choice. I hope your are finding opportunities to explore the mountains around us, both for the joy of being among them as well as the opportunities they offer for creativity. I can never get enough of them. I’ll soon be sending out an update on the situation in Maine. Take good care and Walk in Beauty.
Good morning Everyone. Thank you all very much for joining me for this conversation. For quite a few years now Joomla has been the CMS for EarthSong Photography; however, this weekend we will formally make the change to WordPress. The site will have a slightly different appearance, but I believe I/we can find our way around without difficulty. I hope you will all continue to join me and to share your insightful thoughts and observations. One of the new aspects of the Image will be that I will be able to respond to each comment individually.