Water, Water, Everywhere…

both in the creeks, and in the air, but for my travels, produce not a care.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am just as happy with warm air and sunshine as the next person.  And in my 25 years of trips to the Smokies I have seen just about everything, from that warm sunshine to snow and ice, from drought to flooding, and temperatures from zero to the 90s.  But one thing that I have definitely learned; don’t plan for the weather, let the weather direct your plans.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 is a favorite passage of mine which talks of the seasons, each in their own right, each in their own uniqueness and beauty.  The southern location of the Great Smoky Mountains combined with an elevation within the park boundaries ranging from about 1300 feet at the Sugarland’s Visitor Center to over 6643 feet at Clingman’s Dome, generate almost endless opportunities for seasons.  Don’t like your current weather, move!  Spring starts on the southern facing slopes in the lowlands and gradually moves up the mountains.  Autumn starts on the high mountain peaks and slowly traverses its way into the valleys.  Believe it or not, there are only about six weeks in the year when there is not some type of flower growing at some elevation.  And it is this water which is a fuel for it all.  80+ inches of rain falling annually in the high country actually meets the criteria for a temperate rainforest.  Then down it flows.  Sometimes it comes down as hard rain, but more often than not, a gentle rain many times accompanied by the sound of thunder tumbling from peak to peak, then ridge to ridge, fading off in the distance.  As it lands, first it fills up the brooks and streams, which produce the peaceful sounds in the endless number of cascades which literally dot the landscape.

Cascade Roaring Fork September 2009 Vertical No. 1

Leaf In Cascade, Roaring Fork

From there the water reaches the named creeks and rivers, named after the many people who once inhabited the area.  Some small, some large, some swimmable, some fishable, but all as unique in their sound, their cascade, their waterfalls, or their pools as the stars themselves.

Tremont Middle Prong Little River September 2009 Vertical

Greenbrier September 2009 Vertical No #1

With the source of all this water being the rain, I have learned to live with it, even come to enjoy it.  The clouds often form layers as diverse as the mountain ridges they mirror.  I have stood on a trails peering up at the peaks disappearing into the clouds.  And I have stood on the peaks looking down into the valleys blanketed by clouds.  But it is the wispy clouds that give the mountains their name that I enjoy the most.  As it is stated in Psalm 104:32, it is He who makes the mountains smoke.

Approaching Storm Foothills Parkway West September 2009

Passing Storm, Morton Overlook

If you ever happen to be in the Smokies, wander into one of the many churches still standing, you walk up to the pulpit and look at the Bible, if the Good Book is open to this passage, I was recently there.  He is the creator, and the source of everything good.  May you find peace in your travels in every season.

All these images and more from my 25th anniversary trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can be found at my Flickr site.  Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.

Listening for Echoes from the Past

As much as I am in awe of the overall beauty of the Smokies, I am equally intrigued by remnants from the people who once called the place home.  What were their lives like, what struggles did they have, what did they worry about, what made them happy, and did they have the same sense of peace and contentment that I get from the land?  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unique in that it was the first of the National Parks to come into existence from the purchase of private land.  Not like the public land as was the case in the Parks of the west.  Many of the larger tracks of land were acquired from lumber holdings, but the vast majority of purchases were of family farms, homes, and businesses.  The process of purchasing this land from families and individuals was not easy and did not come without incident.  However, I am (and I think we all are) grateful for what these people gave up so that myself, my children, and future generations can share in that same enjoyment, of the land, and now have the opportunity to listen for echoes of the past lives these people lived.  Over the past 25 years of visits to the Smokies, I have had many wonderful opportunities for chance meetings with folks who spent their childhood in these dwellings that I now visit.  I have sat on steps, leaned on railings, sat in pews, looked at old photo albums, and listened to stories.  These people are mostly gone now but they themselves and their stories are treasures to me.  As you look at these photos below, I hope you have the same sense of wonder for what their lives in the Smokies must have been like.

Ogle Cabin from Barn

With a creek running just behind the house and barn, water was easily accessible but I don’t know how these people ever farmed with all these rocks (above).

The Many Marks of Time

With the sawn boards overhead, the refined and finished corner construction to the right is dove-tail.  This is a construction technique that is typical of log buildings in the east.  But to me, these wide facing boards are what catch my attention.  These boards are hand hewn with a broad-axe of wormy chestnut.  Chestnut trees were the largest and most abundant tree in the park prior to the creation of the park.  A blight brought from Asia at the turn of the century has completely eliminated them.  Since then we have lost the elm trees and now we are losing the hemlock trees all to a similar fate.  If you look at this image closely, you can see both the worm holes and the individual axe marks.  This is all that remains.

Ogle Window

The room is completely empty now.  The cabin construction is called double-pen (two separate rooms with a space between all under one roof) with a central fireplace to the left.  What was this room like when the Ogle’s lived there?  What did Lucinda Ogle think as she peered out this window?  Was there a table in the middle of this room?  What were their favorite meals?  What things did they discuss around the table… just faint echoes now.

Front Yard from Palmer Guest Room

Now some 50 miles from the Ogle cabin across the divide into North Carolina is Cataloochee Valley and the Palmer house.  By comparison to the Ogle cabin, the Palmer house is modern.  It is of frame type construction with sawn board siding but the overall style of the house is still double pen construction.  An open walkway goes through the middle here.  Front and back have full length porches which provide a welcome shelter from both the sun and the rain.  Despite the desolate location of this valley, a sizable portion of the local’s income came by accommodating sport fisherman and many of the houses contained guest rooms.  If you had come to the valley to fish for their famous Brook Trout or “Brookies”, you may have stayed in this small single room off the front of the house.  This is the view you would have seen.  I can surely imagine that the Palmer’s were the most accommodating hosts.

Old and New Spring House from Palmer Kitchen

By our standards the Palmer house is old, approximately 100 years old now.  But by their standard, I assume that they had a very valid reason to replace the old split log spring house (seen in the distance) with the new spring house (white seen to the front).  It must have been convenient having water so closed to the kitchen.  The kitchen table seen here to the left is the only piece of furniture now in the house.  I can imagine “shucking” corn sitting on the porch.  I can imagine showing up in this doorway with a string of fish.  I can almost imagine what the pies smelled like sitting here on the table while they cooled.  What must if have been like?

I really enjoy the quiet of these houses.  I enjoy listening for the echoes from the past.  I hope that these images cause you to stop, think, look at the keyholes, the tiled floors, the handmade glass window panes, the pealing wall paper, the wonderful uneven but inviting porches.  What do you see?

In Praise of Rain

Ever since I was a child, I have been fond of taking walks in the rain. Now I am not talking about terrible storms with driving rain and wind (which really wouldn’t stop me) but more the steady peaceful type rain. I have always liked the sounds, the solitude that goes with the rain sending others inside, the saturation of colors, and generally the perspective on nature that one doesn’t often observe.

This post is the first of several from my recent four day solo trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stress from many different sources got to the point that I decided I just needed a couple of days away. But beyond that, this is my 25th consecutive year of visits to the Smokies, kind of a 25th anniversary as such. And of greater significance, this is the 75th birthday of the park itself. I have visited the Smokies from one to four times a year over the last 25 years, have not now or will never see “all of it”, never get tired of going there, and consider the place a great blessing for the peace that I always receive from just being there.

I have visited the elk in a remote valley of the park many times since their reintroduction. Most of the time my visits are in the Spring before the calves come out of hiding and when the bulls have little to no rack. This was an exceptional visit for many reasons. One was that the rutt was in progress, two was that the bull elk had developed all their tremendous racks, and In Praise of Rain, the steady rain provided coolness in the valley that brought the entire local herd down out of the trees and within sight. Without a worry in the world, I sat in the rain and watched them for almost four hours. I hope you enjoy these few photos that cannot begin to represent their true magnificence.

Call of the Wild (can you see the rain?) - (Click for larger View)

A Very(too) Friendly Cow - (Click for larger View)

This Year’s Young - (Click for larger View)

One of the Competing Bulls - (Click for larger View)

Wow! What an Magnificent Animal and Atypical Rack - (Click for larger View)

This is NOT a National Geographic Video (obvious once you view it) but I was able to capture the bull bugle on my iPhone.  I never got tired of listening to them or watching them. Click Play on the Youtube video below and turn up the sound to hear the bugle.

May you also find peace, sanctuary, and blessing from nature.

Eastern Upper Peninsula Michigan Superior Lighthouses

Well it has been a while and yes I got “out of the groove” again. I haven’t been taking many pictures lately but I have taken some since I last posted. Back in the middle of July, we took a trip to the eastern and central Upper Peninsula Michigan along the Lake Superior Shoreline. There were three main highlights of the trip other than the time off and away. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Seney National Wildlife Refuge were two highlights. And here, carrying on Adam’s quest and interest in lighthouses, we managed to visit all of the lighthouses that we know of between Munising and Sault Sainte Marie along Lake Superior. None of the pictures turned out for more than documentary purposes but it still fun to go visit them. Starting west and moving east, just west of Munising is the East Channel Lighthouse which holds the claim of being the oldest lighthouse on Lake Superior. This image was taken of the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruise on the way back into port.

East Channel Lighthouse - Munising MI

At the very eastern end of Pictured Rocks NLS are Grand Sable Dunes and Au Sable Point Lighthouse. Grand Sable Dunes is a several hundred foot high pile of sand and grass that stretches about four miles just west of the town of Grand Marais. A very beautiful ecosystem but a bear to walk in. You can see a section of these dunes in the very distance lakeshore in this image. Pictured Rocks is definitely a park which must be experienced from the water as the shoreline is just spectacular. Au Sable Point Lighthouse was no exception. The town of Grand Marais became our favorite stopping point along the way as there were a couple of wonderful restaurants and exceptionally friendly locals to strike up a conversation with.

Au Sable Point Light Self Portrait

The easiest way to describe this next lighthouse is west of Whitefish Point. The section of the UP that we traveled consisted of hundreds of miles of dirt and sand roads with the occasional paved road thrown in for good humor. Crisp Point Lighthouse is by far the most remote lighthouse that we have ever been to and 4WD is definitely an advantage. The road back to Crisp Point off the “main dirt road” was mostly a path for almost 17 miles (and I didn’t say 17 miles off pavement). The road was never wide enough for two vehicles (one would have to pull off), was full of water in places, full of sand pits blown in from Superior in other places, but the quiet and seclusion was definitely worth the trip.

Crisp Point Lighthouse

Crisp Point Lighthouse Windows

East of Crisp Point and about 12 miles north (on a paved road this time) of the town of Paradise Michigan is Whitefish Point and the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. This one has quite a unique support structure plus an exceptional view of Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, and the Ontario Canada shoreline. This region is renowned for the Whitefish which is fished commercially in the waters along Lake Superior. You buy this fish fresh, frozen, or smoked at any number of markets right adjacent to the docks that bring them in. We all loved it in the local restaurants and had it baked, deep fried, and pan fried. We couldn’t go wrong any way.

Whitefish Point Lighthouse

On our way out and home from the trip, we headed over to Sault Sainte Marie and the Soo Locks. Along the way we stopped by our last lighthouse of the trip. Point Iroquois Light located in an Indian Reservation just outside the town of Bay Mills and near the mouth of the Saint Mary’s River, this lighthouse had a special attraction. Inside, operating the historical center and a small gift shop was the daughter of the last “light keepers” of the lighthouse. Even as this woman was in college, she can remember coming “home” for the holidays and having Christmas in the lighthouse. Our conversations and her stories were a wonderful perspective.

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

Hope you enjoy. I hope to get back into the swing of things real soon. I have photos of both Pictured Rocks NLS and Seney NWR (which I just loved) that I hope to get processed soon. Take care, hope you had a wonderful Summer, and have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Weekend!

Close-Up and Far Away

As I mentioned yesterday on both Facebook and Twitter, the Ohio roadsides must be near peak for summer wildflowers.  Chickory, Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Flowering Sweet Pea, Shasta Daisy, Black eyed Susans, Day Lillys, and many more are there along most rural roads for your viewing pleasure.  The bright orange Butterfly Milkweed seamed to catch my eye the most but so far has not fallen under the focus of my lens.  I did however get an opportunity to focus on some Day Lillys and as much as I enjoy how they brighten the roadside and anyone’s trip, I have always been fascinated by the fine detail and complexity of the structure of flowers.

Day Lilly Close Up - Click to view larger.

Day Lilly Lines and Colors - Click to view larger.

 
This morning as I left the house at about 5:10 AM, I was watching a weather front on the radar hoping it would bring some drama to the morning without my getting soaked.  I was not disappointed and although I only got a brief glimpse of sunlight, I made it completely home before the rain hit.  Each morning or evening I head out, so many directions to head, so many parks to visit, so much variety in the weather, I can never be disappointed even when I never snap a single picture.

God Beams Over Kendall Hills - Click to view larger.

 
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I hope you are enjoying summer.  Plus I wish you a safe, enjoyable, and a productive week ahead.  Take care…

Michael Orton vs. Thomas Kinkade

Thomas Kinkade is well known as a painter for his “Painter of Light” style.  His images represent a delicate depiction of light and reflection in a soft peaceful setting.  Many of his settings are of nature or a quiet rustic and country scene.  His work is unmistakable any always a joy to view.

A number of years ago I came across a photo processing technique called the The Orton Effect.  Originally this was done in the darkroom by taking multiple exposures of a scene and then sandwiching the negatives to create the final effect in the print.  This similar process can be accomplished in the digital world using much the same process.

I have often thought that given the right subject matter or scene that The Orton Effect could deliver a image similar to that of Thomas Kinkade.  I am still practicing the technique but here is an image taken of the Stewart Manor House at Quail Hollow State Park.  What do you think?

Click image to view larger

As always I thank you all for your kind words and feedback.  I would like to take a moment to wish my dad a Happy Father’s Day and the same to all fathers everywhere.  Take care and God Bless.

Colder Windy Morning at Mogadore Reservoir

Chilly morning Sunday that brought challenging conditions. A storm front was moving out so things were constantly changing and windy. Made things a little difficult and I didn’t stay out long.

Mogadore Mallard Duck May 2009

Mogadore May Sunrise Vertical

Mogadore May Sunrise Horizontal with Boat

Mogadore Morning Reflections

I want to thank all of you for your kind comments and encouragement. It means a lot to me. Thank you all, God Bless and have a wonderful week!

Sunny Dewy Saturday Morning

Not much to say. Hope you enjoy these images from Saturday morning at Quail Hollow State Park. Click any of the images to view them larger.

Claude Monet Visits Quail Hollow

Mushrooms #1

Mushrooms #2

Have-A-Seat

He-Is-the-Man

Dew Drop

Unknown Flower-and-Dew

Daisies-and-Dew

Daisy-and-Dew

Back Road To Quail Hollow Manor House

If you want, leave a comment and let me know what you think.  Thank you for your time and have a wonderful week.

An Oscar Performance for Sure

I went to the lake this evening.  It had rained frequently over the last several days so the sunshine of late afternoon brought respite and fisherman by the boat load.  Couples and families too enjoyed the warmth and stillness.  On my way to the lake however, I had noticed a line in the sky to the north.  For a while I was not sure what the line was.  But as time shortly passed, the line grew closer, the sky below the line became darker, and I began to suspect that there was a chance that my evening walk might be cut short.

Short came half way through my walk.  The color and swirling activity now in the sky warned that if I continue, there was a chance I would make the ride home sporting soggy attire.  The fisherman sensed this too and began to head across the lake to the docks like moths to a light.  The activity along the shore grew quite lively as everyone began to gather up the picnics, the fishing rods, and now prepared for what was likely inevitable.  Lightning in the distance provoked sounds from the folks like fireworks on the 4th of July.  And the mirror-glass lake water from dinner time had become choppy and was quickly forming to full white-caps as the waves began to crash the shoreline.

For one family I observed, this time was quite an adventure.  As their car pulled up to park some thirty feet from the water’s edge, all the doors came flying open.  Dad and son ran down to the edge of the lake.  Facing directly into the gusty winds, they stood there in amazement, occasionally getting sprayed by the waves like a sailor at the bow of a schooner but laughing and prancing to each crash.  Mom who never left arms reach of the car door, was caught up in the same excitement of the storm, but was torn between scolding the men for getting wet or letting them enjoy the obvious splendor of the moment.  The daughter ran to the edge of the parking lot as though the line between the pavement and grass was a threshold between the security of the car and the chance she face the same fate her dad and brother were succoming to.  With each gust of wind, each bolt of lightning in the distance, and with each crash of a wave, their laughter, giggles, and overall excitement told the story well.  And as the spattering of rain turned quickly to a downpour, Mom, Dad, son, and daughter ran for the cover of the car.  As their adventure began to wind down, I noticed a break in the clouds on the horizon.  The opening appeared just long enough.  The storm was soon to end and so to was the day as the bright orange sun lit the storm just before it sank below the horizon.

I am sure that at least half of the passengers in the car would ride home wet.  And as hard as Hollywood tries to produce thrillers, none will compare to the adventure, excitement, and laughter experienced by this family this evening.  These productions produce memories that last a lifetime.  But for this production however, the producer, the director, and the special effects coordinator, His name will never be mentioned.  But this evening, His loving touch reached everyone in that family.  An Oscar performance for sure.

ID the Moth

UPDATE: Thank you both Bob and Keli for getting back to me so quickly to identify the Cecropia Moth being the largest moth in North America.  How cool is that.

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I am looking for a lepidopterist or at least someone who pretends to be much the same way that I pretend to be a photographer.  Can you help me ID this moth?  The kids found it on our neighbor’s barn Memorial Day afternoon.  It was about three inches nose to tail (those are technical terms) and a good five to six inches in wing span.  We suspected that it had just come from its cocoon and was very sluggish.  All the kids got a good opportunity to view him up close.  Good quality time with nature and a much slower relaxed pace from the normal neighborhood activity.  He was there on the barn all afternoon and evening but gone the next morning.  I only have the Peterson’s Butterfly Book but not a moth book.  Do you have any idea what this is?

Click image for larger view.

Click image for larger view.

These images are not the best.  They don’t compare to those of Dan Dexter (www.ISeeThroughGlass.com) who is an expert of insect photography amongst other things.  If I can help to describe other useful details, please just ask.  Otherwise I hope you enjoy these images of this spectacular creature.  Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day.