Smoky Mountains Fall Color

This was only my second trip to the Smoky Mountains and I’ve realized that each trip to the Smokies is unique. The first time I was on the east side in North Carolina and only made it as far west as Clingman’s Dome.  The purpose of this most recent trip was to search out the best fall colors and see the east side of the park.

I drove north from Atlanta winding through Ellijay and Blue Ridge and connected with Highway 129.  I traveled through an 11 miles section of Highway 129, known as the Dragon, that has 318 curves.  This road is a popular destination for motorcyclist and is absolutely beautiful in the fall. I have to remember not to take it in the winter!

I entered the Foothills Parkway and was very pleased with the beautify of the colors. For much of the drive north I was concerned I was past peak color time but the Foothills Parkway proved me wrong.


One stop I would suggest along the Parkway is Look Rock Observation Tower. It is a half mile hike to the observation platform at the top. Great views of the mountains on one side and an expansive view looking west over the towns of Tennessee.

I headed up to Clingman’s Dome for a sunset photo op. The further up I drove, the more scarce the leaves got. The weather was seasonably warm, clear and low wind at the top which I was very thankful for. I arrived a little early and scoped out the best spot. Having never been up there for sunset I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Around 6:30pm (sunset was at 6:55pm) there were about 30+ photographers and tripods set up in a line facing west.

The sky showed us some beautiful colors and changed constantly as the sun sank behind the last mountain ridge. I used my 100-400 lens for these shots to bring the definition of the ridges closer. That was not originally what I thought I was going to use for a landscape sunset of this sort but it turned out just as I had hoped in the end.  The light layer of clouds allowed for some great reflection and color.

The next morning I headed to Cades Cove for sunrise.  Having only one opportunity for a morning sunrise in this trip, I was torn between a vista view sunrise or to head to the Cove for a morning of foggy scapes. I was very happy with my choice. Minus the huge line up of so many other cars wanting to see the fall colors at this time of year, Cades Cove is a wonderfully peaceful place in the morning.  It is an 11-mile one-way loop with numerous pull-offs along the way.

The morning colors were rich and vibrant with just enough fog to give the scene a little interest. One of my favorite stops along the way was for a group of bucks fighting in an open field. I’ve realized that wildlife photography is definitely my favorite and is what really excites me.  I set up on the side of the road and watched the group play for quite a long time. At one point, there were five bucks taking turns sparring with each other.

I’ll be heading back to the Smokies in early November and look forward to sharing more with you at that time!

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Atlanta Skyline Sunset

City on Fire

 

Twice a year, the sun sets directly behind the Atlanta city skyline when viewed from the top of Stone Mountain.  I hiked up Stone Mountain on Sunday, October 21st with plenty of time to enjoy the seasonably warm weather.  It was a gorgeous night with very low wind.  There were a few clouds in the sky around the horizon (which I was happy to see because it would provide great color and reflection for sunset photos) but for the most part it was clear.

As the sun began sinking lower in the sky, the magic of color started happening.  The color kept getting more vivid as the seconds went on.  Here are a few images I enjoyed most.

 

Stone Mountain Sunset

As the Sun Goes Down

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Copyright © Jennifer Ludlum Photography 2008-2013. Email: photos@jenniferludlum.com