As part of my recent trip to the Smoky Mountain Learning Center in Whittier, NC, JR vanLienden (one of the owners of the school) took us out for a couple of photo shoots at a few of the area waterfalls. Coincidentally, JR leads photography outings and workshops as part of the school’s offerings. Check out their website for more information and to book your workshop with JR.
The first of the shoots was at sunset on Monday evening. Despite losing light quickly, the setting was perfect for some great photos! With a few tips from JR, here are some of my better shots from that evening:
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© 2007 · Chris Price
The next shoot was in the early morning on Wednesday. Leaving at 6AM, we were on location and hiking down the side of a mountain by 8AM, cameras and equipment in tow, with perfectly overcast skies. Here are some of my favorites from that outing:
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© 2007 · Chris Price
Unfortunately, with the strange weather patterns this year, the leaves had only just started changing colors, so we missed the dazzling show of oranges, reds and yellows this time, but there’s always next year!
Chris – Thanks for the wonderful images of the Smokys. Brings back fond memories for me. My first photo workshop was to the Smokys with my friend Elizabeth. That spring we did another there, and Liz said to me, we don’t need the men to help us down to the creeks, all we need is a laundry line, tie it to a tree and work our way down to the water and pass the equipment down. The next visit to the smokys, we’re at the airport waiting for the plane, and i see Liz giggling. I ask what are you laughing at, and she said: ‘I have a laundry line in my suitcase.” I laugh and say I also have a 30 foot line for a boat in my suitcase. I have to tell you it worked just fine, and we were able to revisit the area a total of 7 times over our 11 year friendship. What fun we had! By the way, Liz passed away 3 years at the young age of 97, so she must have been 89 that first year we worked our way down to the creeks! Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories! Pam
Pam– I am so happy my photos brought back those fond memories for you; what a lovely story! I can imagine you two in my mind with your ropes tied off to trees scaling down the side of the mountain with your camera equipment to get to the creeks. I giggled myself at the mention of your suitcases! I’m also very happy for you that you and Liz were able to have such great times together before her time was done here. It seems like she was one lively woman, and I can only imagine she is just the same wherever she may be now. Thanks again for stopping by and sharing. :)