2024 Workshops
and
Photo Tours
What’s unique about our experiences - We combine learning and adventure into an unforgettable opportunity for expanding your Photographic knowledge in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains.
THINGS YOU WILL LEARN:
Utilizing a range of focal length lenses to achieve diverse effects, from expansive wide-angle landscapes to detailed telephoto scenes.
Configuring camera settings for photographing landscapes and wildlife, encompassing exposure bracketing, focus bracketing, and employing wide-angle lens composition.
Managing motion dynamics by adjusting shutter speeds and optimizing ISO settings.
Employing polarizers and neutral density filters effectively for enhanced image quality.
Applying post-processing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop, such as luminosity masks, smart object methods, exposure blending, and focus blending.
Mastering composition in both vast landscapes and intimate scenes.
Participating in hands-on, in-the-field instruction and image reviews.
Drawing inspiration from abstracts and small-scale scenes.
Enhancing vision and developing a distinctive photographic style.
Delving beyond iconic shots and adopting a more contemplative approach.
Strategies for consistently capturing sharp images.
Navigating the workflow from initial capture to the final print.
Each Workshop has multiple options for half day, full day, as well as creating custom workshops covering multiple destinations over multiple days for the full Smokies experience. Many workshops include options for those who would like to get off the beaten path, embrace extreme adventure, and immerse yourself in the heart of the SMokies.
The most popular destinations are shown below, but please inquire if there is some location you’d like to see.
Click each image to view the details, including itinerary, transportation and meeting locations, what’s included and what you need to bring.
Cades Cove
Wednesdays and Saturdays, May through October
Travel Type: Driving and/or Biking; Walking
Physical Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Wildflowers, Mountain views and wide valleys, wildlife, fall colors, sunrises
Details: Experience one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Multiple opportunites will be available for both Landscape and wildlife photography. Depending on the season and time of day, you will experience many types of wildflowers, wildlife, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Options:
Time: Half Day (sunrise or sunset), Full Day, Night Sky
Destinations: Main parking lot and horse field, John Oliver Cabin and field, Hyatt Lane, Cove rear Overlook, Visitor Center, Tipton Place, Carter Shields Cabin.
Best time to go: Late Summer for Wild Flowers, Fall for leaves. Bonus: Late fall astrophotography (weather pending).
Wildflower Pilgrimage
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays April 8-20
Travel Type: Driving; walking; Hiking
Physical Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Wildflowers
Details: Early spring in the Smokies brings a huge showing of wildflowers across the park. Experience some of the most prolific populations we have found over years of living near the Smokies. *Note: Some populations of flowers require a short hike (<1 Mile).
Options:
Time: Half Day, Full Day, or 3 day
Destinations: White Oak Sinks, West Prong Trail, Low Gap Trail; Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail; Cades Cove
Best time to go: Early April for Trillium; mid April for Crested Irises
Clingmans Dome
Wednesdays and Saturdays, June through November
Travel Type: Driving; Walking; hiking
Physical Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (if excursion to Andrews Bald)
Highlights: Mountain Vistas, Summer Wildflowers, Spring Azeleas, Fall colors, sunrises
Details: View some of the greatest mountain vistas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From the Clingmans Dome parking lot, you can view up to 100 miles of mountain peaks as well as the Tuckasegee River Valley 5000 ft below. Experience the dome tower as well as a short hike to Mt Buckley for some unique photo opportunities. For those of higher fitness level, hike to Andrews Bald is an option to experience unique flora and fauna over the almost 1000’ elevation drop to the bald.
Options:
Time: Half Day (sunrise or sunset), Full Day, Night Sky
Destinations: Clingmans dome Parking Area, Observation tower, Mt. Buckley and the AT, Andrews Bald Note: Andrews Bald is approximately 3.7 miles round trip with ~800’ elevation loss/gain. proper physical ability, foot wear and clothing, and equipment is required.
Best time to Go: Late spring for Azeleas on Andrews Bald; Fall for leaf viewing.
Newfound Gap and Appalachian Trail
Wednesdays and Saturdays, Year round
Travel Type: Driving; Walking; hiking
Physical Difficulty: Easy to Difficult (if excursion to The Jump Off or Charlies Bunion)
Highlights: Sunrises, Verdant Forests, Summer Wildflowers, Vistas
Details: Experience Spectacular Sunrise views from Newfound Gap Parking lot and Mills Overlook, then experience portions of the Appalachian Trail as is snakes its way through deep forests, including the elusive hikers tunnel. Take an optional hike to the Jump off or Charlies bunion for an experience in an enchanted forest.
Options:
Time: Half Day (sunrise; AM, PM), Full Day
Destinations: Newfound Gap, Mills Overlook, Appalachian Trail, The Jump Off (optional), Charlies Bunion (optional), Dry Sluice Gap Overlook (optional)
NOTEs: The Jump Off is a Strenous 6.2 Mile Hike with 1320’ elevation gain/loss. Charlies Bunion is strenous 8.6 mile hike with 1260’+ elevation gain loss. *Dry Sluice Gap is a 8.8 Mile hike with 1260’+ elevation gain/loss. Proper physical ability, foot wear and clothing, and equipment is required.
Best time to Go: Sunrise in any season; Fall for leaf viewing. Mountain Fog in late Spring/summer for etherial enchanted trail images. Snow time from Dec - Feb.
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Wednesdays and Saturdays, June through November
Travel Type: Driving; Walking; hiking
Physical Difficulty: Easy to Difficult (if excursion to Rainbow Falls or Groto Falls)
Highlights: Historical structures, waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain streams, some of the best fall colors in the park
Details: View some of the most beautiful areas of the park along with the deep history of Appalachia. you’ll almost certainly see a bear or two on this adventure! See roaring streams, abundant wildflowers, and historical sites galore.
Options:
Time: Half Day (AM or PM), Full Day
Destinations: Bud Ogle Cabin and nearby creek, several pull offs (3+) for viewing creeks and wildflowers, Rainbow Falls (optional), Grotto Falls (Optional), Baskins Falls (optional), Jim and Ephraim Bales Place, Roaring Fork Creek, Place of a Thousand Drips.
NOTEs: *Rainbow Falls is a strenuous 6 mile roundtrip hike with 1600’+ elevation gain loss. Grotto Falls is a moderate 3 mile roundtrip hike with 500’+ elevation gain/loss. Baskins Falls is a 3.2 Mile roundtrip hike with 100’+ elevation gain/loss. Proper physical ability, foot wear and clothing, and equipment is required.
Best time to Go: Early Spring for Trillium Viewing; Fall for leaf viewing.
Tremont and Middle Prong
Wednesdays and Saturdays, Year round
Travel Type: Driving; Walking; hiking
Physical Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (if excursion to Spruce Flat Falls or Campsite 18)
Highlights: Flowing mountain streams and waterfalls, fall colors, Wildflowers in Spring
Details: Tremont sits in a deep valley full of creeks, streams, and seeps all flowing into the Middle Prong of the little river. Experience many opportunities to view different interesting water features to practice long exposure photography.
Options:
Time: Half Day, Full Day
Destinations: 4 pulloffs along Tremont Road, Bridge crossing Lynn Camp Prong, Spruce Flat falls (optional), Campsite 18 (optional)
NOTEs: *Spruce Flat Falls is an easy 2 mile round trip with 300’ Elevation gain/loss. CS 18 is a moderate 4.5 miles roundtrip with 1100’ elevation gain/loss. Proper physical ability, foot wear and clothing, and equipment is required.
Best time to Go: Spring Wildflowers; Fall for leaf viewing;
Mt. Leconte, Cliff Tops and Myrtle Point
Wednesdays and Saturdays and Sundays, Year round
Travel Type: hiking
Physical Difficulty: Strenuous
Highlights: Streams, Spruce Fir Forests, amazing mountain vistas, Wildflowers, Historical STructures
Details: Alum Cave is perhaps the most traveled and the most beautiful trail in the park. hike this route to experience several types of forest, mountain streams, wildflowers, and glorious mountain views.
Options:
Time: Full Day, Overnight at leconte Shelter (not lodge)
Destinations: Stream section at start, Arch Rock, Alum Cave Bluff, Peregrine Peak, Various overlooks along the trail, Cliff Tops, and Myrtle Point. Practice photographing many types of landscape subjects.
NOTEs: LeConte Hike is a strenous hike covering 10.2 miles and 3000’+ elevation gain. Additional mileage/difficulty for visits to Cliff Tops and Myrtle Point. Proper physical ability, foot wear and clothing, and equipment is required. Overnight requires Shelter Permit and proper backpacking gear for potentially life-threatening cold weather.
Best time to Go: Sunrise and sunset in any season; Fall for leaf viewing; Late may and June for Mountain laurel and Rhododendron blooming. Myrtle blooming late Summer.
Rocky Top Sunset
Wednesdays and Saturdays and Sundays, Year round
Travel Type: hiking
Physical Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous
Highlights: Streams, Forests, Mountain Balds, amazing mountain vistas, Wildflowers, Sunsets
Details: This is a late afternoon Start, which requires hiking down in the dark. Experience the best sunset views in the park. Take in the views of Fontana lake from Spence Field, then move up to Rocky Top to gain an even better perspective as the sun sets. Practice sunset photography and then experience views of the milky way in the dark night sky.
Options:
Time: Late Evening
Destinations: Spence field, Rocky Top
NOTEs: Rocky top is an extremely strenous hike of 11.6 Miles and 3600’+ of elevation gain/loss. Proper physical ability, foot wear and clothing, and equipment is required. Headlamp is required or can be rented for this trip.
Best time to Go: Late Summer or Early Fall (Milky way can be viewed from June to October).
Mount Cammerer
Wednesdays and Saturdays and Sundays, Year round
Travel Type: hiking
Physical Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous
Highlights: Streams, Forests, Mountain Balds, amazing mountain vistas, Wildflowers, HIstorical structures
Details: This is a very challenging hike to one of the best places to view sunrises in the Smokies. expect lots of wildflowers, great views of the Appalachian mountains, and the stone fire tower atop mt. Cammerer. Photography sessions here will primarily be Cosby Creek, the AT, Wildflowers, and mountain Vistas at the Fire Tower.
Options:
Time: Full day; Early AM for Sunrise
Destinations: AT, Mt Cammerer Fire Tower
NOTEs: Mt. Cammerer is an extremely strenous hike of 11.1 Miles and 3600’+ of elevation gain/loss. Proper physical ability, foot wear and clothing, and equipment is required.
Best time to Go: Late Summer or Early Fall (Milky way can be viewed from June to October).