Photography

A picture may be worth 1,000 words, so photography tells many stories.

Pair Double-Crested Cormorant

Coastal Wildlife Of South Carolina

March 12, 2018 |

Most of my photography captures the mountains of Western North Carolina, but sometimes I have the opportunity to share the coastal wildlife of South Carolina.

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Moonlight On The Marsh

November 13, 2017 |

During our vacation at Huntington Beach State Park (SC), we were returning from a dinner in a restaurant. As we began to cross the causeway, we noticed the brilliant full moon rising in the east and the moonlight sparking off of the clear waters of the marsh. After dropping my passengers off, I returned with…

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The bee does not look happy to have to wait.

Beautiful Butterflies – Photography Friday

August 11, 2017 |

Our summer weather has been a perfect mix of rainy and sunny days, prompting many late season blooms. Those blooms have attracted many butterflies flitting around our yard. My favorite photograph of the bunch is the first one – a bee waiting for a butterfly to move along so that the bee can do its…

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Glorious Sunrise

Glorious Sunrise On A Summer Morning

August 4, 2017 |

With a week of crisp, clear mornings, we have seen a glorious sunrise each day. Today’s was spectacular as the sun rose behind the trees, reflecting light off of the sparse, floating clouds in the eastern sky. As I let the dogs out to play in the dew covered grass, I just took a few…

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The steps to the shrine were completed in 1948.

Masonic Shrine On The Blue Ridge Parkway

July 28, 2017 |

One of the lesser known attractions on the Blue Ridge Parkway is the Masonic Shrine, built in the 1930’s and home today to an annual gathering of Masons. The property is bounded on one side by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on three sides by the Blue Ridge Parkway. The monument was completed…

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The brilliant orange plumes of daylilies

Mountain Evening Blooms Under Cloudy Skies

July 20, 2017 |

After the briefest of showers, the clouds hung heavy in the skies while our evening blooms glistened. The Rhododendron are holding their blooms at our higher elevations while the daylilies are shining in their bright colors. NOTE – Click on any of the photographs to enlarge and start a slide show. Depending on your viewing…

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The frog! A centerpiece on a table on the back patio.

Sudden Summer Storm & Torrential Rains

July 13, 2017 |

After last year’s difficult drought that resulted in so many devastating wildfires last fall, we are quite happy with our much more normal rainfall this year. Yesterday afternoon was no exception as a thunderstorm crested the Cataloochee Divide – the ridge marking the eastern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park behind our house. The…

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Cataloochee Ranch Post Rain Showers

July 6, 2017 |

During dinner last night, one of those standard summer pop-up thunderstorms rumbled over the mountain.  I decided to go next door to Cataloochee Ranch with my cameras and see the views post rain showers. The sun sets over Soco Gap and the Cherokee Reservation, but the clouds obscured that view and created their own evening artistry. As…

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Our Plentiful Wildlife – Rabbits And More Rabbits

June 29, 2017 |

When you think of wildlife photography, rabbits may not come to your mind. For us, they are everywhere. The most common threat to them comes from the skies – hawks, owls and eagles. Our coyote pack and our resident bobcat may catch several. Even my dogs have claimed a few who were dumb enough to…

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Black Bear Visit

Pre-Dawn Black Bear Visit At The House

June 22, 2017 |

I stumbled into my study before dawn Saturday morning, glanced out the window, and was surprised to see I was receiving a black bear visit. We live on the eastern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so black bears are quite common. Still, it is always a surprise when you realize one of…

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Valley fog glowing in the sunrise

A Day Of Sunrises, Clouds and Bumblebees

June 15, 2017 |

The Catawba Rhododendron blooms have faded for the summer, but the mountain laurel exploded in bloom. The bumblebees follow the blooms and allowed some very up close photography as they gathered nectar and pollen in the early morning cool. The weather conspired to give us a favorite sunrise treat – the valley fog below us…

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Cataloochee sunsets

Cataloochee Sunsets – Timelapse Photography

June 8, 2017 |

When you get that rare moment to combine the things you love – go for it. Making this timelapse photography project – Cataloochee Sunsets – brought together so many of my favorite things. First, my terrific neighbors at Cataloochee Ranch. To get down the mountain through town, I first have to drive through the middle…

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