My Photography and Travel Blog

Posts tagged “green

Great Smoky Mountains


Pathways Through the ForestPathways Through the Forest
As I stood there in the delightful morning chill composing this image, I was concentrating on the water trough that flows water from the creek (barely visible from camera left). Cursing under my breath that “how dare they put pavement so close to all this natural beauty!”, then I thought…wait a minute…exactly what am I looking at here? As you all know, learning to “see” can be a trying and tricky time…and as I reflected on how many different paths I have taken over these many years I realized…that no matter how numerous the paths, they all seem to end up placing me right here where I am. Like the snow that melts and travels down the road, down the water trough, and down the creeks, streams, and rivers…eventually to the ocean and then back up to the clouds. falling as snow and rain, to travel many paths right back to the ocean to start it’s journey all over again. Flowing down many different paths just to do it all over again while assuming different forms as liqied, ice, and snow.
So as they say out west, “Happy trails to you”, and as each of us travel our many paths of life try to remember that while destinations are important, the paths you chose to get there….can be even more exciting than the destinations themselves. Just my two cents worth, hope this makes sense to those who need to hear this (like me!).

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 12-24mm 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead, and my trust Stanley thermos.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).


Great Smoky Mountains


Mountain Stream LullabyeMountain Stream Lullabye
This image is primarily “right from the camera”. I did add some contrast and a small amount of highlight recovery. This will mark a break in my Great Smoky Mountains collection. However, I will be adding to this collection on my webpage if you would like to visit. I plan to add a little more diversity on my blog pages and for sure, I will be featuring more of this gallery on my blog pages in the near future!
Since I purchased Nikkor’s 12-24 2.8 lens, I have been absolutely in love with it’s ability to capture such wide angles of view while maintaining is “corner to corner” tack sharpness. I am going to be heading out to try this lens in some of my Seascape images (keep your fingers crossed, the huge bubble on the end of this lens does not allow for any filter use).

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 12-24mm 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead, and my trusty Stanley thermos.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).


Great Smoky Mountains


Rustic CabinRustic Cabin
Just a little something different…trying a softer image style, hope you like it. Comments welcomed to your preference of sharp and clear, or allowing and enjoying the occassional use of a softer image style.

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 12-24mm 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead, and my trust Stanley thermos.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).


Great Smoky Mountains


Fall Colors BeginFall Colors Begin
One of my favorite things to do is to hike through the woods where the silence and solitude can be deafening. The sound of the wind blowing through the trees is a haunting reminder of small we are in totality of nature. The chill of the air stings our cheeks warning us that “old man winter” is on the way. The feeling of solitude fill our mind as we wonder about those that have walked the paths, stood by the streams, and lived through the harshness of nature’s frosty blanket. Behind me I can hear the roar of a waterfall. Setting up my camera and tripod for this shot, the animals surely thought I was crazy…moving from side to side, the forward and backward, until I finally found a spot I was happy with for the photograph. This shot was something I wanted to savor and enjoy…the rich warm colors of fall as they began to show themselves in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 12-24mm 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead, and my trusty Stanley thermos.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).


Great Smoky Mountains


Enchanted PathEnchanted Path to the Woodshed
Chilly and misty morning in Gatlinburg, TN. This old wood shed was ighlighte by the rocks, colors, and even the mist and trees. Drawing my eye and my lens to spend some time trying to capture it. Well, and a thermos full of coffee to ward off the wet chill in the air.

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 12-24mm 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead, and my trusty Stanley thermos.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).


Fine Art Collection


Smoky Mountain ColorSmoky Mountain Color
Sometime even a wide angle lens cannot even come close to capturing all the splenor! Looks like I will be trying my hand at Fall Panoramas this year!

Location: Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN

For more fall colors from Gatlinburg: you can click the link at the top of the page for my WEBSITE or, you can click on any of my image and go right to the HIGHRES version. Or, you can go to http://www.stanshillingburg.com and click on my photography gallery. The Landscapes, Fine Art, and other galleries are available for your viewing pleasure!

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).


Landscapes and Seascapes


Mountain Stream in Fall ColorsMountain Stream in Fall Colors
Maybe I am over anxious for the splendor of Fall and all of her warm colors and crisp clean air….but I feel like I am like a kid at Christmas about it.
Stay safe and please visit often!

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).


Fine Art Collection


With Fall finally on the approach, I am re-posting this image to keep us all looking forward to the warm and brilliant colors of fall! The sights, smell, sounds, and fashion of Fall are things I look forward to every year. I hope to return to Gatlingburg again this year at the peak of the Fall colors, and maybe my camera and I can capture more of these colorful images for you! Stay safe, peace, love, and Happiness to all of you!

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Landscapes and Seascapes


Early morning on the marsh near Beaufort, SC, USA

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, iNDURO ct213 tripod, Induro BHD2 Ballhead.
Camera settings: Focal length 24mm, f13, 1/500s, ISO 100

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Landscapes and Seascapes


Waterfall in North Carolina
Sorry guys, not exactly sure which park this was in (whirlwind photo safari, many stops!) I was trying my hand at the “post card edit” style of editing, hope this is good enough for you guys! I can tell you there is an upper falls (with an overlook) and a lower falls (where this shot was taken) and I hiking all the way down to the plunge basin for this image. I will caution anyone who make the hikes up here…take plenty of water! It is a long way down, the change of socks came in handy, as did the trail mix and protien bars! And the hike back out is…steep! The portion of the falls visible here is about eighty feet, there are two more smaller falls about this final drop bt those remain hidden in the rocks. The river above that feeds this looks so calm and peaceful, then it drops rapidly down and makes a couple of twists before finally flowing out from this lowest level of the falls.

Location: North Carolina, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


Knock, knock, knocking on Heavan’s door

Location: Gatlinburg, TN, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BDH2 ballhead

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Travel


Where Earth and Sky collide in Gatlinburg, TN Fall colors

Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BDH2 ballhead

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


Color or black and white? I could not decide, so I will be posting both of them. There was just too much debris (late model cars and parts) around this old classic. My apologies for the digital blanket around the gem (I am NOT a photoshop artist), I hope it is not too distracting from my classy subject!

Location: Rural South Carolina Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


Color or black and white? I could not decide, so I will be posting both of them. There was just too much debris (late model cars and parts) around this old classic. My apologies for the digital blanket around the gem (I am NOT a photoshop artist), I hope it is not too distracting from my classy subject!

Location: Rural South Carolina
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


As promised, “The Twins” in Monochrome, enjoy!

 

 

 

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


I do wonder what story (or stories) this one could tell……

 

Location: South Carolina Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens Camera setting: ISO 100, f/8, 1/60sec, Aperture Priority mode.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


The Twins……in color
Rural South Carolina has many, many treasures to find..and I am always looking!

Location: South Carolina Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens Camera setting: ISO 100, f/8, 1/60sec, Aperture Priority mode.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


The Grill….

Rusty, old, classic and decaying. All terms that came to my mind when I first began to study this old rusty car grill and front end. Then, as I began to photograph, I began to wonder…what events in history had these headlights illuminated? tradgedy? joy? pain? maybe simply an open road? Had this been the front end of a moonshine runner? Artifacts and history…unknown, undiscovered, and stories we will never know. One thing remain certain, that at one time, this was state of the art, and a peice of someone’s history, pride, and joy. Now, after it’s usefulness has run it’s course, once again it is valuable, sought after, in high demand by those looking to preserve the history, restore the classics and artifacts of heritage and progress. For me it is a comforting reminder that just because we grow old, our eyes and minds may begin to fail us…but the history of our lives, the experiences we have had, the art we create, while not as spectacular or shiny as we once were, are all treasures to be enjoyed by those with whom we choose.

Location: Rural South Carolina Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, and an Induro BDH2 ballhead.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


And here is the Color Version

Location: South Carolina Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens Camera setting: ISO 100, f/8, 1/60sec, Aperture Priority mode.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


Rusty, old, classic and decaying. All terms that came to my mind when I first began to study this old rusty car grill and front end. Then, as I began to photograph, I began to wonder…what events in history had these headlights illuminated? tradgedy? joy? pain? maybe simply an open road? Had this been the front end of a moonshine runner? Artifacts and history…unknown, undiscovered, and stories we will never know. One thing remain certain, that at one time, this was state of the art, and a peice of someone’s history, pride, and joy. Now, after it’s usefulness has run it’s course, once again it is valuable, sought after, in high demand by those looking to preserve the history, restore the classics and artifacts of heritage and progress. For me it is a comforting reminder that just because we grow old, our eyes and minds may begin to fail us…but the history of our lives, the experiences we have had, the art we create, while not as spectacular or shiny as we once were, are all treasures to be enjoyed by those with whom we choose.

Location: Rural South Carolina
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, and an Induro BDH2 ballhead.

The monochrome version is in my web gallery (and I actually love the way it turnd out)!

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!


Stills and digital artwork


Out here in the field, you never know what your gonna run in to! I found this old relic sitting out in a field in rural South Carolina and grabbed a few shots. The color version is also posted in my Stills and Digital Artwork gallery.

Location: South Carolina
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens
Camera setting: ISO 100, f/8, 1/60sec, Aperture Priority mode.

As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!