Location: South of Chestnut Cove Overlook, Milepost 398.3
October Morning on the Parkway! Just captured this morning Oct 3 2013. I am happy to announce that the Parkway is open for travel as are the overlooks! Yay! But the visitors centers are closed. The entire 2 hours I was there I only saw 3 cars. This time a year that is not normal. The color is patchy from the bottom to the top and sections have more or less colors then other sections. But I do not see a significant change due to elevation. A little surprised.

Camera: Canon 5D MKII
Lens: 24-104 f4L IS USM
Focal Length: 73mm
ISO: 640
Shutter: 1/200
Aperture: f/22
Filters: none
Exposure: AV
How I Got This Shot: I actually did not plan on going up this morning to capture sunrise, but, as I was returning emails this morning, I happened to look outside and I saw pink puffy clouds. My heart skipped for a second and I thought… well I gotta go get it! Grabbed my camera and as I made it for the door I realized I was in my PJ”s. And for a split second I thought , awww who cares. Luckily I changed, made me way up, and arrived just after the sun rose. Happily, there were beautiful soft layered type clouds around to continue to hold the color. I shot for about almost two hours before I called it a day!

This shot was taken handheld as I felt the light level was bright enough to get my shutter speed over 1/60 of a second. A good rule to follow, don’t try and handhold slower then 1/60 of a second. This image was one exposure processed in LR5.

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“Light Shafts” captured on the Blue Ridge Parkway!
I came around the corner and hoping I would find beams of light peering through the trees!.. I got my wish! Here is the result of my time with the Shafts!d

Location: Sleepy Gap, Milepost 397.3 on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Camera: Canon 60D
Lens: EF 70-200 f/4 L IS USM
Focal Length: 70
ISO: 125
Shutter: 1/80
Aperture: f7.1
Filters: none
Exposure: Manual
How I Got This Shot: It was a foggy morning but only in pocketed sections of the parkway. I went up to catch the sunrise and was a little disappointed in the sunrise as it was just to cloudy and foggy where I was positioned. As I started down the mountain I noticed the sun was starting to break through. I quickly thought of the possibility of my favorite morning scene – Light Shafts! As I turned the corner near Sleepy Gap, there they were, just beaming through around the bend. I pulled in to the overlook space. Spent a few minutes moving around to find just the right spot, and shot a few.

I used one of my favorite lens’s, the 70-200 f4 IS USM from Canon. It is super sharp and I knew it would have no problem finding the shafts of light. So little was done to this other then standard camera RAW adjustments upon uploading the LR5. In fact, I tried a few other things in a plugin I like to use, but I was disappointed with the results and went back to my RAW file and started over with the original and just gently nudged the sliders in the basic panel such as my highlights and shadows, a bit of clarity but not too much as this will case it to look unnatural and it will loose it’s softness. I also added a bit of contrast. No worries about my noise as I shot at ISO125.

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Location: Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 418
Sunday Fun at Second Falls – I captured this today, September 29 2013, at Graveyard Fields. This shot you get from the roadside. Color is getting near peak. Probably another week we will be there at Graveyard Fields!

Camera: Canon 5D MKII
Lens: 70-200 f/4L IS USM + 1.4
Focal Length: 98mm
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1.6 sec
Aperture: f/32
Filters: Variable Neutral Density Filter at 8 stops & Circular polarizer
Exposure: manual
How I Got This Shot: I shot this from the roadside just before you get to Graveyard Fields if coming form Asheville. I used a circular polarizer and an 8 stop variable neutral density filter. The color is getting near peak at Graveyard Fields but it is always the first to turn. In my opinion, it is better then what I witnessed last year – probably all the rain over the summer, as we had a record rainfall going back for 70 years! If we continue with warm days and cool nights with no crazy wind storms we will be in for a super fall season here in the Smoky Mountains In WNC! Woohooo!!

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Location: Near MP 398
“Bursting Into Life”
Shot near MP 398 just after the sun rose and while the fog rolled in I was presented with the most amazing shafts of light I have ever seen. I captured over 100 jaw dropping, tantalizing images from this morning, enough to create an entire book!

Camera: Canon 5D MKII
Lens: EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM
Focal Length: 40
ISO: 640
Shutter: 1/80
Aperture: f/8
Filters: None
Exposure: AV
How I Got This Shot: After the Sun rose and the fog started to lift even higher, I was traveling back after my sunrise shoot. I came around corner and as usual I was anticipating the fog and it was thick. Of course I was hoping for the sun rays bursting forth and when I saw them, I happily pulled over an parked for yet another glorious hour!
I shot this handheld and totally worked the scene, dropping down low, standing on my car, moving from left to right to stop at the right point to really illuminate the shafts filtering through. Very little was done to this in post just standard RAW editing, very little was needed.

I was happy to walk away with over 100 jaw dropping, heart pounding, soul moving, images and this was one of the first! Stop by my facebook page for more from the day. And if you like these types of shots, I have an entire gallery on my facebook page called “The Light Chaser”. got to portfolio, then Fine Art Landscape, then atmospheric landscape and find it there! Thanks for your time – DS

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Location: Crabtree Falls, Milepost 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Crabtree Falls in full Bloom Summer. Such a a beautiful walk down to the falls. Bring a tripod and a variable neutral density filer if you plan shooting this! It is an amazing waterfall to see and hear in person!

Camera: Canon 5D MKII
Lens: EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM
Focal Length: 24mm
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1.0
Aperture: f/9
Filters: Variable Neutral Density Filter
Exposure: Shutter Priority
How I Got This Shot: After the beautiful walk down to the falls, I mounted my tripod down on the footbridge where I am standing to take this shot. It is a great place to rest and really take it all in…which I recommend… don’t forget to take time to enjoy your surroundings. I framed up my shot and fired off a few. The thing with waterfalls is to make the water look like it is silky and milky! The way to do that is to use a shutter speed of at least 1 second or longer. I have even gone as slow as 30 seconds if I have a neutral density filter on to stop down or cut out the amount of light that is reaching my cameras sensor. Also if it is an overcast or very cloudy day or even a day with light rain – you are in for a treat!! This really helps to produce some of the best waterfall shots you can capture!! Also circular polarizing filer helps to cut the water reflection and saturate the colors!! Lets get it as RIGHT in the camera as possible. This makes for less post production time Folks –

I processed this in LR along with a little help from OnOne. If you are interested in my workflow I have a few tutorials I have produced and can be purchased. Contact me for details or see my Facebook page for details! Don’t forget, I have monthly giveaways and a newsletter that contains Tips and Tricks, to help you elevate your skill level. I also lead workshops around our area so stay tuned to my FB page for details! You can find about 2 workshops per month! Thanks Folks –

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Location: Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 394
“Brilliance Awakening” Good Sunday morning everyone! This is what you missed while sleeping in, this morning 🙂
Captured just after the sun rose from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 394.

Camera: Canon 5D MKII
Lens: EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM
Focal Length: 35
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: f22
Filters: none
Exposure: Aperture Priority
How I Got This Shot: After spending time at Craggy Gardens last night for the amazing and unforgettable sunset, I awoke very early to drive up to the top of the BRP to Mills River Valley Overlook to capture the sunrise. I arrived 20 minutes before it was to come up to capture the usually colorful pre-dawn event and then stayed for the moment the sun rose and it was disappointingly uneventful. Much of the cloud cover blocked any color. So I decided to drive down and see if I could shoot it more effectively on the way down. I stopped a few times as I saw brilliant color start to emerge. Now my heart is pounding and I am wondering what is happening back up top. Can’t think about that now as I need to find my next spot before the color goes away. Well after three attempts, I settled on a spot and it just kept getting better and better. Almost every shot came out amazing and it was hard to decide which one to work on first, so I went with one of my last shots just before I packed it in.

Stay tuned to my Facebook page for the other shots of the day, as well as, Craggy Gardens from last night! Thanks for your support and find my giveaway going on now, se my facebook page to enter! ends in 7 days!! Thanks Folks – Deb Scannell

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Date Taken: 04/20/2014
Location: Near 191 entrance, Asheville
I captured this on Easter morning – It was as quiet as a mouse and I was the only one around for the first hour of light!

Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: 16
Focal Length: 35mm
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/125 sec
Aperture: f/18
Filters: none
Exposure: AV
How I Got This Shot: As I started to make my way up, I pulled off to the side of the road to one of my favorite sunrise locations… I was a little disappointed because the fog was burring off quickly and I missed the actual sun rising as this was a last minute idea. Mounted my tripod and camera and decided it was bright enough to handhold and I like the freedom of that because 90 % of the time I am on a tripod shooting interiors for architects. I knew if I just moved slightly and waited for the little sparkle I see from the sun I would get the sunburst effect I love so much. Make sure you are on f16- f/32 to help produce it! Try it next time you have a full on sun, But don’t leave it exposed for long as the sun can burn and damage your sensor. Don’t use mirror lockup for these shots!

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Date Taken: 04/02/2014
Location: Milepost 399 View of the Biltmore House
“Morning Lace”
Just captured this very morning April 2 2014, from one of my favorite sunrise locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway just south of the 191 entrance. Read about my thinking on this shot in the “How I got this shot” part! Stop by my Facebook page for my GIVEAWAY going on now – 3 more days left. Click here for a mobile-friendly link.

Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon 70-200 f/4 L IS USM
Focal Length: 70mm
ISO: 500
Shutter: 1/40
Aperture: f/32
Filters: none
Exposure: Manual
How I Got This Shot: As I opened my eyes this morning, my first thought was get up and get out, so I did. Driving to the Blue Ridge Parkway, with my two little dogs, I started to notice that there were no clouds – I always like the clouds as they really help to hold the color and produce really pretty and interesting images. Disappointed about the fact that there were no clouds, I thought, well I am already here so just shoot. I soon realized that it was doing nothing for me. TIP: When this happens, push yourself to find something. So I looked off to my right and I knew that in a few minutes the sun would be bursting through the trees. So I repositioned myself and placed the sun behind the trees. If you move in tiny increments so the sun just starts to peak out from behind the tree and you set your aperture to around f/22 you will produce the start effect. So I think this shot is so much more interesting then what I got prior to the arrangement.

Tech Info: Canon 7D, 70-200 f/4, ISO 500, 1/40 sec at f/32. *** I had to bump up my ISO because I was handholding and it still only produced 1/40 at f/32. I normally like to keep my shutter speed above 1/60 sec when handholding.

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Date Taken: 10/21/2013
Location: Oconaluftee Visitor Center Field
Ladies… come and get it! Captured predawn in the field at the end of the BRP at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. Young Buck Elk.

Camera: Canon 5D MKII
Lens: EF 70-200 f/4 L IS USM
Focal Length: 165mm
ISO: 2500
Shutter: 1/80
Aperture: f/4.0
Filters: none
Exposure: Manual
How I Got This Shot: I was on my way to Cades Cove in hopes to capture the fog and wildlife and it escaped my attention that as I drove past the Oconaluftee Visitors Center I might find a few Elk. So as I approached and saw a few cars parked along the roadside, I knew I would be in for a treat. My heart was pumping now as I grabbed my camera and tripod and positioned myself along the roadside. I never thought I would be still standing there as the sun started to come up and capture such gorgeous shots of the fog, field, sunrise, and Elk. My feet were freezing and wet, but, I did not feel a thing. 45 minutes and 200 shots later, I was finally on my way to Cades Cove and so thankful to have had this experience!

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Date Taken: 10/19/2014
Location: Black Balsam near Graveyard Fields
Captured this on the road that leads to Black Balsam area. Looking back at Graveyard Fields. I noticed Pisgah bathing in a blanket of puffy whites – could not resist the shot.

Camera: Canon 7D
Lens: Canon 70-200 f/4 L IS USM + 1.4x
Focal Length: 280mm
ISO: 250
Shutter: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f/13
Filters: Circular Polarizer
Exposure: AV
How I Got This Shot: As I drove past Graveyard Fields, I decided to drive up the road that leads to the Black Balsam area. As I rose in elevation and saw this site unfolding before my eyes, I knew I had to capture it. I shot this handheld because my other camera was mounted to my tripod. It was a very windy morning and I went up to capture the sunrise and remaining high elevation fall foliage – Funny that this ended up with a black and white treatment. Once I saw the image on my computer I knew it must be black and white!

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