Date Taken: 10/11/2019
Location: Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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Location: Milepost 469. Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Majestic Morning with a Young Bull Elk –
What a perfect way to end the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway Drive in the very early hours! Shot at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center just as the sun started to rise and began to throw color all over the sky as the fog lay gently in the field. Captured Oct 21, 2013 around 6:45 AM.

Camera: Canon 5D MKII
Lens: EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM
Focal Length: 105mm
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: f/4.5
Filters: None
Exposure: AV
How I Got This Shot: So I planned to arrive at Cades Cove by 7:45 on this morning. I am not upset that my efforts were thwarted by this Fella!!! Captured at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center around 6:45. I spent about 45 minutes with him and then the 6 x 6 Bull came out for a few minutes before he ran off into the river. Check my facebook page for that shot!

My heart was pounding and I kept thinking to myself, check your composition, check your settings, check around you…last time I found these guys, I was so excited and was very disappointed to find my setting were not good and I did not capture them in the way I wanted to… I made sure if I encountered again I would concentrate on that part along with enjoying the moments. It was cold, foggy and my feet were frozen right through my hiking Keens. It is amazing how you don’t feel any of that until afterwards… Living in the moments my friends, living in the moment!

Many more shots coming of our amazing fall season! Thank You for your support and Thank You to the Blue Ridge Parkway Daily for keeping us in the loop – Deb

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Photo By: Joey Anderson

Location: Oconaluftee Visitor Center (GSMNP), Milepost 469

I’ve wanted to photograph these elk for years now and I finally had the opportunity to do so. This photo was taken near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Please check out my other pics at www.jlandersonphotography.com or www.facebook.com/JosephLAndersonPhotography

Camera: Nikon D7000

Lens: AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1:2.8 D

ISO: 1000

Aperture: f/2.8

Shutter: 1/250 seconds

Exposure: Manual

Focal Length: 135mm

Filters: None

How I Got This Shot

I took this shot at approximately 6:45 a.m. just after sunrise. These elk feed in the field adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Great Smoky Mountain National Park) at sunrise and sunset.

A telephoto is a must to zoom in on the detail. I also recommend a fast lens so that you can get great bokeh. This particular shot was hand held, but I also got great shots that morning using a tripod and shutter release.

The post “Oconaluftee Elk” by Joey Anderson appeared first on Blue Ridge Parkway - Photo of the Day | Galleries.