Woodland Spring

Bud Ogle's Dogwoods

2010-04-26T10:52:00.003-04:00

Here is a photo of Bud Ogle's house (in the Smokies) and a dogwood beside it that was blooming during the wildflower pilgrimage of 2009. The close up (below) shows a pair of flowers from a tree that was behind me (and just up the small hill) as I faced the tree and cabin.

Dogwood

2010-04-26T10:50:00.002-04:00

Dogwoods were just passing their peak bloom when I arrived in the Smokies a week ago yesterday. But I got this photo LAST YEAR during the week of the pilgrimage. It was in Bud Ogle's yard.

Smokies Wildflower Pilgrimage

2010-04-26T10:48:00.001-04:00

I am back from the pilgrimage. It will take a few days or weeks for me to get to the photos from this year. But it was lots of fun. I met some new people, including photographers, and lots of folks who love wildflowers as much as I do. Stay tuned!

Yellow Trillium

2010-04-16T17:32:00.002-04:00

I have not seen it yet this year, but here is a shot from two years ago, about this time, when I found yellow trillium blooming in the Smokies. If I had time, I would post lots more shots. But I have to wait until I return from the pilgrimage (see post below).

Wildflower Pilgrimage in Gatlinburg, TN

2010-04-16T17:27:00.002-04:00

I am heading to Gatlinburg, TN this weekend for the 60th Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage. If you surf on line under "Wildflower Pilgrimage" and "Gatlinburg" you should find it. It's run by the Great Smoky Mountain Association. I will be doing two presentations on Wed, April 21, one on wildflower photography and the other on wildflowers.
Sorry I have neglected my blog this spring. I had high hopes of keeping up to date but some stuff happened with my extended family and I was totally distracted by it. However, I can say this: Lots of stuff is currently blooming, including dutchman's breeches and Virginia blue bell. Bloodroot is probably done. Same with hepatica and snow trillium. I am sure that spring beauty is well underway and will be blooming for another week or two (trailing off) here in eastern Iowa. The Smokies are ahead of eastern Iowa and so spring beauty is probably gone. Wild ginger is up, as are many of the Solomon Seal type flowers and trilliums.

Snow Trillium Flowers

2010-04-07T19:51:00.002-04:00

I found this group of snow trilliums in full bloom about a week ago in eastern Iowa. It has been a busy week so I am finally getting around to posting it. This is the first trillium to bloom each year and its white flowers can be found blooming along side hepatica. Not far away, spring beauty was about getting started, but still in the very early stages.

Hepatica

2010-03-23T19:30:00.001-04:00

Also hepatica are blooming on the same hillside where I found snow trillium blooming. I figure spring beauty is out there too but did not have time today to look. Sometimes my science writing takes time from the more exciting adventures, but since it mostly pays for the adventures, I better keep doing it.

Snow Trillium

2010-03-23T19:29:00.001-04:00

Snow Trillium are in full bloom here in eastern Iowa. I will post photos as soon as I can. It might be a couple days due to appointments and the rest of life getting in the way... but that's ok. I will get to it!

Skunk Cabbages

2010-03-16T11:30:00.004-04:00

This photo shows a pair of skunk cabbages growing side-by-side in the mud. They grow in a location that is pretty much always wet, due to a spring that causes water to seep out to the surface of the forest, and forms a small stream. If you look in the front corner of the photo, you can see the wet mud. Being early bloomers, as they are, the skunk cabbage plants often get damaged by frost. You can see evidence of frost damage on the green vegetation which protected the red "hoods" when they first emerged through the dirt.

Snow Trillium Bud

2010-03-16T10:47:00.000-04:00

Here is a snow trillium bud, which I found yesterday in eastern Iowa. It's one of several trillium species that I have photographed over the years. Snow trillium can be found in other locations, but this is the only place where I have ever found it. During trips to the Smokies, I have photographed several other species. Snow trillium is the smallest trillium that I know of, reaching a height of about only 4 inches. It is also the first to bloom each spring and is often seen sprouting in the snow, hence the name Snow Trillium.

Skunk Cabbage Patch

2010-03-15T18:13:00.002-04:00

This isn't exactly a photogenic photo, but it shows the landscape where the skunk cabbages thrive. See below for more info about skunk cabbages. It's a wet boggy area where the ground is composed of MUD. I did not step in this area for fear of damaging the plants and making an absolute mess.

Peeking into a Cabbage

2010-03-15T17:22:00.003-04:00

Here is a rather close-up view of a skunk cabbage. My sons and I visited the “cabbage patch” on Sunday, March 14. We found hundreds of skunk cabbage plants in full bloom. The “hood” protects the flower underneath. Looking inside the “window” you can see the “ball” that contains many flowers. They emit an aroma that is not exactly pleasant to the human senses, but attracts flies quite well. Skunk cabbage is one of the very first wildflowers to bloom each year, and it actually generates heat to help melt its way through the snow.

Skunk Cabbages and ... Snakes!

2010-03-15T10:47:00.003-04:00

Ok, I know this isn't a wildflower. But it's part of the story of spring. My boys and I were walking through the wet forest and checking out the skunk cabbages. I was preparing to photograph one of the cabbage plants and my son yelled out, "I found a snake." Of course knowing the cabbage would stay in place, but the snake might not, I moved the tripod/camera setup over to the snake and tried to get a few good shots. I was hoping to get a good shot with his/her tongue. This was the best one I could get. The lighting is a bit harsh, and I have better photos of the snake (no tongue) with softer, more diffused lighting, thanks to passing clouds. I will prepare one of those pictures eventually too... but this one was too fun and I had to prepare it first.

Patches of Snow

2010-03-14T12:27:00.003-04:00

I got this scenic shot the same day as the close-up shots below. This shows a combination of south-facing slope and north-facing slope to illustrate the difference in conditions from one place to the next. The south-facing slope (on the left) has no more snow--being relatively warmer, the snow melted more quickly--but the north-facing slope still has patches of snow. I got this shot while standing on a somewhat flat area along the north-facing slope, so you can see some of the patches of snow near my feet. The sun hits more directly on the south-facing slope and thus it warms up more quickly, and this difference can be seen with melting snow as well as the timing of wildflower blooming. Some years, the difference is more obvious than others.

Hepatica Peeks through the Snow

2010-03-14T11:24:00.005-04:00

The north-facing slope had patches of snow. So I walked along and explored the edges of several patches. I wanted to get some kind of photograph showing the wildflowers and the snow together. I wanted to be able to show the type of harsh conditions these delicate plants can endure. In this case, I found one of last year's hepatica leaves just beginning to appear along the edge of the melting patch of snow. The new growth is still protected underground but will likely emerge within the next few days--wrapped tightly by a layer of plant tissue (resembling a spike) that protects the delicate buds and stems within. One of the nice things about hepatica is that last year's leaves typically remain all year, so you can walk through the woods after the blooming season (summer, fall, or winter) and figure out where to look for it when the blooming season returns the following spring.

Spring Beauty Sprout

2010-03-13T21:27:00.004-05:00

This spring beauty sprout is beginning to turn green, which means that the chlorophyll is starting to develop in the leaves. Unlike the one shown below, this one was growing in a warmer spot that no longer had any snow. It was on a flat surface of forest rather than a north-facing slope and higher up toward the top of a hill. This shot shows the buds, still well under-developed along the underneath side of the stem. If you look at hundreds or thousands of spring beauty sprouts as they emerge and shortly after, you will see that they always come up with this up-side down U shape and their buds are always protected on the underside of the stem. Pushing through the frozen dirt (and snow) takes a lot of effort and the plant keeps the buds safe by placing them in this relatively protected location. See the entry below for more information on spring beauties.

Spring Beauty Sprout

2010-03-13T19:22:00.007-05:00

Here is a spring beauty sprout, which I found in a forest in eastern Iowa on Thursday. It was emerging on a north facing slope, which was still speckled with patches of snow. I searched through the thin layers of snow still remaining to find as many neat shots as time would allow. To give a sense of size here, if I had included my chapstick behind the sprout, the chapstick would reach across the frame (from left to right) and just barely fit.
The plant starts out appearing pink, due to the absense of chlorophyll. The chlorophyll begins to develop with exposure to the sun, during which time the plant becomes more and more green. With time, the stem will straighten up and grow taller, and the leaves will lengthen and become somewhat plump.
The tiny "nubs" under the arch of the arch are the undeveloped buds. Eventually they will develop into white flowers with pink veins and pink pollen. Each stem will produce anywhere from 4 to 12 (approximately), blooming in sequence from the top of the stem toward the bottom. Typically one or two flowers bloom at a time, but toward the peak season, sometimes a single stem can have three or four all at once.
It's wonderful to be back in Iowa for my first Iowa spring in 14 years.

Oops -- Sorry

2010-03-13T16:01:00.001-05:00

I got busy with other photos yesterday and did not post the shots I said I would post. Fear not, and please forgive me. I will post them most likely today. I have downloaded them from the camera... And tomorrow I plan to search for skunk cabbages about 30 miles from my house. Spring is definitely here!

Spring is HERE !!!

2010-03-12T12:52:00.003-05:00

I will posting pictures later today. But for now, I must report that yesterday I found spring beauty and snow trillium SPROUTS (buds so small that they were barely visible except with magnification--like my 200 mm lens) here in the forests of eastern Iowa. Though there was still some snow lingering on the cooler slopes, most of the snow was gone. Still I got a few shots of wildflowers with snow in the frame, which helps show the harsh conditions underwhich these delicate flowers emerge. So come back later today (Friday) and I will have photos posted. I hope to post at least one scenic and a couple close up shots too.

Snow Melting

2010-03-09T16:10:00.003-05:00

Snow is melting in the forests of eastern Iowa--more so on south facing slopes (which receive more intense light) than north facing slopes (which receive light that comes hits at more of an angle). Certain slopes show a pattern of patchy melting, with leaves visible in some locations while other locations are still covered by a layer of snow. Widlflowers will begin working their way through the cold and somewhat frozen ground. Spring is nearly here.

Snow and Snow Trilliums

2010-03-07T20:09:00.006-05:00

Here is the hillside where I will soon be finding snow trilliums instead of snow! It has been 14 years since I have been able to visit this hillside during the snow trillium blooming season. My boys and I went out a few days ago to check the landscape and this is what we saw... There was lots of snow but much has melted during the past three days. And being an early bloomer, as it is, I would not be surprised to find signs of snow trillium within the week. It might not be blooming, but I should at least find buds by the end of next weekend! Meanwhile, I will need to start looking for skunk cabbages soon too!

Spring is on its Way!

2010-02-22T09:07:00.004-05:00

This photograph offers a flashback to a sunny winter day around 1992 when I was living in my "new" farm house in eastern Iowa; the house itself was 70 years old, but in surprisingly wonderful condition. I ended up staying there for just a few years, then marrying Ed Wolfe and moving away, and traveling around (NJ, FL, TX, MI, VA) for the next 13 years. But this past summer, we have returned--not to the same house, but the same basic location. This is where I lived when I first came up with the idea of "Woodland Spring," and would lead nature walks for local folks and help them learn about the wildflowers.
With my return to Iowa, I also return to this website with a renewed level of interest and committment. I will be heading back to some of the same forests where I first learned about these wildflowers in the mid-late 1980s. I will report on what's going on, what's blooming, and things like that.
The first plant will likely be skunk cabbage, or possibly snow trillium! I have seen skunk cabbage elsewhere (including Princeton, NJ, various locations in Michigan, and SW Virginia) but it has been 14 full years since I have seen snow trillium, and I can hardly wait!
So stay tuned... It's the end of February and I am gearing up for spring.

Mt LeConte Sunset (one year ago)

2009-11-23T07:36:00.004-05:00

About a year ago (plus five days) from today, I hiked to the top of Mt LeConte (in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park) for the first time and stayed overnight in the lodge at the top. Wow, what a trip. The path was icy and very steep in some places but I kept going even though I knew there was some risk of slipping and falling. I survived the trip just fine and really enjoyed my stay at the top of Mt LeConte overnight at the Mt LeConte Lodge. Here are pictures from that trip including the sunset at the top, some of the buildings of the lodge just past sunset, and also an icicle I found on the way up. It was five miles up and five miles back, and took pretty much a whole day in each direction (due to photo stops and ice) but worth it.

Point Poipu in Kauai

2009-11-23T07:31:00.002-05:00

I went to Hawaii recently and visited a couple of the islands. I enjoyed the western isalnd of Kauai because there was lots of nice scenery. Here is a view of the coastline near where I stayed. This is toward the south eastern edge of the island. The sun was setting behind me and had just dropped below a hillside.

Prairie Dog Alarm

2009-09-14T15:05:00.004-04:00

I have neglected my wildflower "blog" for a long time due to a recent move and all kinds of other things going on. However, I was recently in the Badlands of South Dakota and I found this wonderful little prairie dog. He/she was giving the alarm call to warn other doggies of a possible threat. What a brave little dog. I was as close as I could get with a 300 mm lens and not much time before having to head to the mud formations to catch some warm and soft evening light. But here is one of a few doggies that I photographed at a prairie dog community not far from the side of the road. It might not qualify as true nature photography but I sure had fun.

Blue Cohosh (Buds and Blooms)

2009-04-14T13:23:00.005-04:00

Blue Cohosh Buds
Blue Cohosh Flowers (and visitor)

Here are some blue cohosh buds from back in March. I found these in the Greenbriar area of the Smokies. Below these buds, are some flowers in bloom, which I found yesterday in southern Virginia. The Smokies are at least a week or two ahead of Virginia, in general, but it varies with location and particularly elevation. On top of that, some plants bloom earlier than others due to the natural variation within the population. [PS: It was somewhat windy on the day I got these shots, so it took great patience and careful timing to stop the motion. Add to that the movement of the pollinator and you can guess it was a challenge, but a fun challenge. Pollinators always make wildflower photography more exciting!]

Dutchmen's Breeches

2009-04-14T12:36:00.005-04:00

I found this plant yesterday while walking through the woods of southern Virginia. This Dutchman's Breeches has PINKINSH flowers instead of the typical white. It is not unheard of, but it is uncommon! This hint of pink in the petals gives an idea that the pink color of "bleeding hearts" (a domesticated relative) is indeed a natural phenomenon, just selected for intentionally (by humans) over time. Genetic variation is pretty cool.

Spring Flowers are Blooming Again!

2009-04-12T19:00:00.004-04:00

It has been forever since I posted a spring wildflower photo here. Sorry about that. I have been busy doing too many other things (including weddings and directories). As of last week, I am working as efficiently as possible on preparations for the upcoming Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smokies. It begins the week of April 20. I am doing a Wednesday presentation after the kick off lunch (check the printable brochure on the home page). I will also be selling photos as a vendor. Here is one photo that I have just prepared and printed up as a card; I will make some larger prints too. It is Sweet White Trillium. I got this shot last year (same week as last year's pilgrimage) when hanging out with my photographer friend Kyle. He "found" the shot but let me try it too. The front (lower) flower is intentionally in focus while the back flower (top) is not. The shot can work ok as long as the "out of focus" part appears intentional rather than as just a mistake!

New Tabby

2008-09-29T11:52:00.005-04:00

It started with a trip to Petsmart to return the steps that Buttercup never used, steps that were supposed to help her climb up to the bed on her own. (See below to read about Buttercup's final summer and her last day with us in August.) And being at Petsmart, I had to walk past the adoption area. After all, the cats and kittens are so beautiful and I just had to see them even though I knew it would make me sad.
As I rounded the corner, I saw a beautiful small tabby. Her ID tag said she was a mother cat, found as a stray. She was alone in the cage. I fell in love.
I looked at all the kitties in all the cages, including kittens, and knew that the tabby momma was the one who would most need a home. And I left, knowing that we have two cats and that my husband would probably prefer to stick with just two for a while. I had tried to suggest kittens a few weeks ago and he said he just didn't think it was a good time for that.
I dropped a hint or two here and there. And then the following night, my husband said one adult tabby would be an acceptable addition to the family, bringing us back to three cats. We agreed to stop by Petsmart the next afternoon to adopt her--part of a birthday "surprise" for him, but really more for me and the boys.
I could not sleep. All night I kept imagining that she would already be adopted and that wasting two days without making a move would have meant that she is already gone. I decided to assume she was already gone just so I would not be disappointed if she was gone when I got there.
I ended up going to Petsmart at 9:30 that morning; it was Saturday. The store opened at 9. I wanted to check on the kitty and get the adoption started as soon as possible. It was going to be a surprise for our two boys who love kitties as much as I do.
As I rounded the corner, her cage was empty! But I quickly noticed the back was open and a volunteer was cleaning the cage. I looked through the glass and beyond the cages, and there she was, just running around in the area where people meet cats they want to adopt. She looked up at me, with a bounce in her step. My eyes watered.
Anyway, I found a Petsmart employee to help me, and she said that adoptions usually take several days to complete, for good reason. They need to make sure the family is a good match for that cat and everything seems ok and safe. I wrote my name and number on a sheet of paper and indicated which cat I wanted. The employee told me that I would have to wait for a volunteer from the agency to call me, probably Monday. Petsmart itself does not do the adoptions.
The employee said that the volunteer would be stopping by later that day to check on the cats, and that volunteer would initiate the adoption process, but that she knew nothing about the details of the procedure and I would just have to wait and see. Urgh! Meanwhile, I asked whether I could meet the kitty and pet her. She said that employees are not allowed to let people meet the cats, but since the other volunteer was there to clean cages, it would be ok as long as the volunteer said it was ok with her. Well, the volunteer cleaning the cages was wonderfully sweet and said of course it would be ok.
I entered the tiny closet-sized "meeting" room and feel in love even more. I spent 40 minutes petting the beautiful tabby. She purred almost the entire time. I wanted to drag it out as long as possible for hopes that somehow the person in charge of her might show up and we could make sure that I would be the one to eventually take her home. I was lucky... and had good timing. I overheard someone through the door talking to another person about the cats, calling them by name and acting like she knew them. By this point, the volunteer cleaning cages was just finishing up and so it was about time for me to leave. I gave back the tabby and left the little room.
I knew this was my big chance. I walked over to the woman talking about the cats and I bravely asked if she was the person in charge of the tabby. She said yes. I almost cried with relief.
We talked awhile, and my eyes watered. I told her that I have fallen in love with the momma tabby and would love to take her home as soon as possible. We talked about the formal procedure, which would take a few days. Then kind of spontaneously, the person said, "You know, you can just take her today and we can finish up the paperwork and interview next week." She would not normally do that, of course, but she sensed (correctly) that I was a good match for the kitty, and that my home would be safe and loving. Both she and I were eager to get the tabby out of the cage and into a home.
We talked together as I filled out some of the paperwork. She shared her joy that the kitty had found a home so quickly, after just one week in the cage at Petsmart. She explained that she had been concerned about finding a home for the tabby: "We were worried about whether we could place her. It is hard to find a home for mother cats. And we have a lot of brown and black tabbies right now, which added to our concern." I replied by saying, "She is the perfect cat for me. I love her."
Of course there were two cats at home, minding their own business at that very moment, having no idea that I was in the process of changing their lives. Not immensely but somewhat. We'd adopted them two years ago as kittens, sister and brother from a litter of four. One solid brown and one solid black.
The introduction was better than we could have hoped for. Shadow and Cinnamon, are weary of their new sister, but already after just two days seem ok with her around. There has been a little posturing by Cinny (fur standing on end, as he raises himself up to look as large as possible), but no genunine agression, no contact. Mostly he stands back and watches from a distance. Shadow follows the tabby around, a bit close, sniffing. There were a few nose-to-nose exchanges as each one sniffed the other's face. For the most part, the tabby seems kind of oblivous to the other kitties, happy go lucky, comfortable, just nervous when she hears a strange noise. She is curious but not that interested in the kitties.
As it turns out, the tabby had been living with a group of feral cats when she was captured for spaying. Immediately they knew the tabby was not wild due to the way she cuddled and acted so friendly. She was also pregnant. She was brought to foster care, had her kittens, and now the kittens are finding homes of their own. The lady in charge of the adoptions is hopeful that the kittens will be placed rather easily. But was so glad to see that the momma (our new tabby) had found a home so quickly, and she could tell it would be home in which she would get lots of love.
We hope to name her by the end of the week.

Sunshine

2008-09-29T11:50:00.002-04:00

Here is Sunshine. She is our neighbor's cat. But she likes to visit us often. On a rainy day, she spends a lot of time on our porch. She is beautiful and so very friendly.

Buttercup

2008-08-29T09:27:00.004-04:00

Here's another picture of Buttercup. This one is from July 29, just three weeks before her last day. She was resting in her circular "bed" beside the glass door, and the diffused sunlight provided nice soft light for this shot. At this point, she still spent a lot of time with her head up and looking around, but this was a peaceful moment when she decided to rest. At this point, she had already visited the local Veterinary school and had been diagnosed with lymphoma. We knew it was just a matter of time, but we wanted to make that time last as long as possible, and for as long as she seemed happy to be alive. See below for more about Buttercup.

Buttercup

2008-08-25T09:58:00.005-04:00

This is a tribute to Buttercup. We adopted her 13 years ago when we were living in Iowa. She had either been abandoned or lost, and probably also not treated too well by people. For years she was very shy and scared when new people showed up at the door. But over time, she got lots of love from us, and learned to trust again.
I am sorry to say that she is gone. Cancer took her life at the age of 15. I know 15 is kind of old for a cat, but other than the cancer, she was in great shape, and she had been a very happy cat.
One of my favorite things to do each morning would be to look for my coffee cup, which is white with little black cat silhouettes "walking" around the bottom edge. And each morning when the coffee was ready, I would walk into the kitchen and say, "Where's my cup?" And Buttercup would let out a little squeaky MEOW. I would look at her and say, "There's my Cup." And of course, I would continue looking for my "other" kitty cat cup too.
I will miss her forever.

Composing Wildflower Photos

2008-05-26T08:53:00.004-04:00

I have added a new page called, "Composing Photos," on my other website carolwolfe.org. I am just beginning work on that page, but have included topics such as "Quality of Light" in which I talk about photographing in different light conditions (full sun, haze, etc) as well as using a diffuser and reflector. The above photo gives some idea of the types of information on that page. I based this page on a presentation I recently gave at the Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in Gatlinburg, TN. By the way, this photo shows two similar shots of spring beauty, one using a reflector (left) and one simply shade (right).

Turkey on Clingmans Dome

2008-05-23T07:41:00.002-04:00

I met this girl on April 1, 2008, the first day that Clingmans Dome Road was open during 2008. (It is closed from Dec 1 through March 31 every year.) As I pulled into the parking lot, she came running up beside my car. It seemed she must have been used to getting food from people in cars. Of course I did not feed her. It's not good for the animals to get used to thinking of humans as a source of food. Anyway, I parked the car and got out. She put some distance between us but still let me get close enough to get several good shots of her. I called her "Lucky" because I felt so lucky to meet her.
I returned several more times during the month of April, and each time I returned, she was there. Toward the end of April, she was walking around among the people at the western end of the lot. Sadly of course, people were feeding her, luring her over to get snapshots of her beside them and their cars.
I returned this week (May 20) and did not see her. I hope she found a better place to live and is doing well. After all, she's a wild turkey, not a pet. I still feel lucky to have met her.

Black Bear in Smokies

2008-05-23T07:35:00.002-04:00

On April 2, 2008, I was driving up Newfound Gap Road (from Gatlinburg, on my way to Clingmans Dome) when I stopped along the side of the road to photograph some trees that were lit nicely in the late afternoon sun. Since it was mid spring, the tree tops had a variety of color due to the buds that were forming in the branches. As I photograhed the trees across the valley, I heard a loud sound in a tree not far from where I was standing. I looked over, knowing it was something large, and I saw a black spot moving along the edge of a tree. I kept looking, and shifted my camera. I readjusted the settings too, since a bear tends to move faster than a calm landscape... In any case, here are two shots that I got while standing there alone by my car. Little did I know that day, that a month and a half later (May 19) I would meet my first bear alone in the woods. That second meeting was even more exiting than the one along the road since I was three miles from my car and all alone in the woods.

Busy Spring

2008-05-23T07:32:00.002-04:00

It has been a busy spring. Instead of posting pictures on this site, I have been working on my other website. Just yesterday I added a new page that talks about Composing Photos. Check it out if you get a chance. The address for the main page is http://www.carolwolfe.org/. The address for the newest page is http://www.carolwolfe.org/id13.html. I have also added photos to the Cats and Critters page and added a page for South Carolina.

Happy Valentines Day

2008-02-15T09:46:00.001-05:00

This is for Mary... since she didn't get the attachment I sent with her email!

Sea Birds on the Atlantic Coast

2008-02-11T09:37:00.000-05:00

I don't usually get close enough to birds to bother to try and get a shot. But a landscape type shot is possible, even with a relatively wide zoom lens. In fact I was using the Nikon D40 this day, not the D200. The D40 is what I take on "family" trips, and this was a family trip. So anyway, here is the bird framed nicely in the corner (using the tightest framing I could get with the 18-55mm lens that came with the D40). I like the way the waves add a nice pattern to the frame.
This shot is more clinical than the one above, but the bird is nicely lit. I like this shot mainly because it is something new for me. I hardly ever have the chance to photograph a bird. The clouds helped diffuse the light but also kind of cooled and flattened the image to some degree. Ideally, I would ask for a slight bit of sunshine, which this time of day would have been lighting the top and back of the bird, kind of like the shot above.

After Sunrise in Charleston

2008-02-11T09:32:00.000-05:00

If not for the water, this might look like a Martian landscape. The light was amazing that day. I love the way the sprays of water are backlit (somwhat sidelit) by the recently risen sun to the right of this frame. Here is another shot, just to show the action of the waves. Also you can see a bird in the top right corner. Of the two shots shown here, I like the second one best.

Pre Sunrise in Charleston

2008-02-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

As my friend and I froze our fingers off, we waited for sunrise and got some nice shots of the water. I like the pink sky, which reminds me of pictures I have seen of Mars. I also like the purple-blue water, which I suppose picked up color reflecting from the sky. See below for more shots from this same day...

Vertical Sunrise

2008-02-11T09:24:00.000-05:00

Here is a vertical shot (above) that I also tried in a horizontal arrangement (below). I like each one for different reasons. But the thing I like most about the vertical shot is the interesting pattern of the waves. I was looking for something diagonal or zig-zag like. And I was able to get that using the vertical composition but not horizontal. Horizontal framing limited the depth of the photo, while vertical let me shoot the sand near my feet and also include the sun.
I chose this shot because I like the way the sunlight reflects off the surface and the way the group of three waves kind of breaks up the light. It might have been cold and windy, but the reflection was also very bright.

Blustery Sunrise in Charleston, SC

2008-02-11T09:19:00.001-05:00

It was so cold and windy on this January morning. But my friend and I spent nearly 40 minutes on this shoreline near Charleston, SC. I tried to position the camera so that the waves would be more diagonal in the frame, but based on my location and the position of the sun, this is about the best I could do. I got several of these shots, including a vertical. I tried to snap the shutter when the waves looked most interesting rather than just being uniform horizontal lines.

Lochness Monster (sort of)

2008-02-11T09:11:00.000-05:00

One of my friends said he likes this shot, and then specifically referred to the the "Lochness Monster." I smiled when he said that, and I remembered some of those fuzzy shots of the monster I had seen years ago.
The dark bump on the left part of the frame was intentional. I wanted to add some variety (color/texture/pattern) to the otherwise extremely uniform (and possibly boring) frame.
I got this shot before the sun rose above the horizon. I was standing on a beach in Hilton Head, SC, looking east over the Atlantic. This was the brightest and most colorful sunrise so far that I have seen over the Atlantic in my limited experience--being from the midwest, most of my life, I haven't seen too many ocean sunrises!

Loblolly Pine at Congaree National Park

2008-02-10T21:18:00.001-05:00

My tripod and timer got this shot of me while I was checking out this huge loblolly pine in Congaree National Park. It had been selected as a record loblolly until they found another bigger one off the main trail.

Congaree National Park

2008-02-10T21:11:00.001-05:00

In this shot, I tried to show the depth of the swamp at Congaree National Park. It was just a few weeks ago, and the swamp was rather dry. But this lowland area had some standing water. I like the way the moss on the trees shows the peak water level from last year. This was a fun 2.4 mile hike on the boardwalks around the swamp. It was a partly cloudy day so I was able to get some diffused lighting even though I was there during early afternoon.

Reeds and Reflection in Art Show

2007-11-26T18:23:00.000-05:00

This photograph was selected for the New River Art 2007 Ninth Biennial Exhibition presented by the Blacksburg Regional Art Association. This was a juried art show, and my photograph was one of about 35 pieces accepted.

My New Website

2007-09-23T16:58:00.000-04:00

Hello. I finally began publishing my own website (rather than simply using a template that someone else designed). I have the same URL as before (thanks to some re-directing program that has been set up)... So you can find me at http://www.carolwolfe.org/
I will keep adding things here from time to time, but if you want to see my work as a "collection" organized by topic, then check the other website soon. And keep going back, too, since I plan to make a lot of changes during the next several weeks.

Sample of My Photography

2007-09-19T11:51:00.000-04:00

I have been invited to sell my photographs (and cards) at a local art show. As part of the application process, I had to submit samples of my work. Here is one of the photos I sent along with my application. I am happy to say that my application was accepted.

Purple Coneflower

2007-07-29T11:30:00.000-04:00

Here is a purple coneflower that I found the other day. It was partly cloudy, so I played around with the light a bit. Though this shot doesn't show it, I like shots where the sun is partly diffused and little bits of sunshine gets through. For this shot, the cloud pretty much blocked the sun.

Chrysanthemum

2007-07-29T11:27:00.000-04:00

This is a tighter cropping of the horizontal closeup below. I think I like this one best because it seems more simple and has fewer distractions around the edge of the frame.

Chrysanthemums

2007-07-29T11:22:00.000-04:00

I photographed a bunch of chrysanthemums the other day. My goal was to fill the frame with flowers, as shown in the third of these three shots. But after thinking about the image, I decided that I would try again--on a rainy day, which explains the rain drops on the first two pictures. I did some vertical shots and also some horizontal. I settled on my two favorite shots, only to discover that I had pretty much isolated the same blossom but in two different directions. The first and second shot shown here are complete different attempts, separated by at least ten minutes time. It was pretty funny when I realized that my two favorite shots were actually pretty much the same shot.

Gladiolus

2007-07-28T21:51:00.000-04:00

I don't usually photograph cultivated plants, but I decided that this summer I would give it a try. Here are a couple shots of the gladiolus in my front yard. It had rained earlier that day, and it was rather calm, so I was able to get some pretty crisp shots with rain drops. I tried some wider shots, but decided the close up shots were best.

Newt

2007-06-02T13:42:00.001-04:00

I found this newt yesterday after photographing a waterfall. I was walking along the trail and couldn't help but see the BRIGHT orange "lizard shaped thing" in the middle of the trail. I stopped to set up the tripod and put the 200 mm micro lens on my D200 camera body. As I prepared to photograph the newt, I was pleased to see that the newt crawled up on a nice smooth gray rock. It was a much better background than the twig-cluttered dirt on the trail. But yes, the newt is on a rock in the woods, not a step. As I continued to work, the newt continued to move, but slowly. My exposures were in the 4 second range, so I was glad that the newt was taking his/her time. By the time I finished up, the newt was safely OFF the trail.

Pink Lady Slipper

2007-05-23T20:01:00.001-04:00

I found this pink lady slipper a few days ago while attending a women's retreat on a mountain in North Carolina, not far from Highlands. It was nearly 10 AM and a very bright sunny day. I used a diffuser (above the frame toward the top left) to soften the sunlight and prevent that speckled appearance that occurs when sunlight filters through the branches of trees, casting dark shadows. I also used a silver/gold reflector, which I leaned against my tripod leg, to reflect some sunlight on the darker left side of the flower. I was surprised at the significant bit of brightening that occured when using the reflector.

Rhododendrons on the Mountain

2007-05-23T19:57:00.001-04:00

Here are some rhododendrons I photographed recently on a mountain near Highlands, NC. It was about 9 AM on a very sunny day, and already the light was a bit bright for photographing. Still I decided to give it a shot. Perhaps next year it will be a slightly cloudy day so that the light will be more diffused. Last year, on the other hand, the rhododendrons were not yet in bloom during my annual trip to the mountain.

Wake Robin or Purple Trillium

2007-05-03T15:16:00.000-04:00

I found this beautiful flower on the NC side of the Smokies near Black Camp Gap on April 27, 2007. This is called Trillium erectum. Its flower is held above the leaves. There are also a couple species of nodding trilliums in the Smokies, whose flowers hang below the leaves and are extremely difficult to photograph. I found some of those in NC also, and I plan to post a few shots of those later this week.

Trout Lily

2007-05-03T12:30:00.000-04:00

Here is a pair of Trout Lilies, which I found on the NC side of the Smoky Mountains. The early April frost on the Tennesee side destroyed many of the flowers, but it seems that many of the flowers in NC were spared. My friend and I found all kinds of neat stuff when exploring the backwoods of NC, including a few species of trillium.

The Last Sunset Shot

2007-05-03T00:06:00.000-04:00

This is the sunset last shot I got from the parking lot at Clingman's Dome in the Smokies on April 27. About ten minutes before this shot, I got the one below. The key difference is the foreground. Here the sun had gone low enough behind the horizon (toward my right as I face the image) to become shaded, while below the sun was high enough to light up the foreground just a bit.

Smoky Mountain Sunset

2007-05-01T16:05:00.000-04:00

I just returned from a week-long photography trip in the Smokies. I also attended (and presented two slide shows at) the Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage. It was a lot of fun. Here is a sunset shot that I got at the parking lot near Clingman's Dome on April 27, 2007. We went up to the dome the night before, but decided to just try the parking lot view on this cold and windy night. I think this one turned out ok, but I like the later shot (above) best.

Smokies Spring

2007-04-19T00:47:00.000-04:00

Sorry I have posted so few photos this month. I am busy preparing for the Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smokies that starts in just a few days. Here are some photos I got during my recent trip to the Smokies. (I am having trouble getting the photos to post. Wherever you see an empty box with an X, rest assured I will try again later to fix it.)

Yellow Trillium

2007-04-12T15:53:00.000-04:00

Here is Yellow Trillium, Trillium luteum, which I found beside the road on the way to Greenbriar Trail on Monday, April 9th. This is one of several shots I got that morning, and I am preparing many of those shots for my presentation on "Composing Wildflower Photos," which I will present at the Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage in Gatlinburg during the last full week of April. I will also be presenting a show called "Woodland Spring." If you want more information on the pilgrimage, just type the name into Google and you should find their home page.

Bluets

2007-04-10T22:57:00.000-04:00

I found these bluets on Monday, April 9, in the Greenbriar area of the Smokies. I have noticed that bluets tend to do well in damp areas near the edges of streams. This clump was growing with moss.

Snowy Showy Orchid

2007-04-10T10:41:00.000-04:00

Here is the SNOW-COVERED Showy Orchid, which I found on Saturday, April 7th. The next day, I went back to check on this plant, and found the stem and flowers brown and wilted. This plant will survive, but it will likely NOT be making seeds this year. Next to this plant was another orchid, but with BUDS, not flowers. The orchid with buds looked just fine on Sunday, so the slightly later blooming time will work to its advantage this year. Snow and hard frosts might not be common in early April, but they are not unheard of. As for the damaged plant, let's hope that next year will bring it better luck.
Here is a bud that survived the hard frost with only a little bit of damage. This was the lucky plant this year.

Dutchman's Breeches

2007-04-08T15:53:00.000-04:00

Here is Dutchmen's Breeches, which I found in the Smokies a couple days ago. Bad news, however, it got really cold this weekend and the frost/snow caused a lot of the Dutchmen's flowers to shrivel up. The stems leaned over, and the flowers dried up and started to wilt. I saw the damage on Easter day. But these flowers are perennials and in the long run, they will survive. Stay tuned on my website to see some snow-covered Showy Orchids (Orchis spectabilis). In the case of the orchid, as with many other plants, individuals that were flowering experienced definite damage, but plants with buds came through the frost just fine. Seed counts may be lower this year than usual, but these plants are adapted to life in the forest, so they will survive. Clear-cutting, landscaping, and paving provide a bigger threat than an occasional hard frost.

Freezing May Apples in the Smokies

2007-04-08T15:19:00.000-04:00

This is just a quick snap shot of May Apple yesterday here in the Smokies. It was COLD and wintry in the woods. When the sun came out from behind the clouds (intermittently) it would cause some of the snow to melt. But here you can see the crystalline snow as well as melted snow on the "umbrella shaped" leaf of the May Apple.

Hepatica and Tootwort are Blooming

2007-03-29T21:27:00.000-04:00

Hepatica is blooming in southern Virginia. This is actually one of the last ones to bloom this year. I found this beautiful plant yesterday (March 28). It was sitting beside a rock in the shade, and made a picture-perfect image. I have already printed a copy for my wall.
This is a closeup of Toothwort. Like any obedient member of the mustard family, Tootwort flowers have FOUR petals. I found this yesterday before I found the Hepatica (above). This is one of those wider shots intended mostly to show the context in which I found the above plant. If you look at the plant on the right side, the taller one, you might recognize the same plant that appears in the closeup above. Closeups are my favorite, but sometimes a wider perspective can help a person get a better sense of what the wildflower looks like in the woods. Note the leaves on this "Cut-Leaf" Toothwort. The Broad-Leaf Toothwort has wider lobes in its pointy, jagged leaves.

Bloodroot is in Full Bloom

2007-03-28T08:41:00.000-04:00

These are my most recent photographs of bloodroot, all taken within the past week. Last year, I rescued a whole bunch of these from a road construction project, and planted them under a maple tree in my back yard where they get sufficient shade (once the maple leaves fill out) and moisture to survive the summer. Anyway, here are several different views of bloodroot, the first showing the general appearance of the plant when the flower is in bloom. The other photos (below) are my attempts to be a bit creative and try a variety of perspectives. I am happy to say that many of these blooms have stayed fresh and pretty for three or four days. Much of this depends on the weather. A hard rain would have knocked the petals off the plants. But since these flowers opened up, we have had no rain. Enjoy these beautiful plants while you can. They bloom for a very short amount of time. Later this spring, I plan to post pictures of the seed pods (stringbean shaped) with the increasingly larger and somewhat darker green leaves.

Bloodroot in Virginia

2007-03-23T23:18:00.000-04:00

About 20 minutes ago, I posted a shot similar to this one (below) but this time around I am showing a later shot from the same series. If you compare this shot with the one in the previous post, you can see that I moved a small piece of twig that had been lying against the stem. I also moved a small branch on the right edge of the frame that ran through the background and behind the petal of the flower. When working with the flower, at first I did not notice the distractins, but then I checked my depth of field preview and could see that the little scraps would interfere with my shot. So I brushed them away gently with my finger. I will NOT pick a plant to move it, but I will sometimes move a dead leaf or a branch or a stick. Perhaps it seems picky to worry about such small little sticks in the photo, but when photographing wildflowers, I want to do my best.
And I got out the trusty chapstick to help show the size of this tiny flower. Bloodroots at this same stage CAN be 6 inches high, but this one flowered before its stem got very long. There can be great variation in bloodroot development depending on the temperature and rainfall. Warmer temperatures trigger the opening of the flower, and lots of rainfall tends to make the stem grow long. Here we had warmth, without much rain.

Bloodroot Today

2007-03-23T22:26:00.000-04:00

I found this pretty little flower blooming today in southwestern Virginia in the Thomas Jefferson National Forest. I have been tracking a few individuals of this species, trying to catch a variety of stages of its growth. For those who are curious, its Latin name is Sanguinaria Canadensis. I don't usually like to get too technical, but the Latin name can help some folks make a positive ID. This individual is also shown below, including with the chapstick for perspective. This plant was in full flower today, but I regret to say it was not exactly photogenic. And then the worst part is, on my way BACK down the trail at the end of my afternoon, I noticed that the flower had been PLUCKED. So the photo you see here is of a plant that no longer has its flower, and will be unable to make seeds this year. I suspect a person decided to pick the "pretty flower" on their way walking down the trail. I feel sad and upset when this happens because most wildflowers WILT very soon after being picked, so the picker soon tosses them in the dirt and walks away. These are not the supermarket type of flowers that are made to sit in a vase or get pinned to a shirt. So PLEASE NEVER PICK WILDFLOWERS, not even ONE.

Bloodroot Sprouting in Virginia

2007-03-19T09:55:00.000-04:00

Here is a bloodroot sprout that I found on March 15 in southern Virgina. It is one of those things that a person is very unlikely to see unless he or she actually knows where to look. And why? Because this thing is EXTREMELY small. Check out the following photo to get an idea of its size. I would have used a penny, but did not have one. But I did have my chapstick!
Yes, I am talking VERY SMALL, extremely small. But see, I had been to that same location last year and the year before, so I knew where to look, EXACTLY where to look, and that is what I did. I was excited to see this plant at this stage. I plan to return this week to get more shots. My guess is that now, a few days later, the plant is already starting to bloom. The only reason why it might not be blooming yet is because the weekend was very cold. I am busy today, but hope to return there tomorrow!
Just for fun, I am including this shot of bloodroot (from last year), showing the flower as it first opens up on its first day. Check lower on this main page (or in the February archive) to see more shots of bloodroot, which I posted a few weeks ago.

Hepatica in the Smokies

2007-03-14T14:30:00.000-04:00

Last week, Hepatica was blooming on the Cove Hardwood Forest trail near Chimney Tops Picnic area. I got this photo on March 9th. It was late in the day, a couple hours before sunset, and it was full sun. I normally would have diffused a shot like this to avoid too much contrast, but the light was just weak enough that I think it "works" as is. I like the way the sun reflects off the petal and shows the texture of the petal. This is the natural color, just as I saw it that day.
I got this photo on March 8th on my way to the Greenbriar area (also toward the trail for Ramsey Cascade). I got a similar shot in late April of last year, and I like comparing them.
Here is the forest a bit further down the road, closer to the start of Greenbriar Trail. I plan to return later this season to get more shots for the sake of comparison. I love to see how the forsest changes each spring!

This was also March 8, near the trail to Ramsey Cascade. This trillium will eventually unwrap its leaves to reveal a yellow flower. Its Latin name is Trillium luteum. Again, even though it was full sun that day, it was close enough to sunrise that the sunlight was not too intense.

Smokies Spring

2007-03-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

Spring has arrived in the Smokies! Yesterday I found Hepatica in bloom on a sunny hillside in the Cove Hardwood forest near the Chineytops Picnic area. I found lots of toothwort leaves, but no buds yet. I found a few spring beauties, and 1 in bloom! Today, in the Greenbriar and Ramseys Cascade area, I found the early leaves of yellow trillium. Also I found wild geranium sprouts... The sun was bright, but somewhat low in the sky (thus not too harsh) so I got some pretty nice side-lighting. I also got several landscapes of tall straight trees, hoping to return later to the same locations to repeat the landscape shots to show how the forest changes... Stay tuned for more images and stories now that spring has returned. To see some spring shots from last year (and some fall shots too), please check this link: http://www.carolwolfe.org/SmokyMountainCollection/

Bloodroot

2007-02-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

Here (above) is a bloodroot flower on its first day of blooming. The petals are still in the process of opening. The flower looks clean and fresh. The Latin name for this plant is Sanguinaria canadensis.
Here is a similar flower on the second or third day. This assumes there has been no rain, because rain will knock the petals off a bloodroot flower in bloom.

Going back in time, this is the bloodroot plant shortly after it emerges from the ground. Its leaf is wrapped tightly around the stem, forming a spear-like shape that helps it poke its way up and through. The bud is protected under the "blanket" of the leaf. The leaf will become more and more green with time and exposure to the sun, which triggers the development of chlorophyll. Notice the ant crawling on the right side. When this plant finally makes seeds, ants will return to carry the seeds back to their nests. Ands eat the fatty deposit on the surface of the seeds and serve as dispersers for the plant.
Little by little, the plant grows taller and taller, and the leaf slowly uncurls and loosens its grip on the stem. At this point, the plant is about 6 inches tall, though that can vary. Look closely at the veins of this leaf. The veins contain an orange colored sap that leaks out if the leaf is broken. The sap resembles blood, which helps explain how the plant got its name.
Here is another view of the leaf wrapped around the stem. This is from a plant that I rescued (road construction) and brought home in a pot before planting it under a tree. I like the way the light shows off the texture of the leaf. The leaf is somewhat fragile and feels rubbery to the touch.
I like the way this shot shows back-lighting if you peak through the opening in the curled leaf.

Here is another shot. I like to try side-lighting on something with as much texture as seen on a bloodroot leaf.
Here is a closer view of the above shot.
Finally, you can see how the plant got its name, from the "blood" color root. This is one of the plants that I rescued from road construction. I would NOT dig up a plant just to photograph it. I rescued this plant about a year ago, and its former location is now covered by 30 feet of dirt, waiting for an on-ramp to be built on top of it. All of these pictures were taken during the last week of March 2006. I have later shots of bloodroot, showing the full grown leaf and seed pod, but those are not yet ready for posting.

Toothwort

2007-02-20T14:41:00.000-05:00

This is toothwort, a member of the mustard family. Aside from skunk cabbage (below) and Hepatica, this is one of the first spring flowers to bloom in the forests of the eastern US. The flower bud, shown here, is about the size of an adult human canine tooth. The similarity in appearance helps explain how the plant got it's name. Of course, the leaves are also toothed.

Here is a closeup of another plant that was growing nearby the first. I usually avoid full sun when doing wildflower photography, but in this case, the sunlight helps show the hairy texture of the stem. I got these photos on March 17, 2006.

Here is a toothwort plant showing leaves without buds. When the leaves first sprout (from seed or the perennial root), they appear reddish, but turn green as chlorophyll develops in response to exposure to the sun.

Skunk Cabbage Flower

2007-02-18T21:49:00.000-05:00

I found this skunk cabbage flower in Giles County, Virginia, during mid March, 2006. At first, it was difficult to see the patch of red "hoods" sticking up from the brush, but as I got closer, I suddenly saw dozens of these strange flowers in bloom. The red and yellow mottled pattern blends well with the dried up leaves from the previous year, making it hard to see them from a distance. The skunk cabbage patch was growing in "squishy" wet soil not too far from a stream. There were lots of branches of multiflora rose, which made moving around the area rather difficult.

Skunk Cabbage Closeup

2007-02-17T15:57:00.000-05:00

Here is a shot of skunk cabbage flowers, very close up. I was able to peer inside the "hood" of the flower to get this shot. I used my 200 mm micro lens, which allowed me to focus closely and get a good clear image. This was taken in late March 2006 near the Blue Ridge Parkway in a rural area near Floyd, VA.

Cinnamon

2006-12-18T12:59:00.000-05:00

Here is a closeup of Cinnamon. He was sitting on the screened in porch, with a southern exposure, so the sun was shining in. I was glad to not use flash because natural light always makes the fur seem softer and makes the eyes stay more widely open.

Cinnamon

2006-12-18T12:34:00.000-05:00

Here is Cinnamon at 5 months. He loves to PLAY. (I know that cats don't really fit the topic of woodland spring, but it's winter and just felt like posting this recent shot of my little boy.)

Winter Stream

2006-12-12T23:33:00.000-05:00

This was a fun shot I got of the snowy rocks in a stream back in February 2006 in the mountains of southern Virginia. I worked hard to figure out what framing of the photo would work best. I deleted a lot of the shots that seemed too boring, too asymmetric, or too "orderly." This turned out to be my favorite shot of the day.

Upper Peninsual Michigan Summer

2006-12-12T23:30:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting shot in which I included reeds and the distant trees, along with the fog, which set a nice mood for this sunrise shot. I got this shot at Seney National Wildlife refuge during a Rod Planck photography workshop. To see more shots from my summer trip to UP Michigan, please check my website carolwolfe.org for a collection of photos from the UP workshop at Seney. http://carolwolfe.org/

2006-12-12T23:27:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite sunrise shots at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in UP Michigan. I got this shot while taking a Rod Planck photography workshop with three of my favorite photographer friends. It was August 31, 2006.

2006-12-12T23:25:00.000-05:00

Here are some reeds in a pond, which I found August 28th in Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the UP Michigan. Both the reeds and reflections of clouds add an interesting pattern to this frame.

Upper Peninusula of Michigan (August)

2006-11-16T11:03:00.000-05:00

I love this dew-covered spider web, which I found in a bog in Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the upper peninsula of Michigan. I used my 200 mm Nikon micro lens so that I could really zoom in on this shot and throw the background out of focus. I think this shot was my best spiderweb shot of the week. The wind was just starting to pick up, so shortly after I got this shot, it was too late to try and get more. To see this photo and many others from my recent trip to the UP of Michigan, please check this link http://www.carolwolfe.org/UpperPeninsulaMichiganSummer/

2006-11-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a foggy sunrise scene at Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the upper peninusla of Michigan. Was there in late August, attending a photography workshop with a few of my friends. The funny thing about this photo, which is actually one of my favorites, is that I "snapped" this one with one of those relatively cheap "point and shoot" cameras. It was supposed to be just a joke!

Clingman's Dome (in the Smokies) Oct 2006

2006-11-06T21:16:00.000-05:00

Here is general scenic shot that shows the mood of the day on top of Clingman's Dome, Oct. 23, 2006. It was foggy (in the clouds) with flurries, as well as very windy and cold. The frost stuck to the needles of spruce trees, as shown in a variety of shots below. I hope you enjoy these shots that I got during my recent (and all too brief) trip to the Smokies.
To see more shots from my recent trip to the Smokies, as well as fall shots from last year, too, please visit my photo collection on my new website: http://www.carolwolfe.org/SmokyMountainFall/
You can also see other photo collections at this site, such as Appalachian Mountain Spring, and UP Michigan Summer, as well as many other things. Check it out at http://www.carolwolfe.org/

2006-11-06T21:14:00.000-05:00

Though it was mostly a foggy and overacast day at the top of Clingman's Dome (on Oct 23, 2006), I caught this shot showing just a little bit of blue sky, thanks to a break in the clouds. There were a few breaks in the clouds and they moved by pretty fast. After one snap of the shutter, the sky turned gray again. It was so cold and windy, no wonder the clouds were moving fast.

2006-11-06T21:12:00.000-05:00

This shot sets the mood for the day, at least somewhat. You can see the frost covered trees. I waited for a lull in the wind, however, so it's hard to imagine how much the wind pelted flurries in my face and froze my finger tips as I tried to photograph the beautiful scenery. Still, I will not complain. I felt lucky to catch this type of weather since I was only in the Smokies for a few days. This was a wonderful, mostly overcast, freezing cold and windy day with lots of neat frost, fog, and snow at higher altitudes and lots of beautiful fall color at lower altitudes. I got this shot in the morning of Oct 23, 2006.

2006-11-06T21:10:00.000-05:00

Here is one of my favorite semi-closeup shots of frost-covered spruce branches on Clingman's Dome (in the Smokies) on Monday, Oct 23, 2006. It was COLD and WINDY up there but it was also beautiful. The next few shots all show different perspectives of the exact same tree, which was located near the Clingman's Dome parking lot.

2006-11-06T21:08:00.000-05:00

Here are some frost-covered spruce needles, neatly arranged along the branch. I love the repeition.

2006-11-06T21:07:00.000-05:00

Here is an extremely closeup shot of the frost on the tips of the spruce needles.

2006-11-06T21:06:00.000-05:00

Here is a wider view of the branch shown above.

Mountain Lake

2006-11-06T20:55:00.000-05:00

Here I am photographing a landscape from Bald Knob at Mountain Lake, Virginia. My assistant took this photo of me using a Nikon Coolpix "point and shoot." Not bad. It was a cloudy day with a little bit of texture to the sky. I was very excited to find Mountain Ash (see red berries in the distance at the edge of the cliff) and also Witch hazel (not shown) in bloom!
I stopped posting on this site for a while because I kept getting error messages, and also have been turning my attention to my OTHER website, in which I am able to set up folders that enable me to organize my photos into collections by topic. That site is http://www.carolwolfe.org/

Sugar Maple, Sept 20 thruough Oct 11

2006-10-13T21:46:00.000-04:00

Here is the same tree over a four week period, starting Sept 20 and going through Sept 27, Oct 4 and Oct 11. Each photo is one week after the one before it. This is a sugar maple. Shots were taken from more or less the same location. I got closer for some and not so close for others, but basically, this is how the tree changed over four weeks. It is neat to see how much the tree has changed.

Fall Color Almost Gone

2006-10-13T21:31:00.000-04:00

Here is that same Sugar Maple that I have been photographing all fall, since Sept 20. It not only has reached it peak, but it has also passed it peak. Its leaves are almost gone! This was Oct 11, 2004.

Foggy Valley Near the Smokies

2006-10-07T18:29:00.000-04:00

Just a few minutes after getting the cloudy photograph shown below, I shifted my gaze slightly toward the west. There was a gap in the big fluffy clouds toward the south, which allowed some diffused sunlight to pass through, making these trees in the foreground glow. It was October 24, 2005.

Clouds Above the Smokies

2006-10-07T18:26:00.000-04:00

As I left the Smokies on Oct 24, 2005, it was a rainy, cloudy day. But the clouds began to thin, and were starting to clear up when I reached the Foothills Parkway just north and east of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. As I stood at an overlook on the Foothills Parkway, this was my view looking south. Clouds were moving across the Smoky Mountains, and some sunlight was reaching through.

Smoky Mountain Sunset

2006-10-07T17:13:00.000-04:00

This was one my last photographs of the day, October 23, 2005, during my first fall visit to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This shows the view looking toward North Carolina from Newfound Gap.

Fall Color in the Smokies

2006-10-07T17:12:00.000-04:00

Here is some fall color in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I saw this view on Oct 23, 2005 along Little River Road, near the head of Laurel Falls Trail.

Early Fall at the Pond

2006-10-07T14:33:00.000-04:00

Here is a view of Cattails from across the pond. Fall color was just starting to appear, September 27, 2006.

Late Summer in UP Michigan

2006-10-07T13:44:00.000-04:00

Two swans swim at sunset at Seeny National Wildlife Preserve in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, on August 28, 2006.