If you told me when I went to the Smokey Mountains that I’d spend a fair amount of time photographing a road, I may have thought twice about going. Then I saw the road. Sparks Lane is a little gravel path in Cades Cove, a beautiful and historic valley in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. It a magical little road in an equally magical setting. One could spend endless hours photographing this short one mile lane.
How I Did It – Landscape photography is the art of knowing how to wait for the light. The last photograph in this series is probably the most photographed scene in Cades Cove. In order to make something that popular your own requires applying your unique vision to it. For me that meant the light. On this particular evening the light was changing from minute to minute as the setting sun was moving in and out of the clouds. It was this particular moment, when the light softened and the trees began to glow that caught me.
Enjoy
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Beautiful photos! I have come across a few specific roads that are just great for taking pictures of. This is definitely one of those roads.
Thank you Erika. I’d love to see some of the roads you are mentioning.
Such a road can be so beautiful because you’ve given us the gift to see it through your eyes and Wow! it is beautiful!! Thanks Rich!
Thank you for your kind words Kathy. I really appreciate it.
Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you Laura.
you’re welcome 🙂
Nice work. Love Dawn #2.
Thanks Ralph. Dawn #2 is probably my favorite although I had to fight my inner Ansel Adams to allow the shadows to go totally dark.
This is really painting with your camera…super!
Thank you Brigit! That is exactly what I was trying to do here.
Beautiful, Rich. The first one is my favorite. So inviting. I’ll tell ya, you and Mike P keep making my travel list longer and longer. 🙂
I love long travel lists. The Smokey Mountains will not disappoint. It’s a place we will be revisiting for sure.
Rich, you nailed these. I just read yesterday Gerry Badger’s essay “Interlude: A Walk to Paradise Garden.” The subject is “path” imagery – roads and paths stretching into the distance that draw the viewer into the photograph in part because of the potential narrative – “what lies beyond the bend or over the next rise?”
Thanks for sharing the Badger essay, Ben. It sounds interesting and I’m going to have to read it.
Great way to show your take on a place…. your diff comps give us all a taste of what is possible… thanks.
Thanks Mike. This is just an example of photographs taken on and around Sparks Lane. I’ll have more on my website soon.
Your photos are beautiful, look forward to viewing lots more! 🙂
Thank you Neha. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I’m enjoying your poetry.
Thank you so much for your kind words and I am thoroughly enjoying your photography 🙂
WOW! My favorite place in Cades Cove! Your timing was just right. When I was there spring was early and we missed the dogwoods … they make all the difference. Love all your variations on the theme!!!
Thanks Denise. We were very lucky because the dogwoods were in full force while we were there. I can definitely see why this little road is your favorite place in the area. It never ceased to amaze us, every time we went there.