The Story Behing the Photo

This photo was taken in early November, 2008. I was looking for some late fall foilage on this trip to the Great Smoky Mtns NP. I had seen this mountain cabin on several previous trips to the Roaring Fork trail, but this time I decided to walk around and shoot from the rear of the cabin. I was struck by this vantage point, which was new to me. I decided to make a HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo, which is a combination of of several different exposures. It revealed the highlights and shadows very well. This image was taken November 6, 2008 at 3:30 in the afternoon, using a Canon 5D, tripod mounted, at 1/60 & F11. I used a 16-35mm lens set at 16mm, ISO 400.

Photo Tip of the Week

When taking photos in a national park, visit the national park's website. Many of them offer insider photo tips that are specific to that park. Stop at the visitor's center for the latest safety information and wildlife notices. Talk to a park ranger. They are an invaluable source for information about the park and its wildlife. Always take a short walk before you begin shooting, looking for good photo subjects and backgrounds. Pay attention to the light and from what direction it is coming from. If possible, begin very early or stay late...that is usually the best light. Happy Shooting !