I returned to the Smoky Mountains last week with my new D800. It worked flawlessly but the weather wasn't quite as good. Comments welcome.

Sunrise, Clingman's Dome
D800,24-70mm f/2.8G ED, 1/2s f/8.0 at 70.0mm iso100, Singh-Ray 2-stop ND


Sunset, Clingman's Dome:
D800 ,70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II, 1/125s f/8.0 at 125.0mm iso100


Roaring Fork Rapids
(Yes, the rocks were really that green)
D800 ,70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II,1/2s f/9.0 at 122.0mm iso125


Lynn Camp Prong Falls
D800 ,24-70mm f/2.8G ED,1/5s f/9.0 at 52.0mm iso200


I've put an album on PBase with more images from this spring in the Smokies:
http://www.pbase.com/hockingphotos/gsmp_012

Dave Jolley

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Attachment #1, (jpg file)
Attachment #2, (jpg file)
Attachment #3, (jpg file)
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I'm from south Florida and have been to the Smokies many times ( a favorite place to shoot.)
I really like your Clingman's sunrise--never seen the clouds that thick. Maybe the camera helped, but your eye saw and composed a very striking scene. I've also walked to Lynn Prong several times, but I like your angle and the colors. Very different from what I see in the summer. This is another really nice view. Thanks for sharing.


Just a passing question--are the rocks that much greener in the spring than in the summer??

Larry

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Larry,
We drove up to Clingman's Dome 8 times in 5 days and only had one "good" session which was last Thursday when this heavy cloud bank was suspended below us. The actual sunrise was so quick and intense that everything I shot had some flare in it once the sun broke above the clouds. Some of those trips were from Townsend, over an hour drive each way and it was not much fun to drive that far and find nothing buy thick fog. Someday I'll capture one of those really spectacular sunrises or sunsets that can occur there.
It's really that green although I keep looking at my images and think they look pumped up. It is due to the fact that spring was so early this year all of the trees are fully leafed out and the canopy is so green, it affects everything.
Dave Jolley

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Wonderful work, as always, thanks for sharing.

And I can verify the rock color--yes, they are really that much brighter in the spring! Nothing like freshly growing moss & new foliage on the trees, for unbelievable greens.

working on it in Middle TN
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What a calm peaceful scene in the first one. I love the effect of being above the clouds and the color gradations are spectacular. The green mossy rocks are just perfect, as well. Really fine work with your new camera.

Dean
Phoenix, Arizona USA
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Beautiful, Dave! After reading your subject title, I looked at the first picture and knew it was from Clingman's Dome without having to read the caption. Was this taken from the observation tower? All are great shots.

Scottie

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Scottie,
No, it was taken from the entrance end of the parking lot. This time of the year the sunrise is very far to the left and there isn't much to compose other than these dead treetops. The sun location is even worse in the evening, it is so far to the right there is very little in the way of mountains to include in the frame.
I've only been to Clingman's Dome in the early spring and late fall and I think the compositions are much better in the fall.
Dave

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Wow!

2 and 3 for me! The layers in 2, and the moss in 3... is that because I know you used a D800 that I think I can see so much detail?

Olivier Rychner
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Oliver,
I can attribute the detail to the D800. Good technique (manual focus in live view, MLU, sturdy tripod etc.) is critical with this camera to get that kind of detail.
Dave

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David,
My wife and I will be in the Smokies from May 6-12. All of your photographs are eye appealing, but 1 and 3 are the ones I like the best. Did you use a ND filter on number 3? I would like to see what it would look like with an even longer shutter speed. Anyway, I like all your shots. Hope to get something close to what you have achieved when we go. Thanks for sharing your work.
Tom

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Tom,
Yes, I used a 2-stop graduated ND filter for this image. However, I had some issues at Clingman's Dome using the ND filter. I can't use a hood when using that filter and the sun was so intense from the sides that I had severe problems with lens flare once the sun rose above the mountain tops. After a few days of this, I quite using the grad, put a hood on the lens and shot bracketed exposures. I tried holding my hand up to the side when using the grad filter but that wasn't enough to stop the flare.
Dave

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Beautiful collection Dave, you did a great job!

During my only visit to the Smokies I also drove up to Clingmans Dome from Townsend four times until I finally got a good sunset on the last afternoon I was there. You never know what you're going to get up there.

Ernesto Santos
esartprints.com Ernesto Santos Photography

Very good camera AND technique. Photo #1, top, on the cloud line. Is this a composite picture? Check the "break" on the stem. An I seeing things nobody else commented on it.

Aart

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Thanks, nice catch. There was more dynamic range in the scene than the split ND filter could overcome so I double processed the image and apparently applied a lens correction in ACR in one layer and not the other and that was enough to mis-align the layers. There is a slight bend in the trunk at this spot, just not as noticeable as in this version.
Dave Jolley

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I'm jelous of the images and the camera!

Beautiful!

jdroach, a Milwaukee area and sometimes Chicago area Nikonian.





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OK what am I doing wrong? I can see pics i all the other posts, but in this one all I see are ? mark.

( the pics are showing up for me today, must have been something with my system)

Great shots just beautiful, thanks for posting

Looking to learn as much as possible

Steve

Just spent a great time looking at your pbase images.They are great.I would like to know where you shot the Gum Swamp Reflection?I'm leaving tomarrow for a week in that area.

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The gum swamp is on the left side of the road about 1/4 mile from where you leave the Cable Mill area in Cades Cove. It's hidden back in the woods and has a small gravel pullout that holds 2 cars. The swamp is surround by a low wire fence to keep boars out but you can step over the fence. It is very interesting spot to shoot. There were some beautiful ducks there last week. There are no signs noting it's location so drive slowly while you look for it.
Dave Jolley

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Thanks Dave,I know right where it is.Really looked good in B&W.

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I'm not seeing the images in your post, but I did go to the link you also posted and was glad I did. Very good work. I've always liked the Smokies, and we are only a few hours away, but hardly ever get down there.

Tom
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Fabulous! I love 1 & 3.

Tom

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Nicely done, Dave. Looks like a wonderful trip in spite of the weather.

Eric Bowles
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Thanks Eric,
By "bad" weather I meant windy and dry. We did have one light rain but it appeared they needed much more in that area. Last year, the Little River was full of kayakers and this year I saw none.
Dave Jolley

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All are great, something about the first one stands out. beautiful work


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Thanks Bob,
That one is like flying above the clouds, you see that a lot at Clingman's Dome.
Dave Jolley

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Did you see any deer or bears?I don't go this time of year,I usually go in the fall.Just wondering wether to bring along a telephoto.I always worry about leaving it in the truck when I'm not around.

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There are always deer in Cades Cove and plenty of turkeys, particularly after it rains. I didn't see and bears but plenty of people stopping their cars and chasing after them when they did. I don't understand the mentality of people who can't just watch a bear from a safe distance but have to get out of their car and stalk it.
Dave Jolley

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Wow Dave, those are fantastic. Can't wait to get back to the Smokies, but now I want a D800 too; although I know it takes a lot more than just a camera to get shots like these.

Charlie...
stalking light

Nikonians Team Member

#1. The thick fog, the silhouetting, the moon. Awesome shot.

#2. As I scrolled down, I wasn't too taken back until I hit those layered mountains.. It's mesmerizing. Love it!

#3. The color and sharpness of the moss on those rocks balanced by the flowing water.. Nice.

#4. My least favorite of the bunch, but still a great photo. Just that when you compare it against #1-#3...

Looking forward to more D800 pics