Late last week a spring snow storm dropped 12” – 17” on Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a rare event, especially in the last few years. As part of my next book project I have been sorting through 30 years of photographs from the park and have found myself woefully lacking winter shots. So with the snow totals looking good, but the temperatures expected to rise back into the 50’s and 60’s, I called my friend who happens to have access to a plane and we took off 24 hours later, on Saturday morning to head down to the snow. This seemed a bit crazy to most around here, since Chicago has been inundated with snow this winter, but it had to be done for the book.

We took off about 6:15am on Saturday morning and flew down the lakefront past Chicago. In the morning light the city looked great from the air and I snapped a few shots as we went by. The remainder of the flight was a beautiful blue sky smooth ride at 9500’. We arrived at the Gatlinburg airport at 10 or so and after picking up the rental car and a bit to eat we were in the park by 11:30. On the drive up the mountains I started to get concerned because I had yet to see any snow! Were had it all gone? The weather reports had said there was even 5” on the ground in Gatlinburg, but it was not here now! I could not even see it on the edges of the cliffs. The farther up we went the more concerned I was that the trip had been for nothing! But then we reached the altitude where the base of the snow started. At the first creek with snow we pulled over and I began to shoot. It was almost like being in overdrive as I pointed the lens everywhere in a mad rush to get images. Predictably, these first shots were not very thoughtful. But after getting this first stop out of the way I began to settle down and really start to see images. As the snow depth increased, so did my concentration. It takes time and an openness to what is presented in front of you to find the images which will tell a story, make people want to linger over them. You can not be a bull in a china shop and just snap away if you want them to be interesting. You must slow down and see.

I worked streams with their snow covered rocks, hillsides with the pines covered with snow, small detail scenes of snow clinging to rocks, and icicles hanging from the cliffs. The biggest problem was it was a blue sky day – making it very sunny with the light casting shadows and making the images full of contrast. Not the best, but it worked and as the sun began to settle into the west the ridges blocked the light and gave me the perfect mix of soft light.  

Because we had only one day, and maybe a few hours in the morning, we could not spend any time hiking into some of my favorite places, but stayed near the main road. We saw a lot of folks building snowmen, even putting them around the antennas on their cars so they drove with small snowmen on their windshields. By evening I went to a few of the overlooks which give you those sweeping look up the valleys. Winter is the best time for those long views of the mountains as the clear air enables you to see much further than in the summer. By now there was also a steady stream of overcast clouds moving in, making a sunset either one of those things that will not happen, or will be stunning. I shot at one overlook and then just before sunset went to the most famous overlook for sunset in the park, Morton Overlook. As I pulled in no one else was there. Guess they all figured nothing would happen this evening. I knew enough to hang out and wait, with the camera setup. This brought a few people to pull off the road, some getting out and looking and then going on, some staying. And then, right on queue and as I thought it just might, the sun went below the bottoms of the clouds and lit up the undersides of the clouds in a spectacular sunset. Now cars were pulling off the road in great numbers! I kept shooting while people talked to me. The show would not last more than a few minutes and I had work to do. Within five minutes the sun was gone and the clouds returned to a dark gray. The day was over. It was time to think about the morning shots over dinner.

Unfortunately, the weather back in Chicago looked like it would deteriorate early in the day Sunday, instead of staying nice until Monday. After much consternation, we agreed we needed to leave at dawn to get in before the weather in Chicago made it impossible for us to get back in the next three days. It would have been nice to have more time, but in the roughly 9 hours on the ground I was able to get enough I hope to fill out the book with the winter shots I so needed.  To see the entire selection of the trip use this link to see my quick gallery of images: www.mackphoto.com/blog/SmokiesWinter/

We’ll soon have a selection of these images for sale online in the Quiet Light Publishing Gallery, http://www.quietlightpublishing.com/shop/Gallery.htm were we already have images from this upcoming book and from the Lewis & Clark Trail American landscapes book.

 

Tree Farm Cathedral We have just learned the nominations are out for the 2007 International Color Photography Awards and I have received nominations in two categories! The nominations were for this image in both the Fine Art Category and the Nature Category. With over 15,000 images submitted this is a great honor to be chosen one of 20 images in each category. I am humbled by the quality of work in each of the categories and am honored to be among those chosen.Last year I was equally honored when my book, The Lewis & Clark Trail American Landscapes was given the Silver Medal in the Nature Book Category.Here is what this years release from the International Color Awards states:For Immediate Release:INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS HONORS
LANDSCAPE AND COMMERCIAL FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER FROM EVANSTON< ILLINOIS at 2ND ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP CONTEST

LONDON, UK 16 October 2007 – Landscape and Commercial Fine Art Photographer Richard Mack of Evanston, Illinois, USA received a Nominee in two categories or his image Tree Series – Tree Farm Cathedral. One in the category of Fine Art Photography and one in the category of Nature Photography at the 2nd Annual Photography Masters Cup exclusive online Awards Ceremony.

An audience of 11,050 photography fans logged on from 89 countries to join the proceedings and view stunning work from the world’s finest photographers. Over 15,000 images were received from 69 countries. The nominated images were selected by a who’s who Jury of the most celebrated professionals in art and photography from National Geographic, Musee de E’Lysee, Financial Times to The Art Newspaper and Fine Art Society in London. Jury members reviewed submitted works online over an eight week voting period before making their final selection. Awards were presented in 21 categories to photographers of twenty five nationalities.

“The Masters Cup celebrates photographers who operate at the highest levels of their craft,” said the awards Creative Director, Basil O’Brien. “Richard Mack’s Tree Series – Tree Farm Cathedral entry certainly represents color photography at its finest and we’re pleased to present Mr. Mack with two nominations; one each in the Fine Art and Nature categories.”

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP
The Photography Masters Cup promotes the finest contemporary photographers to the world’s leading art directors, agencies, editors, galleries, curators, publishers, and dealers of photographic art. A celebrated online event around the globe, the annual Winners & Nominee Presentation is webcast live in a dynamic show that honors the finest work with the highest achievements in color photography.

See the Winners and Nominees online at: www.thecolorawards.com

Contact: Richard Mack
Company: Richard Mack Photography, Ltd
Address: 2144 Ashland Avenue, Suite 2
Telephone: 847.869.7794
Email: richard@mackphoto.com
Website: www.mackphoto.com
www.quietlightpublishing.com

Photography Masters Cup Nominees:
www.worldphotographicarts.com/gallery/colorawards/2nd_annual/masterscup/index.php

Nature Nominees:
www.worldphotographicarts.com/gallery/colorawards/2nd_annual/masterscup/nominations.php?x=p&cid=6

Fine Art Nominees:
www.worldphotographicarts.com/gallery/colorawards/2nd_annual/masterscup/nominations.php?x=p&cid=5