Monday, October 28, 2013

The Value of a Bottle of Ibuprofen

I arrived home from Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains on Saturday night after a wowzer of a week. Busy from before dawn in the morning, until after sunset each evening.  The instructor kept us on the go every minute of the day.  Did I mention that I was totally exhausted when I fell into bed Saturday night, or each night that I was there??  Did my body ache from climbing mountains, or were my fingers frozen from early morning shoots, did the bags under my eyes become more prominent from lack of sleep....yes, but it was soooo worth it.  I definitely learned the value of a good tripod, which btw I did not have and how you cannot without a doubt hand-hold your camera at an early morning sunrise when there are so many clouds that you can barely see any light creeping through. Thank goodness the instructor was generous with allowing us "virgins" to use some of his equipment.  I also learned the value of a bottle of Ibuprofen and a tube of Aspercreme (aka Ben Gay)

It was a small class of only 7 students which meant that our instructor was able to give ample time to each student as we were shooting in the field.  Many were much more experienced nature photographers than moi....which ofcourse meant that I did more whining, oh I mean needed more coaching than others. Early morning shoots, more shoots, lunch, back to our rooms to choose 4 photos to be critiqued, classroom time, then back out for an afternoon shoot, then dinner, then back on the road for sunset, topping the days off with a long hot shower and collapsing into bed to begin again the next morning.  A couple of mornings I had to set my alarm for 4:40 AM....yes, you saw that right.  I don't even know what the world looks like at 4:40 AM, except maybe a short trip to the bathroom and back let alone up and dressed.  He is having another workshop in the spring at this same location, and believe it or not, I am tempted to do it again.  It will be a totally contrasting experience with the landscape being so different in the springtime, instead of falling leaves there will be wildflowers.

Early morning sunrise...


A sunset that you could not even see the trees on the side of the hill...


The last morning we were there (yes, this was a 4:40 AM alarm) there was a little snow and frost on the mountain which gave the trees a coating of white.


And you cannot ignore the leaves and color....omg the color was phenomenal.

Fallen leaves....


Hanging leaves....


Waterfall leaves....


How the light hit the leaves....


Or seen thru a window....


There are so many more photos from this experience which will pop up here and there in the future...but I wanted to give you a taste of what the Smoky Mountains looks like in October....pretty awesome, huh??

On the way home we decided to stop around Lexington, KY to find some of those gorgeous black fences and a horse or two.  After all, Lexington is known for it's race horses.  We just happen to stop at a farm for retired thoroughbreds and took a few shots.



It was indeed good to be home, my kids (aka dogs) were sure glad to see me, I don't ever remember my children or my husband ever jumping up and down when I walked through the door after a trip, but my kids sure do, making me feel totally and unconditionally loved. That's what dogs do.

"Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."  ~  Oliver Wendell Holmes

Until next time....



31 comments:

  1. Hi there, so glad you had a wonderful time, even though you had to take a few tablets to get you through. The photos are just awesome. I have a great tripod if you want a suggestion or maybe you might have a suggestion from your teach that is better than the one I have for going up a mountain. You are a better person than moi for hiking up a mountain with all my equipment day after day. I can do the early mornings as that is about the time I get up anyway but hiking up a mountain with all my lense not too sure about that one. The class size sounds perfect especially for instruction. Great images Deanna

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  2. Sounds like a dream... so glad you had such a great experience. Your photos are gorgeous as usual - I really like that second one - wowzers! Can't wait to see more!

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  3. Love love love these shots! Isn't amazing to go to one of these classes. I did one around the grand canyon, and it was amazing. Who did this class. I might consider one of these in the spring. Looks awesome!

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  4. You've done yourself proud! I'm only a few miles from a mountain sunrise...but that'll never happen!

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  5. Incredible landscapes, skyscapes, and foliage. Glad you had a positive and enriching experience and that the kids were eager for your return (the best part of most trips is returning home whether we want to admit it or not). Can't wait to see more.

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  6. Deanna, these are gorgeous. We were there early last week also, and every time I saw a woman with a camera I thought of you. We went to Clingman's Dome and that was the extent of "hiking" for us. I'm pathetically out of shape. Kudos to you!

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  7. what gorgeous country!!! and beautiful shots! glad you enjoyed the whole experience!

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  8. So glad to hear that you had an amazing time. It sounds like my kind of adventure!
    Great great shots!!!! Absolutely stunning!
    Well done!
    :-D

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  9. Yes ... it's hard to beat the Smokies in fall for beauty ... unless it's spring! I love your slo-mo waterfall! Fantastic slow shutter photography there, my friend! And ... welcome home!

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  10. It looks like a great class and you got some awesome shots...I can't image how many you must have taken.....Just reading your post makes me so sorry it didn't work out for me to go even though it sounds like it was way over my head....I know your fur babies were glad to see you....

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  11. Oh, my, those mountain photos take my breath away--stunning!! You took some incredible photos. So glad you had a good time. It sounds like a wonderful experience.

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  12. This must have been a great adventure and a fantastic experience! Your effort ( rise and shine at 4.40 AM) has been rewarded by these breathtaking photographs.

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  13. I understand your body aches and pains...when I did the Seattle Photography Retreat...I ached all over. Growing old is not for sissies! Photos are stunning.

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  14. if that'd been in a heartbeat from home for me too I'd have been there; it sounds like a wonderful experience Deanna and you sure picked up some fabulous scenic photographs. Nature and it's bounty - and home is where the heart is all sound good to me always

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  15. Oh my gosh - I am beyond amazed at the beauty and talent you show in these photos.
    Girl - seriously amazed!

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  16. What a whirlwind -- and yes, I do get up at 4:00 am almost every day (but I'm in bed usually by 9 pm!) It's hard, isn't it?

    Your photos are amazing Deanna -- you truly have a gift. xo

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  17. Your trip sounds fantastic and busy! What beautiful photos - I am definitely coming back for another look when I'm not standing at the bus stop with my little iPhone

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  18. My jaw is on the ground here, Deanna, wow. What beauty you captured!!!!!

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  19. My goodness, what an adventure, Deanna.
    Your photographs are gorgeous.
    My favorite? Number 7.
    Simply magical.

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  20. Oh, Deanna - I wrote a long comment and I think it got eaten by my iPad! If you get two, you'll know why. Sounds like a perfect trip: learned a lot, got tired, saw fabulous scenery, made new acquaintances, AND was welcomed home with lots of tail wags. I can barely choose a favorite photo from this extravaganza. Maybe the frosty morning one? Such gorgeous landscapes and photo ops.

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  21. this sounds amazing! i can just see you traipsing through the mountainside. and my goodness these are some spectacular photos.

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  22. Glad to see you had a wonderful trip, Deanna! What a beautiful experience.

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  23. HI Deanne what a wonderful course and all your photographs are stunning, really amazing. I would have loved to have had that experience. What is btw? I am sure I should know what forgot!! Looking forward to seeing more photos from yur course.

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  24. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I am jealous and I would love to do a trip like this. And yes that 4 am wake up call does seem a little too early, but I'm sure the pictures were worth it.

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  25. What fun- it sounds like a amazing trip and you sure did take some gorgeous photos!

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  26. OH yes definitely worth it as look what you got to see and shoot. Beautiful photos.

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  27. I can't wait to see more, Deanna. You are the third person whose Smoky Mountain pics I've seen from last week. The other two were vacationers, and theirs were gorgeous. Yours are something completely different, and such works of art. I love that you are committed to growing in your photography. You could certainly call your work "good enough!" and others SURELY would. Thank you for inspiring me. :-)

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  28. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful place which you captured so expertly with your camera. I'd love to go there this time of year. Wow. So impressed with your photos; can't wait to see more.

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  29. Wow! Your photos are fantastic!!! And they were darn good before! I'd love to take a workshop like that. Great horse shots too. Is that Old Friends?

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  30. Oh my gosh Deanna, such beautiful photos. Your thirst for adventure and knowledge is so inspiring!!! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!

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  31. Oh, these are fabulous, Deanna! Well worth the trip I would say. I hope you do decide to go back again in the spring

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