A couple of days ago Bonnie and I decided it was time to visit one of our favorite locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway, not so very far from our home. We try to visit at least once each spring. The Mountains-To-Sea Trail bisects the ridge going eastward off Craggy Dome passing through a series of wonderful Beech Gaps as it heads generally in the direction of Mount Mitchell. While we did not see any direct evidence of beech blight fungus, the beech forest here did not look exactly healthy, either; and the wonderful undercover of grass that has been so characteristic of the area is slowly being overtaken by competing species. Still, it is a beautiful place; and we’ll continue to return.
A focal length of 28mm, wide enough for an interesting view, but not so wide as to include an overabundance of clutter, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted. An aperture of f/16 provided depth-of-field and along with an ISO of 200 allowed for a shutter speed of 1/4th second, fast enough to stop the movement in the grass as the winds criss-crossed and shifted over the gap.
When we left home there was no indication that the gap would be shrouded in a cloud. Sometimes you just have to go and see. Beauty is full of surprises.
Yet another thought provoking image. What struck me first is the height at which the camera was when you shot this. Too often we shoot at our eye level and fail to explore other perspectives on that axis. Being lower to the ground makes this picture. I also like how the path leads us into the fog, or, as I see it, the unknown. Who knows what lurks off in the distance.
An outstanding image!
I see a poignant lesson here on the effects of humankind on the natural world. I wasn’t there to see them then, but where are the great tree trunks that I’d bet were present before the loggers came? You mentioned the grasses being overtaken by competing species. Is that perhaps related to changes in the tree canopy? And there’s that trail. I love forest trails. I love where they allow me to go and what they allow me to see. But at this moment, in this image, in my present mood, this trail seems like a dagger straight into the forest. Sorry to be a downer (insert emoji for “wry grin”)!
Love that fell you’ve captured. Thanks
Such a beautiful, tranquil place. You captured the quiet, mysterious feel of it. It looks like a secret path to a secret place on a special day. The clouds came in for the finishing touch. Thanks for the reminder of how beautiful our world is outside, just a little off the grid.
This image makes me want to walk that path.
Don, it’s great you have favorite places to which you can return frequently. We all need those – oh, and the time to get out to them! And your image shows a delightful springtime moment with those vivid bright greens. I like the nearly 50/50 division of the frame, something I know you do sparingly and only when it works. Have a great week. Ray
A completely different look and feel than a couple of days earlier.
Good morning Everyone. Thank you all very much for joining me for this conversation. Bonnie and I are just home from an excellent week with a great Road Scholar group at Lake Junaluska. We had a wonderful diversity of representation from Oregon to Washington to Iowa to Wisconsin, and places in between. And today is Barn Day in Madison County, North Carolina!
Hey Kev. Thanks for joining us. Thought provoking is good. I was actually kneeling on the edge of the path so that I could create a slight diagonal with it. Even though the fog/cloud in the trees was fairly thick, the skyline above the treetops was discernible and I wanted to avoid introducing it, so I limited the degree of my tilt-up, as well. Thanks for your astute observations and comments.
Hi Dick. Thank you; I’m delighted to have you join us, and I certainly appreciate your kind words. Sometime I would love to hear why this Image spoke to you. Walk in Beauty.
Hey Donald, I’m sorry to hear of your down state of mind. Maybe I can lift it, if only slightly. Beech Gaps are fairly common features along the high ridges (above 5000′) of the Southern Appalachians, especially on south-facing/southeastward-facing slopes. While there can usually be found within the community an old “grandmother” tree sending out “runners”, this is not always the case since beeches also propagate with seedlings. For several biological reasons, spruce-fir communities, of which beech gap forests are a sub-member, do not invade the beech communities, so there is an integrity of community that is maintained. Long story short, beech gaps are as they are quite naturally, but they are sensitive to air pollution which weakens their immune systems making them susceptible to the blight. The trail shown is part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail a wonderful walk to the Atlantic from the Smokies. Be well, my friend.
Hi Bob. It’s good to hear from you and to receive your thoughtful words. So much of what we create is about “feeling” and not so much the touchy-feely kind, but rather the deep heart-felt awareness that understands the immense beauty of the natural world and is grateful for that awareness.
Hi Nancy T. It’s always good to have you with me. I love being able to hare this world with you because I know how much you love it. I only wish you could visit it more often. Bonnie and I miss seeing you.
Hey Barbara. I hope this finds you well and enjoying a Texas spring. I’m not sure that beech gaps occur at elevations low enough for you to find them in your part of the Lone Star State, so I’m glad I can share this one. Enjoy the walk.
Howdy Ray. It’s always good to have you join us. You and I both well-understand the value and necessity of having those self-identified favorite locations to which we can return to find peace and rejuvenation from the seemingly insane hustle of the world. Somehow I think we will always manufacture the time to enjoy them. Thanks for pointing out the nearly 50/50 horizon split in this Image. You’re right, I don’t create it often, but I’m always looking for the opportunity. I’m becoming more and more convinced that photography is as much about simply paying attention as it is about anything else.
Hey John. Hope your Folk School week was excellent. You’re so right, when you and I were at this spot just a week earlier it was still winter. So much can happen in a week’s time.. Hope your drive to the Upstate by way of Long Island was pleasant. We were thinking about you as we took the group to many of the places you and I visited while you were here. Looking forward to being in Acadia together.
Isn’t it interesting how groups of comments to an Image can be about so much other than photography; but isn’t it also always true that what we are about on our creative journey is always something beyond mere picture-taking. It is the feeling with which we imbue our images that renders them memorable to those with whom we share them. That feeling is why we create them in the first place. Walk in Beauty.