These are my favorite images from 2019. Many are from the West, I was lucky to travel this year and love the national parks. To complete my first 365 project I also began shooting macro images for the first time and concentrated on black and white photography.
The Cowee Mountain Overlook is known for great sunset opportunities on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Will definitely be back but I got a few decent images on the scouting trip. Afternoon infrared black and white from milepost 430.7.
Most of the good shots of the Blue Ridge Parkway involve the mountain backdrop. But at the Herrin Knob turnout you're struck by the rock and the contours of the road around the landscape.
Final images from the Devil's Courthouse on the last trip. Wasn't exactly what I wanted but with the crowd size it will have to do. If the composition was available the clouds weren't cooperating. And visa versa. But, I'll have fond memories associated with this infrared image because it was a great day on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Sam Knob from the top of the Devil's Courthouse. The outlook from milepost 422.4 is worth the stop. A quick hike, less than a mile round-trip takes you to a vista to enjoy mountains views on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Sam Knob is also a hike I'm planning on in the future as I'm really enjoying the Black Balsam/Graveyard Fields area. [...]
The Devil's Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 422.4. A quick hike leads to the top where you can view mountains in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee & obviously, North Carolina. From Cherokee lore, Judaculla, a slant eyed giant lives in the cave of the mountain and holds court. It was a nice day so I decided to risk it. [...]
Photographed in the Orchid House within the Biltmore Conservatory. Vanderbilt's original plant list included over 800 orchid varieties, today they still have over 600 plants within the collection. The Tie Dye color pattern caught my attention, several different compositions below.
Hate to say I missed the Biltmore Tulip display this year. Took this photo of one of the last stands as gardeners had already begun transforming the beds for the next exhibit within the Walled Garden. Thankfully the Azalea Garden was in full bloom to make up for the disappointment.
I've photographed this composition several times but like the infrared B&W image from this opportunity. The Hickory Nut Gorge is visible within with the southern escarpment in the background. Categorized as both Hendersonville & Asheville because the County Lines and Eastern Continental Divide run along Little Pisgah Mountain.
Walking the lagoon trail, the wooden boat went out for a fly fishing lesson and provided a couple photo opportunities. Looking forward to going back as the leaves fill out on the trees to see how it changes the composition.
401 N. Main Street in Hendersonville was also designed for First Bank & Trust by prominent local architect Erle Stillwell. Captured here with the spring tulips the city of Hendersonville plants every year.
