Landscapes

Sunrise over Lake Burton evokes memories of fishing with my Dad at Moccasin Creek, with its fall color hues reflecting past joys and tranquil nature's embrace.

Some pictures you spend hours or days planning, and some you come around a bend in the road and slam on the breaks because you cannot believe the scene before you.  That was the case when this incredible twilight scene presented itself to me in Smoky Mountain National Park.

The most difficult part of exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway is deciding which scenic vista to pull over for.  On this cold fall morning, I was thrilled that my scouting the day before paid off with a lovely view of Looking Glass Mountain bathed in fall colors and the warm hues of the rising sun.

Man plans, and God laughs.  On this winter adventure, I had envisioned taking pictures of the sweeping Smoky Mountains.  However, my mountain pass closed, I had to pivot, and I could not be more excited about visiting the super popular Mingus Mill alone and blanked in snow.

This is one of my favorite off-the-beaten-path waterfalls in Georgia.  I love how the cascade knives through the rock cliff into the swallow pool below.

Tucked away in a rarely visited section of a large Scout Camp in Atlanta, I have always loved the brief moments of peace and tranquility found sitting on this dock in the early morning before the camp comes alive with activity.  

Is there any question why over 4 million people travel to Acadia National Park annually?  The iconic view across Jordan Pond to the Bubbles never fails to leave me in awe.  More amazingly, on this summer day, just a handful of people watched the setting sun slip behind the mountains.   

This beautiful waterfall in the North Georgia Mountains feels like a little wonderland with its small twin cascades that are so perfectly named His & Her.

In the South, winter likes to tease you with a cold day here, a hard freeze there, and a lot of chilly rain.  On this cool and rainy day, winter decided to tease me some more by showing me the smallest of winter wonderlands atop Brasstown Bald.  

When I was exploring the French Pyrenees, the only thing I “had” to see was an alpine lake.  A series of events changed our plans, but as we were heading out of the area a day earlier than planned, I was still able to sneak up to the beautiful Estang de Lers, and this beautiful lake did not disappoint.  

This Appalachian Trail vista is aptly named Preacher’s Rock and rarely disappoints, but on this warm summer’s morning, it was particularly beautiful.   

I love exploring waterfalls and trying to capture the beauty of moving water; however, sometimes, the other details in a scene capture your attention.  Such was the case on this day when I was drawn to this pine cone perched on a rock in the steam.

Sonoma Valley is rightfully known for it’s amazing wines, but to me, Sonoma Creek Falls is better than any wine in the area.  I loved exploring the nearly deserted Sugarloaf Ridge State Park on this cold December day.

The drive-up Cadillac Mountain is truly awe-inspiring and made even more special after a day of rain quickly turns into a beautiful sunset evening.   

Springtime in the French Pyrenees comes with its challenges, but epic sunrises over snowcapped mountains is not one of them.  This view from the porch of our tiny home near the village of Seix will never get old.

There is something truly enchanting about the pensive mood and melodic tones of a foggy morning spent by the lake.

When scouting for sunrise spots at Finn Lough in Northern Ireland the night before, I was drawn to this small tree sticking out of the water.   However, not in my wildest dreams did I envision getting to experience a sunrise with such vibrant colors that it made it feel like the lake and sky were on fire.

This waterfall, hidden deep in the North Georgia Mountains, is not for the faint heart to reach, but once you are there, you truly feel like you have found a secret cove where you can hide, if only for a moment, from the world's worries.

Not one, not two, but three side-by-side cascades make this waterfall tucked away, far from the sounds of man, a truly delightful place to escape and meditate.

Winters beauty is magical, frost bite not so much.  On this frigid adventure to Ramsey Cascade in Smoky Mountain National Park the conditions were brutal with tempatures in the single digits and the blow back from the falls literally froze my fingures within minutes of reaching this beauitful location.