From late October through early November, I spent 7-days in the Smoky Mountains photographing and camping. I went down to Tennessee with grand plans of 4 nights of backpacking and a few relaxed days of car camping. For some reason, I couldn’t will myself to head into the backcountry that week. Whether it was burnout or a lack of motivation, I simply didn’t have the energy to push myself through the mountains. Luckily, I snagged a car camping site for the rest of the week. It had been well over a year since I dedicated an entire week to photography, so I was excited to finally get extended solo time with the camera.
The trip started with me in a very somber mood as I did have some lingering disappointment from not fulfilling my backpacking trip, which was paired with rainy and cold conditions. Fall colors were far past their peak (except for a few small pocks of color), so my focus during the first few days was to attempt to capture the grim darkness of the Smokies. Mist, rain, and clouds were the center point, along with a few moments of fleeting light. The photos taken during those first 3-days of my trip are among my favorites of all time. Something about grim, gloomy conditions and a depressed mood brings out my creative side. It has been this way all my life, so those conditions to start the trip were like a welcoming party.
5-years ago I traveled to the Smoky Mountains for the first time with a group of friends to hike and see the solar eclipse. One of my goals for this trip was to see parts of the park I had not visited before, which I did to an extent. However, with my week freed up to do more traveling by car; I ended up revisiting and spending quality time in some of the spots I had hiked and photographed on my first visit. I was flooded with fond memories while revisiting places from the past trip. I felt as if I was transported back to that summer all those years ago. It made me reflect on life, seeing places that felt unchanged compared to the completely different person who was visiting them. It reminded me of how life used to be and how I thought it would turn out. This reflection is my favorite part about revisiting locations; and why I do it so often. These trips are like bookmarks in my life, and by gazing at the same vistas I gazed upon 5 years ago; I was able to relive a part of me that is now gone.
Previously, due to traveling with a group, my time photographing was limited to the early mornings and some rushed snaps throughout the day. Now with all the time in the world, I was able to slow down and experience the park for all it has to offer. Looking back on the recent trip, my most cherished memories are from the few days of slow hikes along the creeks of the lower elevations. I spent countless hours trying to compose the moving leaves and reflections in the rushing waters of the creeks. The slow and contemplative photography I did those few days produced photos of a more abstract and intimate nature. I was in an almost dream-like state photographing the moving water, and the photos I produced are very reflective of this altered state.
Overall, a trip that began with spontaneous changes and a poor mood ended in a very harmonious and relaxed fashion. I walked away from the trip with a collection of photos I’m quite proud of. Not every photo is perfect, but I feel they are a step in the direction I want to take my photography.
