Darkness to Light Photo Tours

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains Private Photo Tours

Please call for one (1) to five (5) day customized photo tours

Great Smoky Mountains D2L Photo Tours
Overview

Tour 1 Dates

May 12-13 & June 16-17

July 14-15 & August 18-19

October 20-21

Tour 2 Dates

May 14-15 & June 18-19

July 16-17 & August 20-21

October 22-23

(June Tour 1 and July Tour 2 feature the full moon rising on 6/17 & 7/17.)

Tour I (Monday & Tuesday) focuses on the southwestern side of the Smokies and includes Cades Cove which is not only the most popular destination within the park, but also the best location for viewing wildlife, and Little River Road, one of the most scenic riverside roads in the US.

Tour II (Wednesday & Thursday) takes us to the very top of the Smokies at Clingman’s Dome, but also includes Roaring Fork featuring a number of 19th Century farmhouses hidden away in the mountains.

Both Tour 1 and Tour 2 begin at sunrise of the first day and end with sunset on the second.

Detailed schedule ckick HERE.

All locations sunrise to sunset (times vary by season) are within easy walking distance of your vehicle –– no strenuous hikes or difficult trails to navigate. Except for the wide mountain vistas seen from Clingman’s Dome and Foothills Parkway West, our subjects include a wide variety of wild flowers and mountain foliage, a wonderful selection of mountain streams, creeks, and rivers, and a few lovely water falls. In addition, deer, bear, coyote, and fox are often seen early morning in Cades Cove.

The workshop schedule avoids crowds as much as possible while carpooling will be used to facilitate easy movement from location to location. Also, I reserve the option to alter the schedule on the spot if either weather or ground conditions warrant.

The workshop fee is $250.00 per person for the two days. Should you elect to stay for both workshops, the fee is $450.00 per person for the four days. The fee includes full location guidance and photographic instruction throughout the day including feedback and critiques of your images. You are responsible for travel, food, lodging, and miscellaneous expenses.

I use the Econo Lodge Parkside in Townsend, TN; and in the Microtel Inn & Suites in Gatlinburg; however, there are many other hotels and motels in both locations. A full ist of lodging in the area is supplied at registration.

Mealtimes will serve as a forum to recap what we have just experienced and forecast what we are about to shoot, and, in addition, provide time for feedback on images already captured.

I will keep the groups small (6 to 8 persons), so expect all the one-on-one attention you may need in all phases of photography. Also, I occasionally will be shooting right along with you, demonstrating all the techniques I employ to capture the very best image in the field

Weather is usually not a factor in the Smokies. Clouds and rain can produce stunning, richly colored images. In addition, you can also learn how to handle the deep shadows and pronounced contrast resulting from mid-day, cloudless skies. As the date of the tour approaches, I will advise everyone of the appropriate clothing.

Registration: To register for any one of these Smoky Mountain tours or if you have any questions, please either email me at (billjordan@darkness-to-light.com) or call me at (803-932-9540). Upon registration, a 50% deposit is required with the remainder due at the workshop. Please make checks payable to: William Jordan IV. When I receive your deposit, I will send you a detailed list of the specific locations we will visit including information with which you can begin your own research.