Deer in the Park

I actually took this video last Sunday. It was right in front of the Park Ranger Headquarters by the Sugarland Visitor Center.



I could not get my camera to focus well on the deer unfortunately. The video is actually the most in focus thing I got. But I have hope for an very very very good upgrade for Christmas.

And since I haven't taken the time to process anymore of my photos from last weekend. Here are a few of the others. I actually put these up on Etsy yesterday. They are only $10.00 there. And if you're reading this and would like one to give for a Christmas present, I can give you a 50% discount.


I really do like wildlife.















This unexpected snowy day in the mountains was so much more beautiful in person than any of my photos captured. This one came the closest though.























This was one of my first photos after moving here. This is the leaves were on the ground. I just saw them, thought they looked nice, and clicked.









And this is what I consider to be my best photo to date. It was at the bottom of that long hike a few posts back.

A Lazy Weekend Playing with Photoshop

Well, it was a long week, and despite the beautiful weather outside, I just stayed in this weekend. My mom found this site for me called Fan Art Review. You can post photographs and art, and have it reviewed by other people who also post their work. There is a small monthly fee for the site, but the feedback you get is worth it (at least to me). It was from going there that I started playing with making the mixed media photos as seen in the last post. It also inspired me to start trying making digital art pieces from nothing in Photoshop.

This was my first piece. I titled it "Glowing in the Dark". The link on the title goes to the listing on Fan Art where you can see the image without the copyright. Fan Art protects the images from being stolen with their code.


This was my second piece, and so far it is my favorite. It is titled, "Flying in the Light".

Based on the reviews on these pieces, I think I am going to create a new Zazzle page for these images. A number of the reviewers mentioned that their children really liked them, and Zazzle has many products that appeal to young people.



Fan Art has these contests that you can possibly win prizes for. And the deadline was coming up for the Halloween photography and art contest. So I made/found these to enter into the two contests.

Happy Halloween

Morning After Halloween Bird

It's just been a fun and relaxing way to spend the weekend. I hope you all enjoy my pieces.

Sunday's Adventures

I have worked 47 hours in 4 days, so it has taken me much longer than I expected or wanted to get to this post. But better late than never, right?

It rained all day Saturday, so it was not a good day to go out and take pictures. We did go see two shows at Dollywood for the last day of the Gospel and Harvest Festival. While waiting between shows, I did find this nice leaf arrangement sitting on the bridge.

This is my first attempt at using a waterstamp on the image to protect it. What does everyone think?

And this is what it looks like after I played with it all evening.

I've really just started playing with the fun of mixed media pieces. But anyway, back to Sunday's adventures in the Smokies...

Sunday was most sunny, well sometimes it was mostly cloudy, but at least there was no rain. So after church we set out on a drive into the National Park. We went a different route than usual and went down Wears Valley Rd. It is one of the back ways into the park from the Tennessee side.

My whole goal for the drive was to see Meigs Creek Falls and The Sinks. We ended up taking the long way around because I didn't bring the map. So I was just trying to remember what the map looked like and said. So we took a detour down to Cades Cove, but we eventually found the right way.

So this is Meigs Creek Falls:



And this is the Little River that Meigs Creek Falls feeds into:



I had a stranger take this photo of me at the Falls.





I think it turned out pretty good.










Just down the road from the Meigs Creek Falls is a part of Little River called The Sinks. I think we kind of lucked out while there and their were two guys kayaking down them. I got a video of one of them going down.



They climbed up the rocks on the side, went over the road, and went down two more times while we there.

So my mom was with me...



















I saw this guy climb out to this rock and it would make a good picture point. So I handed mom the camera, and climbed my way out there. Here is what we got...



I had forgotten to change the camera from video mode. So after climbing back and realizing this, I reset the camera and climbed back out to the rock. Here is the resulting photo.


I know this post was a little photo and video intensive so hopefully it didn't overload your server. We had a good trip out on Sunday though. The fall colors while not as numerous in some place were still brilliant. The extra rain this year seems to have made some trees turn later than others, which meant the overall colors at one time were not as brilliant. But it has also meant that the colors last longer.

I really do love living here. There is always something to see or enjoy.

George the Walking Stick

My friend, Rebecca, asked me what my walking stick's name was...I asked it. George seemed right to me. So here is my photo of George leaning against a boulder by the river.


And because I am trying out my mixed media skills...the Real George glows out.


More to come soon on the rest of today's adventures.