Smoky Mountain Masterpieces

Art devoted to the Great Smoky Mountains in the US.

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Featured Work

John Oliver Place III by Gary L. Suddath

Morning sun filters through the trees at John Olivers Cabin with a few dogwoods in the background…The cabin is almost completly surrounded by split-rail fence also…...The Oliver’s bought land in the Cove in 1826 and this cabin site remained in the family until the Park was established. The house is typical of many found on the eastern frontier in the mid-1850s, and reflects the skills and techniques brought into the mountains by descendants of British and European immigrants. This cabin is located on the Cades Cove Loop Road, in the Great Smoky Mountain N.P.
MAN I'M BUSHED by Chuck Wickham

RACCOON,GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NP
ROARING FORK,AUTUMN,GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS,NP by Chuck Wickham

I LOVE THE AUTUMN SEASON.IF THE AUTUMN IS A WET ONE ROARING FORK IS A GREAT SPOT TO PHOTOGRAPH.
THE CHIMNEY TOPS,GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NP by Chuck Wickham

IT WAS A RAINY DAY, I DIDN’T THINK IT WAS EVER GOING TO STOP. I SAT IN MY TRUCK FOR TWO HOURS WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. FINALLY MY WAITING WAS OVER. RIGHT AFTER A RAIN IS A GREAT TIME TO PHOTOGRAPH.
Calling down the night by Graeme Pettit Photography

Bit of an experiment this….....Not sure whether I like it or not yet – whaddya think. / Honest opinion please, I wont be offended if you rag it to death. The original photo on which it was based was a dreary looking long exposure, almost night thing, of a view from Mortons Overlook in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the USA, with fog in the valley, and a missed sunset. I added a replacement sunset from the same day (slightly different position), and traces of a distant hill on the right. Then I picked out odd bits of treeline from an underexposed photo from the same vantage point, added a blue gradient, and a red, then blended the lot together and reduced the noise. It isnt perfect, I know, but I began to get annoyed with where it wasnt going, and stopped before I made matters worse. Thanks Squealia – Hope this mod is better. NB – Most pleasantly surprised – this was a featured image in the Smoky Mountain Masterpieces on 16th Aug 2008 – Thanks Guys n Gals.
summer smoky sunrise by dc witmer

summertime here in the Smoky Mountains brings out the best sunrises, usually in the fog. peace and quiet for as far as the ear will allow you to hear. breath taking views of layered mountain ranges in all directions. and of course, the sun. shot in the Smoky Mountain National Park, TN
digging for termites by Christopher Ewing

last sunday was in cades cove in the great smoky mountains. came upon a bear jam (everyone stops in middle of road and gets out of car to check out bear!) / this Huge mama was with one of her cubs, along side the road / she found this stump, and didnt really care we all were fairly close, she was after the termites. / unfortunately for her, she has been tagged twice, due to humans causing her to react. if she goes after another and the park finds out…they will kill her. / its time the humans are held accountable for their actions towards these animals, after all we are in Their Home, not our’s. as much as i hated to do it, i did have to lighten this up some due to some dense woods and a cloudy day, im still sick about it! lol
Meigs Falls Smoky Moutains by GaryGlass

one of the many waterfalls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was taken early morning during a light rain in October/Fall Time
sunrise in the Smokies by dc witmer

I love getting up at 5 in the morning, especially if this is my reward.
The Tipton Place by Lisa G. Putman

The Tipton-Oliver Place – Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park USA “The Tipton Place” has been featured by the group “Smoky Mountain Masterpieces” 7/08. This grand old cabin belonged to Johnathan Wade Hampton Tipton. Colonel “Hamp” had a carpenter build this home after the Cival War. Hamp was a veteran of the revolutionary war. The land came from Tennessee Land Grants in 1821 aquired by his grandfather, William Tipton, better known as “Fighting Billy” for his heroism in the Revolutionary War. President Andrew Jackson was his friend and said that if he had a company of Tiptons, he could “lick the whole British Army”. Although Hamp never lived in the house, his two daughters did. Miss Lucy and Miss Lizzie were schoolmarms in the cove in the late 1870’s. The homestead eventually included a smokehouse, a woodshed, corn crib, blacksmith shop, cantilever barn, and an apiary for bees. William Tipton owned a great deal of the cove by 1836. He deeded much of the land to friends and family, including John Oliver and Peter Cable. The three of them established the Primitive Baptist Church. The home went on to be owned by Jim McCauley in 1879, and then by John Oliver’s grandson William Howell Oliver in 1887. William served as an ordained minister of the Primitive Baptist Church from 1882 until the time of his death in 1940. His family lived in the home until the land was aquired for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Other works in the Cade’s Cove Collection: Companion Piece
Lift Thine Eyes by Lisa G. Putman

“Lift Thine Eyes” has been featured by the group “Smoky Mountain Masterpieces” 7/08. The Methodist Church, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA A steeple points one to the heavens, symbol of the dwelling place of Christ. Through city streets, across the valleys and lakes, through the countryside far and wide, the steeple declares Christ. I lift up my eyes to the hills / where does my help come from? / My help comes from the LORD, / the Maker of heaven and earth. / Psalm 121:1-2 NIV Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed {the food,} and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples {gave them} to the crowds… / Matthew 14:19 NAS We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; / Lamentations 3:41 The spire originated in the twelfth century, but America’s steeples are decended from those designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The fire began early on September 2, not far from the famed London Bridge, and spread quickly, overtaking everything in its path. Over four days the conflagration destroyed most of the city. Many famous buildings, including St. Paul’s Cathedral and 86 other churches (not to mention more than 13,000 homes), were destroyed, and the city smoldered for months. The task of rebuilding many of these houses of worship fell to Wren, a young architect. Noted for his Oxford background as a mathematician and astronomer, Wren was commissioned by King Charles II to rebuild St. Paul’s Cathedral. In his design of St. Paul’s and about 50 other city churches he included steeples, leading men and women to turn their gaze toward God in his heavens. Wren’s simple, straightforward treatment of the steeple quickly caught on. They were increasingly found on American churches, often with bells built in the tops. These bells served dual purposes, calling worshipers to services and summoning citizens for special announcements or emergencies. Early American steeples were usually made of wood. Today most congregations have replaced their wooden steeples, which were showing the effects of time and weather, with beautifully designed steeples made from lightweight fiberglass or metal. In terms of size and shape, steeples are as varied as the church buildings they accentuate. But even in their variety, steeples still serve their traditional purpose—to guide people’s eyes toward the heavens, to God himself. Other works in the Cade’s Cove Collection: > Companion Piece http://images-1.redbubble.com/img/art/border:blackwithdetail/product:laminated-print/size:small/view:preview/1223691-1-the-tipton-place.jpg!:http://www.redbubble.com/products/configure/4160293
Smoky Mountains sunrise by Kevin Price

Taken from the North Carolina side of Newfound Gap road. first edition. /

Recent Work

Smokey Mountains by sunshine0

I layered 3 backgrounds together in photoshop CS3. /
MISTY SUNSET,MORTON OVERLOOK,GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NP by Chuck Wickham

THE VIEW FROM MORTON OVERLOOK ATTRACTS MANY PHOTOGRAPHERS. PROBABLY THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED PLACE IN THE PARK.
FALLS NEAR TREMONT,GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NP by Chuck Wickham

THIS FALL DOESN’T ALWAY FLOW,BUT AFTER A STORM IT LOOKS GREAT.
landscape by michael byerley

cades cove,the great smoky mountains
Guardian by Gary L. Suddath

I may seem small compared to the rest of my world,I’m not.I stand alone and guard these fields every day and night. I’ve weathered many a storm and drifts of snow. Those that call my field home, rest in my shade on a hot summer day. The birds of the air, make homes amongst my limbs. I’ve stood bare on a cold winter’s night, and felt the scorching summer sun. I give you beautiful shades of green in spring, and am aflame with color in the fall. I’ve watched people struggle to make ends meet, and enjoy lunch in my shade. I am the Guardian and I endure on. As you pass me by, draw on my strength so that you to can endure Image taken in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain NP, this would be my favorite tree in the Cove.
Double Pen Drive Through by Gary L. Suddath

This is an example of a Double Pen Drive Through Barn, they were a little more prevalent than the cantilever barn in East Tennessee. This design provided an out of the weather area to fork hay into the loft, stalls for the livestock, and a dry place for equipment. Two men could work each side from a wagon in the middle when putting up hay, cutting the time used in dealing with the hay. This barn is located in the Cable Mill Visitor Center Area of Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Lake Logan Feeder Falls by Chipper

These unnamed falls are in a stream flowing down a mountain into Lake Logan. This scene is right on the Blue Ridge Parkway southwest of Cold Mountain.
Standout by Gary L. Suddath

My little red tree that gave me the thoughts of “Different” also Stands Out from the evergreens around it. We as photographers usually stand out from the, drive by point and shoot crowd. Lots of time we take more time setting up our tripod and camera than they do to stop, shoot, and move on…….I don’t know at the time I’ve been sitting in Cades Cove, reading, when someone would stop, look, snap a shoot and go on. They would be nothing out there, but seeing my camera, tripod, and long lens they would just assume I was shooting something……They can be bothersome at times. They’ll come up and start asking questions while you’re concentrating on a shoot. Even though we may be bothered we can play a big part in spreading the need for things like conservation. By standing out and getting the attention from those around us, we can play a bigger part in saving and preserving what we love to shoot…….So next time you are asked “ are you taking a picture of that”, don’t say “no I’m checking for gamma rays from the space ship that landed last night”. Tell them yes and why we should be helping save Mother Nature….Stand Out Make A Difference. Image taken at the Oconaluftee Valley Overlook, Newfound Gap Rd., Great Smoky Mountain NP
Beginning And End by Gary L. Suddath

Brilliant sunset in the hills of Tennessee with golden rays
AUTUMN,LITTLE RIVER,GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NP by Chuck Wickham

SHOT ALONG LITTLE RIVER ROAD.
Bridal Veil Falls Grotto by Lisa Hewitt

This grotto is just behind the Fall. It is located in Highalnds, NC. At one point in time I wonder if it wasn’t completely cover by the Falls and was used as a hideout of some sort!
On the Rocks by Lisa Hewitt

Taken at Bridal Veil Falls, Highlands, NC Oct 2007