The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is well known for the large Ursus Americanus (black bear) population. Being one of many things that draws over nine million plus visitors annually. (This according to the book of knowledge ummm Wikipedia that is...) Of these visitors most if not all would love the rare chance to see a bear in the wild. As of lately there have been more and more sightings of bears closer and closer to urban areas as the population grows. Another contributing factor in the bears coming in closer contact with humans is the idiots that feed/bait the bears. Possibly to get them closer or for whatever reasons, none the less they are doing far more harm than good. I do enjoy if not love this area (all along the Appalachian mountain chain). The more time spent there the more I learn and even have more of an appreciation for. I try to visit the park as often as I can, with the Townsend/Cade's Cove area being one of my favorite locations. Throughout the years most of my visits (the majority being in the fall/winter) I had only saw the rare bear on occasion, actually up until 2011 the total number I had seen was less than five. That changed once I learned more about the bears and their activities. Now every year I am going to try my best to make the trek for a minimum of a few days (if not a week) to capture the bears during their most active times. The gallery I have posted is the collection of the best shots from this year. Some I love ( I could watch the cubs play all day..!) others are just so so. Either way here they are to share with you all. Enjoy, and PLEASE BE AWARE that you should stay at LEAST thirty yards or more from all bears. (That is probably a great rule for all wildlife...) I have used a few super telephoto lenses to achieve these shots. Never getting too close, so much as even at proper/safe distances if I notice the animal changing its behavior then I move away even farther. This is done more to protect the bear than myself.

Oh to be starting out in that final year of high school. Your whole life ahead… Senior year, a great time for some and a time to forget for others (maybe not THAT bad but lessons learned at the least). We were contacted by Logan with interest In a Senior session. Upon working out all the details the plan was set and we met for breakfast to chat and prepare for the shoot ahead. What an awesome time we had. Logan did a great job, her and her Mom (Missi) were a pleasure to work with. It was quite warm outside, and other than a few yellow jacket stings everyone came out unharmed. Yes you read that right… some genius (that would be me) decided to move a rock and disturbed a nest. Lesson learned… leave things alone and work around them. I did (and still do) apologize for that little booboo. Here is the gallery of shots to check out. No, this isn't all the shots, but a selection of some of the best ones to put here for all to see. Again thanks Logan and Missi and here's to the best going forward!

I was contacted about shooting maternity photos along with possibly shooting the actual baby shower too! This was uncharted territory for me. But after a discussion with Sherissa we decided that we wanted to give it a shot. Enter Heather, Josh, and of course Mackenzie!!! After the usual text messages and discussion of time, place, etc... etc... to get an idea/feel for what she was looking for we scheduled and then did the shoot! What a BLAST!! I've got a small gallery of the shoot up and ready to view. It was so much fun and yet shows another service that we are happy to provide to people as a means to capture that special moment. Thanks to Sherissa for shooting the shower as Amy and I were out of town on vacation that week. Here's to all the best to a healthy beautiful baby Heather and Josh. Oh yeah I'd recommend checking out the small gallery of shots also!