Edwards FreeLance Photography

The Smoky Mountain Pilgrimage

Every year around this time, people from around the region flock to the Smoky Mountains. Here are just a few images of the seasonal changes occurring this year in the Smoky Mountains.

Smoky Mountains - Images by Murray Edwards

Sweetwater Creek State Park – Georgia

Looking for somewhere to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with the family or friends? If you live in Atlanta or surrounding area, take a short ride to Sweetwater Creek, a little piece of wilderness just few minutes from the hustle and bustle from downtown Atlanta. Spend the day relaxing along the banks of the George Sparks Reservoir or if you are feeling a little more adventurous put on your hiking shoes and explore the numerous trails that meander throughout the park.

The four trails of Sweetwater Creek State Park are well maintained, and vary from smooth and easy, to rugged and technical.

Take a stroll down the historic or red trail to the remains of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company. The trail runs along Sweetwater Creek to the ruins, which consist of the three-story walls of the mill building which was destroyed during the Civil War.

The blue non-game wildlife trail follows the bluff above the river and meets the historic trail and the new white non-game wildlife trail at the falls. The white trail completes a loop that runs 6 miles and may test your endurance. The recently added yellow trail crosses Sweetwater Creek and follows the river south before looping deep into the watershed.

If you enjoy climbing around on rocks, then you will feel like a kid again.  The creek bed is full of opportunities to climb, jump over and wade in the water that flows through the park. Stop along the way to the falls, take a seat and cool off in one of the small pools that form along the clusters of rock formations.

Got a kayak or canoe? The reservoir provides calm smooth waters to paddle or do some fishing. Stop by the interpretive center for supplies, maps or bait.

So plan on getting away next weekend, head west on I-20 towards Birmingham – take exit 44 and follow the signs. There is a $3 dollar per vehicle parking fee, but that’s a small price to pay to for an enjoyable day

Bogen Imaging Hosts Free Adventure Sports Photography Webinar

RAMSEY, NJ--(Marketwire - July 2, 2009) - Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products and accessories in North America, announces a free webinar titled "Adventure Sports Photography: Round Table with Adventure Photographer Michael Clark." Part of the company's Bogen Café series of free instructional webinars, the seminar will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, July 17th.

Internationally published professional adventure photographer, Michael Clark (www.michaelclarkphoto.com), and David Fisher, Bogen Imaging's webinar host, will discuss the best equipment, gear, and approaches for adventure sports photography.

Specializing in adventure sports, travel, and landscape photography, Michael Clark's work can be seen in National Geographic Adventure, Sports Illustrated, Outside, Men's Journal, Backpacker, Outdoor Photographer Climbing and others. He produces intense, raw images of athletes pushing their sports to the limit and has risked life and limb on a variety of assignments to bring back stunning images of rock climbers, mountaineers, kayakers and mountain bikers in remote locations around the world.

Topics for Discussion Include:

-- Adventure photography fundamentals (light, autofocus, histograms,
 exposure)
-- Artificial lighting
-- Photo Equipment
-- Outdoor Gear
-- How to approach and shoot rock climbing, mountain biking and
 whitewater kayaking
 

Webinar participants will have access to a number of exclusive benefits, including one-on-one interaction with the guest speaker, and will be automatically entered in a chance to win one of three Gitzo Traveler Series 2 Carbon Fiber 6X Monopods (GM2561T). Winners will be announced at the end of the webinar, so participants must attend the event in its entirety to be eligible to win. A free recorded version of the webinar will also be available to registered participants within 24 hours of the event. Winners must be US residents.

To register for the free Bogen Café webinar and for additional information, please visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/webinar/

Additional information about the Bogen Café as well upcoming webinars can be found at www.bogencafe.us.

About Bogen Imaging

Bogen Imaging Inc is a leading distributor of key accessories brands for the photographic, video, cine and lighting production markets. Bogen is an international company within the Imaging Division of the Vitec Group, which owns the following leading international brands: Manfrotto, Gitzo, Kata, National Geographic Bags and Tripods, Avenger, and I.F.F. As the exclusive US distributor of Metz, Gossen, Elinchrom, Lastolite, Reflecmedia, Formatt Filters, and Rotatrim, Bogen offers the most complete range of exceptional camera and lighting accessories in the business. The Bogen Imaging international network covers the USA, Germany, France, Italy, UK and Japan.

Bogen Imaging Hosts Free Adventure Sports Photography Webinar

Top ten annoying things to say to wildlife photographer | Paul Burwell Photography

Great post from Wildshots. As a fellow nature and wildlife photographer, the number of times I've been asked some of the same questions are amazing. My favorite was after a day of hiking and photography in the Smoky Mountains, I came out onto a trail to find a family looking out and taking some snapshots of the views. The mother asked would I please take a family picture so they remember that moment in time when they were in the mountains of Tennessee. Sure I said, not to be rude, and she proceeded to hand me some off-brand point and shoot camera, to which I asked, "How do you use this?" Her comment "Well, you turn it on here and look here, we'll stand real still, while you hold down this button for a few seconds." On and on she went until she finally said, "I thought you were a photographer?"

Now, after a day of trouncing through woods, covering about 8 miles with nearly 30 pounds of camera gear on my back, let's just say I was a little tired and sweaty, and before I realized what I was about to say, I blurted out "Well, if you had a real camera!" With that, she snatched the camera from my hands and stomped off.

Top ten annoying things to say to wildlife photographer | Paul Burwell Photography.

Yosemite Photo Contest for Yosemite Visitors - Yosemite Pines Family Lodging | Photo News Today

GROVELAND, Calif., Feb. 25, 2009 — Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging has launched an online photo contest for vacationers to the Yosemite National Park area, with free lodging being offered as prizes each month. The family-oriented property is located in Groveland, California, just a few miles from the park’s West entrance on Highway 120.

Now you can engage in a friendly photo competition with family and friends with Yosemite photographs or photographs of your stay at Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging. Imagine having all or part of your Yosemite vacation lodging paid for because of the Yosemite Park or Yosemite Pines photos you took!