Advice please: Smokies in October for B&W photography

[DrZ]

We are planning to go to the Smokies this October only to take pictures, mostly MF B&W using Fuji Acros 100 and Delta 400. We'll be staying in the Smokies area for four weekdays.
Any help on where to go (and not to go) plus tips for better photography in this location are welcomed.
Thanks in advance,
DRZ

 

[photobum]

Are you going to be shooting from the car or backpack? If working out of a car try to pick up the book, "Mountain Roads & Quiet Places". It's published by the Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association. There are 13 roads through the Smokys, about half are paved and all are passable by standard car. Not to be missed is Cades Cove in the morning. There are also two dirt road short cuts in Cades Cove. Use them to move around to photo spots that you want to return to. By 10AM the tourists will drive you crazy. They stop in the middle of the road to look at a deer and never think to pull over. Cades Cove is about the most beautiful place east of the Mississippi. Lots of old farm buildings and churches to photograph.

Sunset at Clingmans Dome can be fantastic. Of course I've only seen the sunset once every five years. It does rain alot. If your lucky you can get a shot at sunrise of just mountain peaks in the distance with a layer of clouds in the valley. When the sun light skims the top of the clouds it's like a silver lake shimmering between the peaks.

At the visitor centers you can pick up a map of auto tours in the park for a couple of bucks.

Parson Branch road was hit hard a couple of years back by hurricane. The rangers can give you the run down on what's safe.

If your driving a sporty car the Foothills Parkway on the west side will take you to Rt. 129 also known as Deals Gap. The twistiest road in America. 318 turns in 11 miles. Watch out for the bikes and trucks don't fit but they keep trying. If some idiot trys to drive through in a tractor trailer your screwed.

 

[Zebra]

Dr. Z,

Photobum's rundown is excellent. I know firsthand that Parsons Branch Road is shut down as I tried to drive it this past week. Funding to fix it just came through and so its at least a year out before it is fixed is what I was told by a Ranger there at Cades Cove. Photobum is right about another thing too--once you enter Cades Cove every other human there has never seen a deer and reacts accordingly. Go early and you won't be disappointed. In North Carolinna nearby is the town of Luck and Trust both of which have unique (one each mind you) buidlings to enjoy and photograph. Luck's general store with old gas pumps etc and in Trust there is a 8 seat chapel built by a cancer survivor that is beautiful and quaint. Not sure that is enough to go out of the park for but they both are unique and within 5 minutes of each other. If you end up in Asheville let me know and I'll give you the rundown on the best eats in town! Have a great trip.

Monty

 

[DrPablo]

I'll be moving to Greensboro within the next 6 months or so (and my wife is already there). We'll certainly be spending time in the Smokies. Any other sites to recommend? I shoot 4x5, and I love both landscapes and interesting architecture.

 

[ron mcelroy]

If your driving a sporty car the Foothills Parkway on the west side will take you to Rt. 129 also known as Deals Gap. The twistiest road in America. 318 turns in 11 miles. Watch out for the bikes and trucks don't fit but they keep trying. If some idiot trys to drive through in a tractor trailer your screwed.

Yeah I was run off the road on my bike by a Swift tractor trailor 2 yeas ago. I was lucky that there was enough shoulder to not crash. The dragon is best visited during the week. Lots of great roads around Robinsonville for both sporty driving/riding and shooting.

 

[donbga]

I'll be moving to Greensboro within the next 6 months or so (and my wife is already there). We'll certainly be spending time in the Smokies. Any other sites to recommend? I shoot 4x5, and I love both landscapes and interesting architecture.

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail out of Gatlinburg is a great place to explore and is very easy to get to. You can park and hike in several places. Be prepared for people but not like Cades Cove.