Blog

Most of my photography captures the mountains of Western North Carolina, but sometimes I have the opportunity to share the coastal wildlife of South Carolina. These photographs come from James Island County Park near Charleston and Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet. Visit dkwall.com for all of the photos.

Our summer weather has been a perfect mix of rainy and sunny days, prompting many late season blooms. Those blooms have attracted many butterflies flitting around our yard.

With a week of crisp, clear mornings, we have seen a glorious sunrise each day. Today’s was spectacular as the sun rose behind the trees, reflecting light off of the sparse, floating clouds in the eastern sky.

Photographs of a lesser known attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Plus views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

With clouds floating across our mountain skies, the evening blooms of Rhododendron and daylilies sparkled in their natural brilliance.

What does a photographer do when a sudden summer storm blocks the planned sunset photography? Take photos of the torrential rains instead!

During dinner last night, one of those standard summer pop-up thunderstorms rumbled over the mountain. I decided to go next door to Cataloochee Ranch with my cameras and see the views post rain showers.

Yesterday offered a photographic variety - sunrise with valley clouds, afternoon thunderstorms, and bumblebees feasting on the mountain laurel.

While working on my sunset timelapse photography project, a white horse from Cataloochee Ranch provided some distractions.

Blue Ridge Parkway rainy days may sound like a time to avoid this scenic drive, but the weather makes for perfect photography scenery.

I am spending my May evenings capturing sunsets in our mountains for a timelapse project that should be published in June.

What a perfect excuse not to mow! Take photographs of spring wildflowers instead.

The Norris Dam open spillway filled the air with the roar of crashing water for the first time in four years. Our recent heavy rains had flooded area rivers and lakes, and the TVA dam needed to release water – a fairly rare event. Of course, this created a terrific photography opportunity.

During our recent visit to Huntington Beach State Park, I photographed this anhinga drying his wings. And then I found out why he does that.

My goal was bird photography while visiting Huntington Beach State Park, but the alligators became my subjects as they swam the waters.

While I was working in my study, one of my dogs alerted to movement outside the windows. Our wary bobcat neighbor was on the prowl.

With our spring-like weather pattern, my thoughts wandered to the return of the horses to an empty winter pasture of Cataloochee Ranch.

Monday morning was clear and cold, a perfect day to capture a long exposure image of the brilliant orange sunrise rising to our east.

Dreary, foggy, misty mornings can produce spectacular sunrises.

One of the great treasures of the South Carolina coast is Huntington Beach State Park, 3 miles of pristine beach just south of Myrtle Beach.

Photographs from a sunrise trip into Cataloochee Valley. This Bull Elk was proudly protecting his herd of cows and calves.

Ground fog at sunrise in Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a recent cool, October morning.

Sure the bull elk make for majestic photographs, but who could resist this sweet elk calf face?

Driving through Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, NC, yesterday on the way home (we are neighbors), the clear blue skies and beginning fall colors called out for the camera.

Living on the Eastern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I am blessed with a short drive into the foggy Cataloochee Valley for elk viewing.

Sunny, blue sky walking day at Lake Junaluska. The reflections of buildings, trees and clouds shimmered in the calm water.

Obstacles abound on the simple drive to our house. In this case, a wild turkey flock was blocking our path, so I took photos.

Turned on the floodlights to let the dogs out and discovered this beautiful web spread between the roof and the top of the fence. Good morning, Miss Spider.

We had a perfect late summer evening for horses last night. Our neighbor's equines enjoyed the field grasses while I photographed.