Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church, Tennessee Youth T-Shirt

There are three historic churches remaining from the Appalachian settlement known as Cades Cove, located in the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Originally, there was a fourth church, but all that remains of that one is a marker along Hyatt Lane designating the spot where the church once stood. This image depicts the Missionary Baptist Church in the height of the fall season. I love how the vivid fall colors hug the church in this composition, with the backdrop of a gorgeous October sky. The day that I took this picture, there was a gospel bluegrass group singing inside, so the strains of music filled the air as I moved around the building, trying to come up with the best composition for the shot. Now every time I see this image, it brings back the fond memory of being out in the Smokies on this wonderful fall day and enjoying the bluegrass harmony as I photographed.

Simply put, I LOVE TO TAKE PICTURES. I found this love later in life than many do, after raising my family and enjoying a career in education, both as a teacher and school administrator. Currently, much of my time revolves around travel and photography, and when I'm not traveling and taking pictures, I'm thinking about traveling and taking pictures! The Tennessee valley is my home, so I am surrounded by some of the most scenic areas of the United States with the added bonus of plentiful wildlife and birds...literally paradise for a photographer! My best days are spent in the mountains enjoying God's amazing creation and trying to capture all things nature with my camera. It gives me great joy to use this medium to share the intricacies of...