Okay, as promised… I give you, colors! 🙂
For the last couple of years I’ve made sure to keep a couple extra vacation days in the bank for fall colors. That allows me to get out on a week day in Cades Cove and the surrounding areas and photograph without all the crowds (though there are still certainly people). I always feel less rushed on a weekday too, though I’m not quite sure why. In any case, I genuinely enjoy going any time… but especially on weekdays.
This year the fall colors were a little strange. The weather didn’t quite cooperate everywhere, and when it finally did, we got some pretty strong storms that whipped out the colors in the Cove (thus the naked tree from last week). Just outside the Cove was amazing though! This particular shot was from the very end of Tremont Road. The road itself was a good example of my experience this year. You’d round a corner and the colors would be fantastic and 100 yards later, the leaves would be completely off the trees! This spot was perfect though.
–Dan Thompson