I think it is probably clear, but my Picture of the Week images are rarely – if ever – actually from that week. This week’s Picture of the Week was actually taken back in March (nearly a month ago today, actually), but even still, I was still working on it some yesterday, trying to get it as polished as possible. My favorite images always go through multiple iterations before I feel like they’re finished, and even then, I will revisit them again. That said, I am fairly sure this image will make it into my 5 favorite images for 2026 – and if it doesn’t, I will have had an amazing photographic year.
Here’s why I’m so excited about this image. First, I love the Cades Cove Methodist Church. I somehow never get tired of photographing it. I actually came up with the idea of this week’s picture while shooting the picture I posted a few weeks ago of it. Second, and most pertinent, is the sky. I have never been able to extract this much detail from my night sky images as I have done with this one. So this, my first Milky Way core of 2026, is (in my opinion anyway) in many ways my best. Some of these details, in fact, I have only seen in scientific sky surveys, which is extra exciting to me. My quest for the rest of 2026 is to capture even more detail. Given that all this was captured with the less-than-desirable skies here in East Tennessee, I’m certainly hopeful more awaits once I can get back under to legitimately dark skies! Fingers crossed!
Speaking of travels, I have been canceling trips like crazy this year! First due to the conflict in the Middle East (I was due to go back this past week, which obviously didn’t happen) and then due to an unfortunate accident on the pickleball courts! Two weeks ago I broke not one, but two bones in my foot playing pickleball. I wish I could claim it was some epic battle on the court, or that I was doing something legitimately cool, but no… I was simply backing up, and somehow tripped over my own foot! And no… we weren’t even winning! 2026 has been a heck of a year so far, and not in a good way! I can’t put weight on my foot for four weeks, and then will be in a boot for another four weeks after that. You can bet I’ll be good and stir crazy by June (and in fact, already am)!
More next week!
–Dan Thompson