Tennessee

I was more than happy to agree to a few days in the mountains of TN, leaving the computers behind but taking the camera. What's a road trip without a puppy in the window?


Due to icy and snowy roads, an estimated 3.5 hour trip turned into 5 hours, then 6, then 7. It was funny at first, until morning turned into afternoon... Around hour 5 we stopped for lunch at one of those roadside places that are inhabited by the local folk drinking cofee during the off-season. The apple fritters were very, very tasty-


It was the kind of place where I wonder about everyone's backstory- where they've been, who they've loved and hated. We asked our heavily mascara-ed waitress if she knew what the roads were like up ahead, and when she replied, "Oh, I don't know, my sister lives up that way, but I haven't talked to her since..." I expected her to say, "...twenty years ago," but she finished with "...last night."

The view from our table, dripping icicles framing the orchard below.



After finally reaching the cabin and showering and resting (I fell hard and fast asleep on the sofa to the strains of Guitar Hero about 9pm), we set out for Cade's Cove the next day. These are my images from that rainy afternoon that melted most of the snow away. I have never pursued photography of old things or spaces because haven't we seen it all before? but I was pleased when one of my favorite photographers at APG commented that these photos did not look like any others he had seen from the Cove. That was exactly my intention, to make the photos distinctly mine in at least some small way.

A church built in 1839-




Ah, you are so not cool you vandal, you. What's that, the whiskey made you do it?

A farm house with front and back doors that blow open in the wind-




On the late night drive home (4 hours via an alternate route), we passed a mostly empty field with trees and gravestones illuminated in the center. I could hardly believe it, did I see what I thought I saw? A mile down the road I insisted we turn around, or I would forever wonder. The image quality is questionable, a too-long shaky nighttime exposure with my longest but not long enough lens propped in the open car window. Still I'm glad we turned around and I had my tired, incredulous chance.