The Cumberland Plateau is a very under appreciated region when it comes to SENP, maybe because of the proximity of the Smokies and Blue Ridge, but it's a region probably 4-5 times the size of the Smokies with a wonderful and unique opportunity for photographers. And where else can you brag about having been to Fiery Gizzard?
I was expecting an article about the beauty of the plateau region. What a shock when I saw the surface mining picture. It's a shame what's being done to our mountain tops.
Big South Fork is at the top of my must do list. Went one weekend and it rained the entire time. I'm ready to head back.
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 24, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Jerry Greer's been working on something about the plateau for the Southern Environmental Law Center; I found some info for him not too long ago. I wanted to go with him but the work thing really interferes with my hiking and photography.
Jerry could provide some interesting comments if he was a SENP member. Oh wait, he IS a SENP member! In fact, he's a moderator. So Jerry, care to comment?
Interesting read. Anyone here do much shooting there?
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 27, 2011 at 5:07 AM
Ed,
Yes, I shoot there at least a couple of times a year. Here's one from the Walls of Jericho on the Tennessee-Alabama line.
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 27, 2011 at 5:08 AM
Twin Arches at Big South Fork. I was looking for a different shot than the usual icon shot of the arch, and had my shoulder against the rock using a 110mm (medium-wide) lens on a 4x5.
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 27, 2011 at 5:09 AM
And finally, here's a rock window from Pogue Creek, not too far from the Twin Arches. I've probably posted this one before in the past.
Cheers, Steve
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 27, 2011 at 8:08 AM
The Cumberland Plateau has a markedly different geology from the Blue Ridge. It’s characterized by a hard limestone caprock overlaying softer sandstone. Many times the sandstone is warm colored or even remarkably colored like the Crab Orchard stone.
When water carves its drainages, the softer sandstone erodes faster than the caprock. Wind erosion results in rock houses, arches, rock windows and “eyes”, while water erosion results in caves and waterfalls (of course).
I’ve been wanting to revisit the Walls of Jericho in the spring for dogwoods and fall (I was there in summer), so if anyone’s interested just make a post or send me an e-mail. I saw the largest yellow lady slipper I’ve ever seen on the trail in, that thing was the size of a golf ball.
Oh, and for Jackie, the Walls are drivable in a day trip as they would be about as far from Atlanta as Knoxville. It’s a long day trip, but doable. I always liked to stop by the Suwanee (University of the South) campus area on the way back because college towns always have good burgers and beer.
The usual suspects for landscape photography on the plateau going south to north are very roughly: Walls of Jericho, Fiery Gizzard/Savage Gulf, Virgin Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Burgess Falls, Frozen Head, DeBord Falls, Ozone Falls, Colditz Cove (nice waterfall), Obed River, Big South Fork NRRA (includes Honey Creek, Twin Arches, etc), and Pickett State Park. I’ve left a lot out of course, but a comprehensive list would be a good subject for a book.
Attached is a snapshot of the rock window with Elizabeth in the image for scale.
Cheers, Steve
Posted by Jerry Greer on January 27, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Hey all, sorry for being away and not posting. It has been a very busy time with MTPress and my photography biz but my 3 year old little girl has been stealing my free time that I'd normally have to be here. I hope to spend more time here from now on. I'll post a little more info on the Cumberlands soon.
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 27, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Good to hear from you Jerry! I was afraid we were all going to have to show up at your house at supper time.
I'm curious about your Cumberland Mountains stuff too.
Cheers, Steve
Posted by Steve Hamley on January 28, 2011 at 7:46 PM
Here's a "still life" shot of ant lion (doodlebugs) burrows in the Pogue Creek tract on the plateau. There are a couple of interesting things about this photo. The ant lion burrows are conical depressions that at first I reasoned were where drops of water off the cliffs had hit. Wrong. They are actually traps that if an ant or small insect enters, the ant lion will pop out and catch. You can scoop one up in your hands if you are inclined, they aren't hazardous to people.
The second thing of note is that the blue rock is not blue. It's actually a silver grey, and it appears blue because it's picking up the blue from a blue-sky day, which we usually call the "blue sky of death". Film is a better judge of color than your brain, which compensates for the blue cast after a while. IMO, the blue rock makes it, but I have to admit, I didn't see any blue at all when composing.
Discussion
10 repliesInteresting article on the Cumberland Plateau:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jan/20/cumberland-plateau-named-a-top-10-endangered/
The Cumberland Plateau is a very under appreciated region when it comes to SENP, maybe because of the proximity of the Smokies and Blue Ridge, but it's a region probably 4-5 times the size of the Smokies with a wonderful and unique opportunity for photographers. And where else can you brag about having been to Fiery Gizzard?
Cheers, Steve
For some information on the beauty of that area check out
http://woodswondersandwildlife.com/index.php
http://www.blueridgecountry.com/travel/big-south-fork-park.html
Big South Fork is at the top of my must do list. Went one weekend and it rained the entire time. I'm ready to head back.
Jerry could provide some interesting comments if he was a SENP member. Oh wait, he IS a SENP member! In fact, he's a moderator. So Jerry, care to comment?
Cheers, Steve
Yes, I shoot there at least a couple of times a year. Here's one from the Walls of Jericho on the Tennessee-Alabama line.
Cheers, Steve
When water carves its drainages, the softer sandstone erodes faster than the caprock. Wind erosion results in rock houses, arches, rock windows and “eyes”, while water erosion results in caves and waterfalls (of course).
I’ve been wanting to revisit the Walls of Jericho in the spring for dogwoods and fall (I was there in summer), so if anyone’s interested just make a post or send me an e-mail. I saw the largest yellow lady slipper I’ve ever seen on the trail in, that thing was the size of a golf ball.
Oh, and for Jackie, the Walls are drivable in a day trip as they would be about as far from Atlanta as Knoxville. It’s a long day trip, but doable. I always liked to stop by the Suwanee (University of the South) campus area on the way back because college towns always have good burgers and beer.
The usual suspects for landscape photography on the plateau going south to north are very roughly: Walls of Jericho, Fiery Gizzard/Savage Gulf, Virgin Falls, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Burgess Falls, Frozen Head, DeBord Falls, Ozone Falls, Colditz Cove (nice waterfall), Obed River, Big South Fork NRRA (includes Honey Creek, Twin Arches, etc), and Pickett State Park. I’ve left a lot out of course, but a comprehensive list would be a good subject for a book.
Attached is a snapshot of the rock window with Elizabeth in the image for scale.
Cheers, Steve
I'm curious about your Cumberland Mountains stuff too.
Cheers, Steve
The second thing of note is that the blue rock is not blue. It's actually a silver grey, and it appears blue because it's picking up the blue from a blue-sky day, which we usually call the "blue sky of death". Film is a better judge of color than your brain, which compensates for the blue cast after a while. IMO, the blue rock makes it, but I have to admit, I didn't see any blue at all when composing.
Cheers, Steve