Recently back from incredible Artist-in-Residence experience at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There were so many new experiences for me here... from autumn's splendor to winter's interruptions, to close encounters with elk, deer and bear to the drama of the Milky Way, to bone chilling winds at the top of the park's 6,600' highest peak to hiking to magnificent waterfalls oftentimes scrambling over rocks and boulders.

Please check out my photography gallery of the "best of the best" of my favorite moments in the park here. 
 
And, gratefully, I was pleasantly surprised that four of the images have sold already along with numerous greeting card sets. If interested in any, just drop me a note and I'll custom create size and material of your choice....aluminized metals, matted prints, canvas, sets of greeting cards. 
 
I must admit, after being away for over five weeks, there was a little bit of an adjustment returning to the "real world". And, it's show time again. The biggest art shows in South Florida began with Art Basel and Art Miami. I'm grateful to have been juried into the ENDANGERED Exhibit for the seventh year. Also, I was asked to speak on "How I Got That Shot". ​
 
Wishing you continued, abundant blessings and a most joyous New Year. Thanks for viewing and being in my life.
 
Follow the Light!
~Phoenix

Pictured Above, L to R: White Out, Buck at Cades Cove, Sunrise at Maloney Point; Middle: Yosemite Daybreak

First photograph during Artist in Residence taken at Clingmans Dome, highest elevation in the park at 6,644′  - "Milky Way Over the Smokies". Although, I had gone to take the shot the night before, I just couldn't handle the weather conditions. Can you say freezing - cold temps and high winds! For this native South Floridian and resident, once I dressed right for the occasion (three tops, four jackets, four pairs of pants and two pairs of socks plus a hat and gloves) the rest was pure de-light. 

Honored that Great Smoky Mountains National Park featured me on their Facebook page today: 

Please follow on Facebook, Instagram or twitter.com/spiritdivaTwitter to see the daily photo post. Click on link here or icons at bottom right of this page. Also, more images are uploaded to the gallery page, http://www.photographsbyphoenix.com/great-smoky-mountains-national-park.html

More to come!!!!!

Follow the Light! ~Phoenix

You may ask why I'm leading off this post about heading off to the Smokies with the "Moon Over the Marsh" image photographed at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida. Thanks to this image and the five others below (along with the rest of the application package) for making all the difference in my being selected by the Artist in Residence selection panel.

"The Artist in Residence selection panel really loved your work and appreciated the strong images shared. You were the super scorer on our panel," said Sheridan Roberts, Great Smoky Mountains National Parkwide Volunteer Coordinator when she notified me of my being awarded this prestigious opportunity. 

In two weeks I'm driving up to America's most visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains. I'll have the opportunity be there for five weeks enjoying the total mystery and wonder of mid- to late-fall, perhaps even an early winter, in this land that stirs my heart and spirit. Hopefully, I'll arrive in time to photograph the Milky Way. Rising to a peak of over 6000 feet, the Smokies encompass over 500,000 acres and 800 miles of hiking trails. Majestic sunrises and sunsets, gurgling mountain streams and waterfalls, stillness of the open forest, morning mist and autumn colors ...I can't wait to see what I capture through my lens. 

Also, I will be presenting three public service programs. One will be for park visitors. Another, I'll be working with students on a day hike and, the last, I'll be presenting to art students and faculty.

I hope you will follow my travels during this special time via Facebook and Instagram.  

Below are the other images that helped make this dream come true. P.S. If you haven't yet, you may want to read the blog from June 7 for more on this lifetime dream.

Thanks for reading!
Follow the Light!
~Phoenix

Pictured: Top - Moon Over the Marsh; Above, L to R, Top to Bottomw - Light in the Forest, Tree & Stream, Milky Way Over the Rockies; Row 2, L to R -Yosemite Daybreak, Early Morning Fog