I was having a conversation with friend and photographer, Jim McGovern, during a recent photography adventure in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.  He was telling me about his draw towards–and passion for–the wide open spaces of the desert southwestern United States.  I was thinking while listening, “would I enjoy these types of landscapes?”  I don’t typically care for landscapes devoid of trees or starved for water.  Plants are where I find connection; where I land my attention.  Could I adapt?

The question I field most often is some variation of “why the Southern Appalachians?”  To use the words of Eric Lagerstrom in his most recent film on YouTube, I simply look for things where I can find them.  And I find everything I need or desire within the ancient mountains of the Southern Appalachians.  The Southern Appalachian Mountains are chaotic with growth.  They are cramped with plants.  Green is the predominate color.  Water makes the whole thing possible–rain and its resultant headwater streams, rivers, waterfalls, seeps, fens and bogs.  The land is infinitely approachable, begging for interaction–tired feet into cold moving waters, rough hands over soft mosses, scratchy noses into beautiful and diverse wildflowers, warm sunshine on the face.  The Southern Appalachians reward attention.  They get more interesting the closer you look.  Their depth is a distance I’ve yet to reach.  They’re complex, varied, dynamic.  Messy at times.  But always magical.  Always just a sunrise or sunset or rainshower away from something intensely beautiful, mysterious, and rewarding.

I went to this small waterfall along the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment during the late afternoon to escape the warming high sun and the resultant lack of shade at my nearby campsite.  My plan was simply to stretch my legs and pass a little time.  But lo and behold, the sun was playing joyfully with the waterfall spray, displaying a rainbow of the full spectrum of colors.  Even when I wasn’t planning on being productive or seeing anything beautiful, there it was.  Right in front of me.  For now, I feel no great need to move further afield than the Southern Appalachian Mountains–I found that which I need.

Camera:  Nikon D850
Lens:  Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 @ 62mm
Tripod:  Really Right Stuff TVC-33

Date taken:  April 16, 2025
Settings:  f14, 0.5 second, iso 64