Laura, Karen, and a Stream in the Great Smoky Mountains
Exploring the Trails
Laura and Karen stand on some rocks near a flowing stream in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
During our Great Smoky Mountains visit, we spent a large part of one day hiking on the Alum Cave Trail. Much of the trail followed a stream, and we stopped often to enjoy the views of the water.
At one point, Laura walked out on a large rock, and she got Karen to go with her. So I went down the trail just a little farther to another opening in the trees. I went out on another rock so that I could see them and the stream, too. I could have zoomed in on the girls in the photo, but I like this wide view that shows just how big everything is.
Many times during our hikes, I definitely felt the “bigness” of God’s creation and our small part in it. But that is not a bad thing at all, because God still takes care of each one of us, no matter how small we might be.
And yes, that is Karen on the left and Laura on the right. But Laura got first billing in the title because she is “Mrs. Burnsland” after all.
A Bonus View
Just a few steps farther down the trail, I took this photo above. Same stream, different location. Just a few feet away from the first photo, but the view has changed completely. Besides, of course, being a view of rocks and trees. That part hasn’t changed.
But to me, this is another reminder of just how big God’s creation is. I could walk just a few feet and get a completely different view. There were so many rocks and trees that it would be difficult to count them all. And each one is different from all of the others. And they all fit together to create beautiful scenery, just like you see in these photos here.
I say it often, but God’s creation is wonderful!
Bible Verse
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. - Psalm 96:12-13
About the Photos
I decided to give these photos a slightly different look from what I have done in the past. I added in some soft focus and some “mystical” effects using Luminar AI. Yes, the actual effect in the program is called “mystical”. That works for me. I felt that it was fitting for this forest section.
You can also see a slight haze above the stream in the second photo. That haze was actually in the photo and not a special effect because it was there in real life. That is how the Great Smoky Mountains got their name, after all.
Photo: Each photo is a single Raw exposure, processed in Luminar AI. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 II
_Lens: _ Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens
Date: July 19, 2021
Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
