Miles Away on Monday | William Britten Photography

Category Archives: Miles Away on Monday

Miles Away on Monday: Quiet Day in the Cove

Posted by Bill on February 21, 2011 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Miles Away on Monday. 3 Comments

Cades Cove Winter Vista © William Britten use with permission only

It’s a quiet and peaceful day in Cades Cove. Winter is really special here. Plenty of time to cruise the loop road at your own pace, stopping whenever the mood strikes. In winter the deer come out by the dozens — probably over 100 of them in the central meadow on a sunny day like today.

Deer grazing in Cades Cove © William Britten use with permission only

Park your car and walk into the fields, taking in the surrounding mountains while you work your way down to the valley floor. Deer all around you. And if you’re extra lucky, maybe you’ll spot a coyote slinking off into the woods. It feels good to just stand there and do nothing but be in the passing moments of the day for a while.

Two bucks in Cades Cove © William Britten use with permission only

Winter is a quiet season, but we’re still out here on Glades Rd in Morning Mist Village, where you’ll find all of my Smoky Mountains images on display at the William Britten Gallery.

Miles Away on Monday: Six More Weeks of Winter!

Posted by Bill on January 31, 2011 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

I don’t need a groundhog to tell me that in 6 weeks the early wildflowers will be blooming in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! In the meantime, there’s still a chance to squeeze in a snowy winter getaway to Gatlinburg and the Smokies. Or if there’s no snow, some bare woods hiking along some very peaceful and quiet trails in the Park.

It’s a nice time of year for a visit, and if you are in the area please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.

And all of you Facebook folks … I appreciate any “likes” or “shares” … just click on the title above, then at the bottom of the post are some convenient buttons. Thanks in advance!

Miles Away on Monday: Luminescent Landscape

Posted by Bill on January 24, 2011 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

Smoky Mountains Rise Above Gatlinburg © William Britten use with permission only

You could get lost in the layers of this scene. Late afternoon, sun setting on the Smoky Mountains, the shadows enhancing the definition of the landscape. Taken from my newly-favored perch on top of the Space Needle in downtown Gatlinburg. I spent an hour up there last week all by myself, getting lost in the panorama around me.

The image is looking east up the Roaring Fork area of the Smokies. Two images stitched together, rendered in black and white with a soft selenium tone applied.

The William Britten Gallery out on Glades Rd in the Morning Mist Village in Gatlinburg is open most of the winter, although Monday and Tuesday are often days when I too am miles away.

Miles Away on Monday: Snowed In!

Posted by Bill on January 10, 2011 in Miles Away on Monday. 8 Comments

Snowed In! © William Britten use with permission only

Doesn’t this scene warm your heart? Even as cold as it looks? Makes you want to find the nearest fireplace, invite a cat onto your lap, and be grateful for living on planet Earth. Wow! The wood is cut and dried on the porch, and you’re obviously not going anywhere, so just relax.

Hope you’re enjoying your winter!

Miles Away on Monday: Snug as a Bug

Posted by Bill on January 3, 2011 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

It’s a new year, and things are definitely slowing down in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. A good time to plan a snug-as-abug getaway! Bring a stack of books or your Kindle and pull up a chair beside the fire. Glance out at the fabulous view a time or two before you doze off into peace and quiet.

Most of us locals love this time of year. No traffic jams and immediate seating at all restaurants!

The William Britten Gallery is open all year long, although in January the hours get a little unpredictable. But please stop in for a cup of coffee or tea and browse the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography. I only live 5 minutes from the Gallery, so if I’m not open I can usually come down quickly.

Miles Away on Monday: Christmas Tree Daydreams

Posted by Bill on December 20, 2010 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

Christmas Tree Daydreams © William Britten use with permission only

Gatlinburg this time of year is festooned with Christmas lights from one end to the other. It’s hard not to get excited about it all. I love to play around with light effects. For example, the picture above was blended from a tree in Pigeon Forge, another from Dollywood, plus some random out-of-focus colored lights. As always, it’s all about capturing a mood, a feeling, a hidden emotion.

Please stop in for a visit at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography

Miles Away on Monday: Those Carefree Summer Days

Posted by Bill on December 6, 2010 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

Smoky Mountain Riding Horses © William Britten use with permission only

The final art fair of the season is a wrap. We packed out of the Convention Center in Gatlinburg last night amid a snowstorm and the chaos of the annual cheerleader convention. The five fairs that we do in Gatlinburg were all a success, and I thank everyone reading this who might have stopped by during one of the fairs.

Today I am miles away in my mind … back to those carefree days of summer. Time to sit back, catch our breath, enjoy the anticipation of the holidays ahead. Maybe even sit in a chair and read a book!

The William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg will be closed today and tomorrow while we catch our breath, but will be open Wed-Saturday this week, in case you need a Christmas gift of Smoky Mountain Photography!

Miles Away on Monday: Last Gasp of the Autumn Leaves

Posted by Bill on November 15, 2010 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

View of Mt. LeConte © William Britten use with permission only

The Smoky Mountain autumn was a good one this year. At lower elevations some pockets of leaves are hanging on, but as you can see in the photo above, the forest is bare on Mt. LeConte.

For some, this is a favorite time to get away to the Smokies. The October crowds are gone, but the days still hold a warmth and a glow. The days tend to drift by in blue-sky splendor this time of year. All the way to Thanksgiving before winter stakes its claim.

If you’re in the area, please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.

Miles Away on Monday: the View from Here

Posted by Bill on November 1, 2010 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

Today’s Miles Away is the view I see every day, and a view that has appeared in this blog many times, in many variations, in all the seasons.

October is over. The season is winding down. Still need to get over to Cosby for a few bushels of apples and make sauce for our winter fruit. Still one more craft fair downtown before the winter hibernation can begin.

But today, I would love to be miles away for just a little break. Transport me back to Maine for one more lobster roll!

Well, in the meantime, please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN.

Miles Away on Monday: Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

Posted by Bill on September 27, 2010 in Miles Away on Monday. 0 Comments

Pemaquid Point Lantern Room © William Britten use with permission only

Today we are miles away in Maine, down at the bottom of the Pemaquid Peninsula. I’ve been to the lighthouse at Pemaquid Point many times. In fact, for many years lighthouses were my special interest in photography. Way back in 1993 I launched Lighthouse Getaway, which was among the first 25,000 websites in existence on the brand new World Wide Web.

But, back to the point here and now. In my previous visits to the charming Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, the tower was never open to the public. But when Sarah and I stopped in a few weeks ago, it was! So this picture is right up close to that 150 year-old fresnel lens. Breathtaking to think that this light has shined its warning beacon out over the treacherous Pemaquid rocks continuously, as wars and weather, presidents and all of history came and went. Wow, something that lasts longer than a news cycle!

Meanwhile, back in Gatlinburg, please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery.

Miles Away on Monday: Bar Harbor, Maine

Posted by Bill on September 6, 2010 in Miles Away on Monday, travel. 0 Comments

Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain © William Britten use with permission only

Today’s miles away pictures are from a recent trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. Bar Harbor is to Acadia National Park what Gatlinburg is to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A tourist town on the edge of great beauty.

In the picture above you can see the little village nestled against the harbor. See the sand bar to the left and the breakwater to the right? Thus the name.

Acadia National Park from Cadillac Mountain © William Britten use with permission only

Acadia is an incredible quirk of geology and glacial forces. Mountains, cliffs, lakes and crashing surf, and America’s only fiord.

Acadia National Park © William Britten use with permission only

Any day is a good day in Acadia, rain or shine. A walk along a balsam-scented ocean path takes you away.

Back in Gatlinburg, please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery.

Miles Away on Monday: Ocean Sunrise

Posted by Bill on August 2, 2010 in Miles Away on Monday, travel. 0 Comments

Where does a Smoky Mountain resident go to get miles away? To the beach!

The picture above is one of those soft pastel dawns near the ocean. You can almost feel the moist salt breeze. In the distance is the Myrtle Beach skyline, taken from my 11th floor condo balcony, 10 miles to the south in Garden City Beach.

I’m back in Gatlinburg and the beloved Smoky Mountains now, so please stop in and visit me to see the complete display of Smoky Mountain Photography at the William Britten Gallery.