Great Smoky Mountain National Park and its surroundings will be the setting for this magnificent week of springtime, with the dogwoods coming into bloom and new life exploding into being all around us. The National Park is set in the midst of mountains, forests, lakes and streams, plus small towns with singularly interesting histories, and huge hydroelectric-generating dams. We plan to visit all of these during our weeklong workshop.

We will be based on the western side of Great Smoky Mountain National Park (which straddles the Tennessee/North Carolina border) in Townsend, Tennessee, often called the "Gateway to the Smokies." This is the less visited entrance to the park (a great benefit in itself!) but is located close to Cade's Cove, one of the most scenic valleys in the park. Little River runs from the park through Townsend. About an hour's drive south of Townsend is the Fontana Dam, the largest dam east of the Mississippi. We are seeking permission to photograph within the dam, itself. A number of other dams lie to the north and west. Nearby towns include Maryville, Alcoa, Greenback and the city of Knoxville. On the North Carolina side of the border is Mt. Mitchell (the highest mountain in the Appalachians at 6,684') the city of Ashville, and a number of interesting towns, villages and natural areas.

Within Great Smoky Mountain National Park, we can photograph at Cades Cove, Little River, Walker Sister's Cabin, Greenbriar School house, Tremont, or along some of the higher mountain trails and overlooks. We will be prepared to do whatever the group wants to do, and we can break the group into two parts if there are diverse interests. We're prepared for everything! Outside the park the opportunities are completely different, and equally wonderful, from the numerous dams and their reservoirs, to the villages and towns, to the natural areas. It is a location rich with photographic opportunities and rich with history. You'll be amazed at the variety!
April in the high mountains of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina can be variable regarding weather. Generally highs are in the 50's and 60's, dogwood trees will be in bloom everywhere and spring flowers will be blooming. But snow may be on the ground, snow could be falling, and the higher mountains should still be covered with snow. Newly fallen snow at the lower elevations rarely lasts more than a day, but with climate change and the wild variation in weather that we've all been witnessing, anything is possible! This can make for some stunning photographic opportunities.
As in all our workshops, there will be thorough, thoughtful review of all student work, and presentation of work by both instructors, who will fully explain all of their approaches, techniques, materials and methods. It will be a very complete and a very rewarding week for everyone.

For complete information about this workshop see www.barnbaum.com