Photography Recommendations?

[nicshow]

I'm making my first trip to GSMNP at the end of October and I'm trying to put together an itinerary of locations and best times, etc. I'll be staying Townsend and am interested in Cades Cove but it looks like I'm going to be very tempted to explore other places also. Here's what I have put together so far and I'd appreciate your suggestions or critique based on your own experience and knowledge:

Sunrise

• Just past Hyatt in Cades Cove
• Foothills Parkway West
  
  • Look Rock pull-off on the Foothills Parkway West. It's off of 321 just a few miles west of Townsend.
• Clingmans Dome/ Oconaluftee Valley overlook
  
  • Traveling from G'burg to Cherokee, it's the first overlook past the halfway point. It isn't marked with a sign, but it's a large, paved parking lot.

Midday/Cloudy/Moving Water

• Methodist Church on Rich Mountain Rd
• middle prong of the Little Pigeon River/Little River Rd/Tremont Area
• Little Greenbriar School
  
  • You won't see this on many maps. It's on the road to Wears Cove that branches off Little River Road. It's an old schoolhouse in a small clearing in the woods, flanked by an old, rustic cemetery. Shoot in slightly overcast conditions, preferably at midday.

Sunset

• Clingman’s Dome

Thanks!

Nic

[RevLee]

We were there last week and spent all week hiking through the clouds. Hope you get better views.

On the AT around Clingmans Dome are boreal forests full of spruce, ferns, and moss. Very different from most of the east coast forests. As I remember, you're best bet might be about a mile north of Clingmans on the AT.

[HooKooDooKu]

You do know that Cades Cove Loop Road is closed (at least to vehical traffic) between sunset and sunrise. Now the gate might get openned at local sunrise "time" giving you enough time to get to Hyatt, setup, and get a picture as the sun rises over the local moutains. But if you are not first in line when the gates open, it can take you quite a while to get anywhere. Lines form early, cars drive slowly, and there's no room for passing. (Most frustrating drive was just wanting to go hike to Abrams falls, I was 2nd in line, and the guy ahead of me drove very slowly and went 1/3 of the way around the cove before he ever pulled over somewhere that I was able to pass).

Another good spot for sunsets is just north of New Found Gap along 441. The valley there points in the westard direction.

IMHO, pictures from Clingman's Dome are BORRING... because you're basically at the highest point, with no moutain peaks to fill the scean. The nearest moutain peak is about 10 miles away. By contrast, one of the most interesting sights I like going to is Chimney Tops, because there you are high up on a moutain peak, but this peak is on a peninsula connected to the larger moutain behind you. So you have a 270 degree view, with Mt.LeConte staring you right in the face. The valley between Chimney's and LeConte is only about 2 miles wide with the summit of Mt. LeConte only about 3 miles away.

Of course don't forget the water falls. Laural Falls can be a challenge to photograph nicely, because you either have to include a man-made fence and concreate dam/bridge in the picture, or you have to be right up on the falls. By contrast, there are all sorts of nice natural looking views you can get of Grotto Falls without having to walk much farther.