The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of America’s greatest and most majestic national parks. During the fall, weathered ridges covered with fall colors literally stretch as far as the eye can see. Streams run down all the valleys and traverse a diversity of biomes. The northern forest intermixes with the southern forest in one of the biologically richest places on the planet. We’ll spend four days immersed from dawn to dusk photographing the fall colors on the peaks and in the streams.
Dates: Not currently scheduled. You can see the list of current photo workshops here.
Bryan Hansel Photography is an authorized permittee of the National Park Service and operates under a Commercial Use Authorization from the National Park Service.
Check out my current photo workshop schedule.
Itinerary
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers so many photo possibilities during the fall that it’s hard to zone in on exactly where we’ll be. Based on the colors progression, we may stay higher in the mountains or zero in on the valleys — I’ll be in the park prior to your arrival, so I’ll have time to check on the colors in the areas that I want to shoot for the workshop and make sure that we’re in the best areas for colors when you’re here. During this Great Smoky Mountains Fall Photography Workshop, expect to be out from dawn to dusk with no classroom time. All lessons will be in the field. Because this size is limited, you’ll have plenty of one-on-one time. I’ll help you get the shots that you need.
First Meetup: We meet up Sunday night before the workshop begins at 6pm for paperwork. I’ll go to dinner after that and you are welcome to join. More information is included in the participant package. Some people skip this and meet us before sunrise the next morning.
Note: The itinerary will be fluid based on the weather.
- Monday through Thursday: Sunrise to Sunset in the field
- Friday: Sunrise and then we break for breakfast. Workshop is over after breakfast.
Getting There
Gatlinburg is a small resort town serving the northern side of the park. The closest big city is Knoxville, TN. The closest airport is TYS-McGhee Tyson. TYS is about an hour drive from Gatlinburg. You take US-411 to Pigeon Forge and then US-321 into Gatlinburg. Atlanta is approximately 4 hours away on US-23 to US-441.
Required Photography Equipment
I’ll send out a full equipment list a month before the workshop.
Registration and Cancellation Policies
Please, read the Registration and Cancellation Policies at the link. There are no exceptions to the policy.
Testimonial
Carolyn from Des Moines, Iowa:
I just got back from taking Bryan’s Great Smoky Mountain National Park Fall Workshop and am still on a high from the trip. The Smoky Mountains are beautiful and we were there during peak color. Bryan was a great resource guiding us around the park to various shooting locations – many that were “out of the way” and therefore not as busy even though it was peak season for visitors and fall colors. We were free to work on our own and wander around, yet Bryan was nearby if we had questions on camera settings, composition, or just wanted his opinion on a shot we just took.
It was an amazing experience and my first time in the Smokies. Our group was awesome (that perhaps was luck…ha!) and I learned a ton while getting some beautiful pictures. We came home exhausted and very excited about the pictures captured. I will be taking more of Bryan’s workshops.
Member of the Great Smoky Mountains Association.