Annette and I enjoy walking the 1.6 mile lightly trafficked Osceola Island loop trail which is part of the TVA South Holston dam system located near Bristol, Tennessee about 20 minutes from our home. When we want to get some easy steps in and take advantage of photo opportunities, it’s our go to place since it’s so close to home. In fact, we take advantage of the venue several times a month. It features a river and is good for all skill levels. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 29 min to complete. This trail is great for birding, fishing, and hiking, and we seldom encounter many other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.

One of the really cool features of the island are the weir dams. Most of the photos I am presenting here include various shots and perspectives of these unique engineering feats which are part of the South Holston dam system.
It wasn’t until 1991 that the South Holston dam received what would become its most distinctive feature. That year, as part of TVA’s Lake Improvement Plan, an aerating labyrinth weir was constructed about a mile-and-a-half below the dam on the South Fork Holston River on Oceola Island. The aim of the Lake Improvement Plan was to improve dissolved oxygen concentrations in the downstream tailwater, and to increase minimum flow in the tailwater between periods of generation. Both goals would benefit aquatic life, as post-generation tailwaters tend to be cold, dense and oxygen depleted. In addition to lake improvement initiatives, the South Holston weir also was designed to provide less backwater on upstream turbines at the dam’s generating unit, and to minimize the intensity of downstream water recirculation such that it would be safe for recreational river users, including boaters and fishermen.

These photos with Topaz and Dynamic Auto Painter Pro effects were taken in March. I shot in RAW with my Nikon D750 camera and used Corel AfterShot Pro to convert the files. Then I used Topaz Denoise, Corel PaintShop Pro, Luminar AI, and Exposure 6 to further adjust and enhance the files in post processing. Finally, I used the Topaz legacy plugin, Simplify, and Dynamic Auto Painter Pro to add the softening and painterly effects. I hope you enjoy!

Annette and I enjoy walking the 1.6 mile lightly trafficked Osceola Island loop trail which is part of the TVA South Holston dam system located near Bristol, Tennessee about 20 minutes from our home. When we want to get some easy steps in and take advantage of photo opportunities, it’s our go to place since it’s so close to home. In fact, we take advantage of the venue several times a month. It features a river and is good for all skill levels. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 29 min to complete. This trail is great for birding, fishing, and hiking, and we seldom encounter many other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.

One of the really cool features of the island are the weir dams. Most of the photos I am presenting here include various shots and perspectives of these unique engineering feats which are part of the South Holston dam system.
It wasn’t until 1991 that the South Holston dam received what would become its most distinctive feature. That year, as part of TVA’s Lake Improvement Plan, an aerating labyrinth weir was constructed about a mile-and-a-half below the dam on the South Fork Holston River on Oceola Island. The aim of the Lake Improvement Plan was to improve dissolved oxygen concentrations in the downstream tailwater, and to increase minimum flow in the tailwater between periods of generation. Both goals would benefit aquatic life, as post-generation tailwaters tend to be cold, dense and oxygen depleted. In addition to lake improvement initiatives, the South Holston weir also was designed to provide less backwater on upstream turbines at the dam’s generating unit, and to minimize the intensity of downstream water recirculation such that it would be safe for recreational river users, including boaters and fishermen.

These photos with Topaz and Dynamic Auto Painter Pro effects were taken in March. I shot in RAW with my Nikon D750 camera and used Corel AfterShot Pro to convert the files. Then I used Topaz Denoise, Corel PaintShop Pro, Luminar AI, and Exposure 6 to further adjust and enhance the files in post processing. Finally, I used the Topaz legacy plugin, Simplify, and Dynamic Auto Painter Pro to add the softening and painterly effects. I hope you enjoy!