The Great Smoky Mountains like you've never seen them (an aerial tour) (Page 2): James, just checked out your Flicker album - nice shots, thanks for the link. It's heartbreaking to see...

Picdude Loc: Ohio

James, just checked out your Flicker album - nice shots, thanks for the link. It's heartbreaking to see the results of recklessness or careless abandon of youth, but the beauty of Mother Nature is that she will eventually come back as strong as ever.

Just out of curiosity, what was the average focal length you shot at with your Sony?

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Picdude wrote:

James, just checked out your Flicker album - nice shots, thanks for the link. It's heartbreaking to see the results of recklessness or careless abandon of youth, but the beauty of Mother Nature is that she will eventually come back as strong as ever.

Just out of curiosity, what was the average focal length you shot at with your Sony?

I really don't know...checking exif data, it reports from 13mm to 20 which doesn't make sense to me. The lens on this camera is permanently attached with a range of 24mm-600mm. Yes, those places than burned will regrow in time. I did see where the forest service was out cutting down heavily damaged trees near roadways and trails. Probably out of safety so the trees don't fall on someone. Thanks for stopping by.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Enjoyed these, and the ones on the link. Thanks.

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

jpintn wrote:

James, this is an outstanding presentation. Thanks for sharing. I saw a lot of familiar territory in those shots, but this the first time that I have seen the area from the air.

I know JP, and I was hoping we'd fly over Cades Cove but it wasn't part of the Park tour route. Anyway, me too...I always saw helicopters flying around so got up the guts to fly in one. It's amazing to see familiar sights from above. Just wish the lighting was better. Guess that gives me a reason to go up again...!

steve L Loc: Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Treepusher Loc: Kingston, Massachusetts

Cool series, James! Things look very different from the air, don't they?

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

Great work, enjoyed the stills and the videos.

Back in my Navy days, I always had a 35mm with me and often a Super 8 movie camera. And sometimes the 8 x 10 Navy camera.

Thanks for sharing.

Annie-Get-Your-Gun Loc: Byron Center, Mi

James56 wrote:

Hi Folks, on this trip to the Smokey's I decided I... (show quote)

I am simply amazed, James! I just enjoyed the movies and was really impressed. You did a remarkable job putting it together. Thank you for sharing these.

iDoc Loc: Knoxville,Tennessee

Great sky tour. I drove up to Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg several weeks ago but did not get the overall sense of devastation that your images show. Despite your disclaimer,I feel the quality of your images is good. It is certainly the best overview of the current post-fire situation I have seen.Thank you for posting.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

I just got to view the videos...great experience!!

Carolina Wings Loc: Flew from North Carolina to Pennsylvania

Nice set James...you must've been airborne

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Madman wrote:

Great work, enjoyed the stills and the videos.

Back in my Navy days, I always had a 35mm with me and often a Super 8 movie camera. And sometimes the 8 x 10 Navy camera.

Thanks for sharing.

Thank you kindly and when I see a veteran post...I got to say thanks. I bet you got some great video and stills. I'd be interested in seeing them but don't want to impose. I'm grateful you visited my post. My father-in-law served in WWII on the destroyer U.S.S. Pensacola, now sank off the coast of Alaska. He was a gunner in turret 3 shooting 10" shells. Despite hearing protection...he couldn't hear worth a darn and I miss him so much.

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Treepusher wrote:

Cool series, James! Things look very different from the air, don't they?

Boy do they ever Randy..and now that I have some experience, I'm thinking of doing it again. This time without a polarizer filter which I think did more harm than good. I put in on pre-flight worried about window reflections that weren't that bad.

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

iDoc wrote:

Great sky tour. I drove up to Wears Valley, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg several weeks ago but did not get the overall sense of devastation that your images show. Despite your disclaimer,I feel the quality of your images is good. It is certainly the best overview of the current post-fire situation I have seen.Thank you for posting.

Hi iDoc, the damage really isn't to apparent till you take the Gatlinburg Bypass into the mountains. There is lots of fire damage visible along the roadway from the Gatlinburg overlooks all the way to the Chimney Tops region. The Chimney Tops region is where the fires originated from. That area in close to tourist and hikers. Probably due to the on going legal investigations. One thing that stuck us as we drove through...was the strong smell of burnt wood.

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

Folks, this is a general Thank you. Many of you have posted comments, and I just can't keep up. Still...I get online to read comments and I want you all to know that I did and appreciate them. God Bless you all.