I'm not entirely sure what / how your workflow is, however, i can tell you how I do it with my iMac.

I don't import my files initially at all - I don't let the computer do it or lightroom (at first).

I simply create a folder for the shoot / trip under another folder I have for the current year. I then pop in my memory card (again, don't let the computer import the photos for you) and I drag and drop the files from the memory card to the folder I created for the shoot.

Once I have that set, then I import to LR (telling it to import the files at their current location).

I've been doing it this way for years on both PC and Mac and it works well for me. Hopefully it helps :)

Thanks for the kind words and I'm always happy to help :)

I had thought of that, but the Milky Way is actually in the way from that angle. However, I had considered the other side which would give me a northern sky - only that night there were a few clouds in that direction. I might try it next time though :)

Hi Larry -

Thanks for the kind words :)

Yes, the stars were showing pretty good streaking in the 8 minute exposure, as expected. However, everything else looked good, so I replaced the sky with a second shot that was just 30 seconds long. I put each image on its own layer in Photoshop and used a mask to blend them together.

Thanks so much for the comments and kind words everyone. I'm glad you like it, I can tell you it was fun to photograph!

Although....

The one thing that felt a little odd is there was another building just to the right of the frame where the lighthouse volunteers slept. I know there's no rules saying I can't be there at night, but I still felt a little like I was intruding. I kept waiting for someone to come out and see what this weirdo was doing in by the lighthouse LOL.

I captured this image on a recent backpacking trip in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

It was completely dark out, no light from the moon, so I had to use jus the intermittent blinking light for illumination. So, the exposure for the lighthouse and foreground area was eight minutes, then another shot was taken at 30 seconds to get a good rendition of the milky way.

Probably looks best downloaded.

(Download)

What a cool series - that must have been fun to watch!

Awesome shot!

Very nice - great job on the blend, completely seamless.

LOL - GREAT shot!

Thanks again for the kind words :) Greatly appreciated and I'm glad you like the pics :)

Definitely check out Tremont too - it's the road just to the left as you turn off the main intersection that allow you to head to the cove or Gatlinburg. There are actually some really great opportunities right along the road and now that I think of it there are a few nice waterfalls - one right at the first bridge as you drive back (but it's not always flowing).

You can also maybe hike up a little ways once you reach the last parking lot - a few cascading & small waterfalls less than 1/2 mile. Might be doable.

Man, all this talk makes me want to head back down!

Yup, for sure! When I'm in Gatlinburg, Roaring Fork and Greenbrier get a lot more attention than the cove :)

Agree - it's a killer place for sunsets. This was taken there last September:

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Thanks - and I agree. There are few falls in the area, but the only one I think would be sort of safe might me Laurel Falls. Abram's would be really tough with a leg brace, as would be nearby Sprue Flats Falls in Tremont.

However, there are a lot of great areas in Tremont that are accessible by road and Roaring Fork is usually pretty cool for creek shots. Plus, I see bear in Roaring fork from time to time - but man, it backs up even worse than Cades Cove!