“Higher Ground”

 

“Higher Ground” 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Last week, I had a slight advantage photographing an eight-point buck in Cades Cove, Tennessee. Bobby and his wife Debra allowed me to stand in the bed of their truck to get higher ground. The brush was tall and made it very difficult to photograph.

When I first found him, he was near the side of the road but in the thicket. Shortly after, he bedded down and could barely be seen. Before long, he was on the prowl because it was rut season, and a few does were in the area.

I am thankful for the generosity of Bobby and Debra. 

  Please feel free to visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Twelve Minus One

“Twelve Minus One”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Magical moments happened in the Cove yesterday. If you did not get to see the snow, here is a photo of a buck standing stately on top of a hill.

I saw 15 bucks, and a gazillion does. Yes, a few of them were the same ones. They move around quite a bit.

When my friend and I got there, six bucks greeted us, and many does too. They enjoyed posing for us. 

As the day rolled around, I wanted to stick it out and hoped the snow would come. The snow did come, and so did the bucks.

I enjoyed photographing this buck. He traveled much distance. You probably can’t tell, but he was a 12 point but lost one tine.

Afterwhile, I was all alone on top of a hill with this buck. I said, “It’s me, God, and a buck.” I enjoyed just watching him. Eventually, he wandered into the woods. I just sat there, enjoyed the snow, and thought about the moments I shared with him. 

I hoped he would come out the other side so I could see him again. I walked until there was an opening and said, “Oops!” There he stood, gazing forward. He saw two does at the base of the hill. They had no interest and ran into the woods.

A man parked his truck and walked towards me. He said, “I would have never seen him if I hadn’t seen you.” He got out his cellphone and took some photos.

The snow kept coming down. No one was anywhere around. I was the only car in the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center. I felt like I had the Cove all to myself—I think I did. 

I saw three bucks in a different field and photographed them also.

 

It was sunset and began to turn dark. I headed down Loop Road to leave. I saw a ranger at Hyatt Lane and told him thank you, and I had a wonderful day. I asked if there were a slim chance the Cove would be open tomorrow. He said, “We are closing it down now. Be careful on the way out. There is snow on the road.”  

Trust me; you don’t want to be on those roads today. The Cove is closed for a good reason. I was wary at times as I drove down Laurel Creek. In some places,  snow totally covered the road. With the temps in the teens, that rain and slush probably froze and turned to black ice.

They don’t put salt on the roads. I’m guessing because all the critters in the woods would come to the road to lick it up. That would be a disaster waiting to happen.

Y’all have a blessed day and enjoy the snow!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Laser Focused

“Laser Focused”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

The snow didn’t last very long in Cades Cove on Friday. I was happy to video the huge snowflakes on Hyatt Lane.

While the snow was beautiful, it did not last long. Once it melted, the landscape offered a different view of its beauty.

My friend, Jan, has hawk eyes and can spot wildlife in a heartbeat. In an open field, she spotted something. All I saw was a weird white object moving in the brush. It was an eight-point buck following his girl!

The burnt sienna grass around him was beautiful. I was actually glad the snow had melted because he looks so stately standing in the blazing field.

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

“Jumping Forward to 2021” “Perfect Form”

“Jumping Forward to 2021”

“Perfect Form”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

As well as reflecting back on a year, I also like to look forward into the new year. Although, we are not promised tomorrow.

This year, my husband and I bought a lot to build our forever home on. It has a gorgeous view over a lake with mountains beside it and in the distance. I will have all the land I will ever need to grow an abundance of milkweed for my monarchs and flowers galore to attract much wildlife. I think I even have a fox den in our woods!!

I look forward to photographing an abundance of wildlife this year—hopefully, even a bobcat!!

Backstory:

One of the coveted shots in Cades Cove, Tennessee is to photograph the deer jumping the fences along Cades Cove Loop Road, Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane.

Sometimes the deer are finicky and can’t decide where to jump and approach the fence in several different locations. Frequently, the does will go through the fence because they don’t have to worry about their racks getting stuck on the wire. Then you have the cheaters who find an opening in the fence and walk through.

This particular buck was in the woods on Hyatt Lane. A man was photographing him, and I did not want to disturb his stop, so I waited on the road waiting for him. 

Meanwhile, I watched the doe the buck was after. She inched closer to the road and finally jumped the fence. My camera messed up and I did not get the shot.

The man hollered from the woods, “He’s coming!” We both waited at the fence then fired our cameras throughout the bucks jump. He has perfect form!!

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A Failed Pursuit

“A Failed Pursuit”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

In the distance, a man was photographing a buck in Cades Cove. My friend wanted to photograph a buck because freshly fallen snow decorated the landscape. She stopped and headed down the trail, and I followed.

The buck left his scent on a tree then disappeared over the snowy embankment. We reached the top of the hill and peered over to find him.

He stood frozen at the bottom of the hill enthralled by a doe grazing in the distance. Step by step, he approached her. She showed no interest and continued to graze.

After while, she disappeared into the woods. Before I left, I glanced and saw the buck looking for her—it was a failed pursuit. 

           

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

 Location: Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

I’m the Leader!

“I’m the Leader!"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Recently, two bucks and a doe were frolicking around in the fields of Cades Cove, Tennessee. But, rut season was near and these bucks were gently testing each other by locking antlers.

One buck firmly stated, “I’m the leader!” The other buck pulled back and concurred. 

Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Out of the Shadows

"Out of the Shadows" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I had to get up early this past week to get my son out the door for school before sunrise. I was already meeting a friend to photograph frost flowers at 7:45 a.m. so I decided to find a place to photograph the sunrise. 

Since I was going to the Botanical Garden of Georgia, I decided to turn down a street near the garden to see what I could find. I drove past a grove of trees that were in silhouette. The lighting was beautiful, so I decided to turn back around. 

I had been praying for the Lord to help me because I did not have a lot of time go over my camera settings for a sunrise shot. I started taking a few shots and noticed something on the horizon. "No, that's not a deer." It was not only one deer but two. They were slowing grazing on the grass.

At first they did not notice me. When I crossed the road the buck was not excited about my presence and started stomping his foot. Eventually, they both ran off in the distance.

I am continually amazed at the Lord's blessings with my photography! He blows me away:)

Location: Athens, Georgia