Nature Photography Weekend at Grandfather Mountain
Nature Photography Weekend at Grandfather Mountain is a wonderful weekend filled with speakers, guided excursions, and incredible photography opportunities. I had never been to the Grandfather Mountain area and I was excited to explore with some close friends who share my passion for getting up early in search of sunrise.
The weekend begins with a welcome dinner and opportunity to meet the other attendees. It’s a small gathering of just 200 participants, so walking away with new nature loving friends is pretty much a guarantee! The rest of the weekend is filled with sunrise to sunset shooting opportunities and speaker talks.
The rest of the weekend is a whirlwind of sunrise-to-sunset shooting opportunities and insightful speaker talks. It had been a few years since I had visited the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains North Carolina, I was struck by the incredible layers and colorful haze— a different kind of mood than the rugged peaks I’ve grown used to in the Pacific Northwest.
What makes this weekend so special is the exclusive access. Standing on the Mile High Swinging Bridge before the park opens to the public—surrounded by mist and the quiet anticipation of other photographers—is a meditative experience.
The weather at Grandfather is famously unpredictable, but the fog is a photographer’s gift. It simplifies the landscape, allowing you to find the "character" in a single weathered tree or a distant ridge line. It’s easy to slowing down and capture the way the mist softened the edges of the world.
While the sweeping vistas are what bring visitors to the mountain, I was equally drawn to the smaller details. The wildflowers were in beautiful bloom, tucked into the rocky crevices and lining the trails. There is something so rewarding about finding a delicate bloom dripping with dew in the soft light; it forces you to be present and intentional with your composition.
We wrapped up the weekend with a closing talk from Ian Shive, who shared images and stories from his book on the National Wildlife Refuges. His dedication to documenting these protected spaces—and his work with the "Refuge" project—resonates deeply with me. It was a powerful reminder of the role we play as nature photographers in advocating for conservation. It was the perfect way to cap off a weekend of intense shooting, leaving us with plenty of inspiration as we headed back down the mountain.
