🌳 Why I Keep Photographing the Same Tree

Hey hey! How are things going?

Spring has been relentless here, in the best possible way. I’ve been doing my best to navigate the ever-wobbly seesaw between family and photography, though it just keeps flying up and down. There’s no true balancing it, and I think that’s just how it’s meant to be for now.

A few weeks ago, I had the joy of teaching at the Out of the Great Smoky Mountains conference with Out of Chicago. It was an incredible experience—equal parts inspiring and exhausting. I finally got to meet Franka Gabler, Stephanie Johnson, and Nye Simmons in person (they’re even lovelier in real life) and reconnected with so many friends, both instructors and attendees.

Like many landscape photographers, I often work alone. When I’m solo, the world feels quiet and my vision can roam freely, often resulting in my best work. But something shifts at a good conference: the energy builds, ideas spark, and creativity feels contagious. That kind of collaborative momentum is rare and powerful in pushing you forward.

This was also my first big trip since becoming a mom of two. Preparing everything at home so life could run smoothly without me—and preparing myself to reenter the world of coherent adult conversation—was no small feat. But I think I pulled it off, and I’m so thankful for the push to spend some dedicated time in my creative realm with a camera in hand.

Since returning, I’ve been recharging. A few projects are in motion—nothing quite wrapped up yet—but that’s okay. One more trip lies just ahead: I’m off to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina to teach at Nature Photography Weekend.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this month’s deep dive into Lightroom metadata (thanks to a great question from Janice!) and a newly released image that finally made its way out of my backlog.

Wishing you just enough chaos to keep things creative and enough stillness to stay grounded,

THE OBSERVANT LENS
Reflections to deepen our craft and sharpen our vision

**Return to Stillness**
*Great Smoky Mountains National Park*

Every time I photograph this tree, it feels like greeting an old friend.

If you’ve ever driven the loop in Cades Cove, you’ve probably noticed this iconic beauty standing proudly in the open field. It’s one of the most photographed trees in the Smokies—thousands of cameras pointed at it every single day.

And yet…
Each time I return, I create something that feels entirely my own.

Over the years, I’ve noticed the tiniest changes—branches lost, new growth stretching toward the sky, and especially how the weather and lighting of that moment transform the scene. Even the simplest shift in lens choice, angle, or where in the landscape I choose to stand reveals a new story. What’s familiar can become completely fresh, just by following the light or embracing the moment's mood.

And if you’re lucky, you might spot a bird of prey perched in its branches, waiting to hunt.

Even if you’ve been to a place a thousand times, you can—and should—appreciate each opportunity to create an image that will be gone the moment you walk away.

Join the Conversation on the Gram

THE LIGHTROOM COMPASS
Navigating a better post-processing & photo organizing experience

Why does Lightroom keep asking you to save metadata—and should you care?
If you’ve ever seen that little icon with the three lines and downward arrow, you’re not alone. This Campfire Q&A breaks down what it actually means, why it keeps appearing, and how to handle it without delving into technical jargon.

Here’s the quick recap:

That icon is not necessarily an error—it’s usually just a reminder that Lightroom’s catalog has changes that haven’t been saved to disk yet.
XMP sidecars act as a backup for your edits and keywords.
Enabling “Automatically Write Changes into XMP” is a smart move for most nature photographers.
You can save manually anytime with Command+S (Mac) / Ctrl+S (Windows).

Read the Full Lightroom Metadata Guide

TRAIL GUIDES
Your roadmap to photography education

I’m thrilled to be teaching at Nature Photography Weekend at Grandfather Mountain, happening this June 6-8 in North Carolina’s High Country. I'll be teaching my playful approach to Level Up Your Landscape Photography as well as leading field sessions each morning on Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) to help participants experiment with motion, mood, and abstraction in nature.

If you’re attending, I can’t wait to meet you in person! And if not, I’ll be sharing a few behind-the-scenes highlights in the next newsletter.

Join Me At Nature Photography Weekend

CAMPFIRE Q&A
Real-time answers to your burning questions

Save the Date: I’m excited to be joining Nature Photographers Network for an upcoming Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Wednesday, July 17th. If you aren't already a member, you can join as a complimentary member now to get access not only to my session but also to the full AMA series, including the next one with Eric Bennett on June 24th.

It’s a great way to connect, learn, and get answers from passionate nature photographers.

Sign up for Free to Participate

FOCUS POINTS
To utter, repeat, and shape our mindset

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in
seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

— Marcel Proust

TRAIL FINDS
Curated resources, news, and inspiration for your journey

Special Trail Find: A Must-Read Print Series for Photographers

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or intimidated by the idea of printing your photographs, Joshua Cripps has created one of the most approachable and comprehensive resources out there. His 4-part blog series on Printing Your Photographs walks you through everything from camera technique in the field to choosing the right print medium, preparing your files, and using soft proofing to get the most accurate results.

Whether you’re printing for your walls or preparing a gallery display, this series is packed with actionable advice, honest insights, and technical clarity that can truly elevate your printmaking process. It’s worth bookmarking and rereading.

1.) In Want Better Colors? Learn to See the Undertones, Todd Dominey explores how subtle shifts in hue, saturation, and lightness can transform your color work, plus a clever color matching game to help you train your eye.

2.) In Great Smoky Expectations, Michael Frye shares how releasing creative expectations can lead to stronger, more personal work—an encouraging read for any photographer navigating changing conditions or shifting plans.

3.) In Seaside Wandering: Photos from the California Coast, Sarah Marino challenges the idea that well-photographed places offer nothing new, encouraging photographers to explore iconic landscapes through personal connection rather than comparison. Plus, you can view her full portfolio as a free PDF ebook. P.S. Congrats to Sarah on her NANPA Trailblazer Award!

4.) Hosted by B&H and happening June 17–18 at the Javits Center in NYC, Bild Expo 2025 brings together photographers, filmmakers, and creators for talks, gear demos, photo walks, portfolio reviews, and networking. Free to attend—just register in advance.

5.) In The Long Exposure Trick They Won’t Teach You (No Filters Needed), Mark Denney offers a practical overview of landscape photography filters—plus a clever workaround for capturing smooth long exposures without an ND filter.

6.) In Real Photographers Do What?, David duChemin dismantles the myth of “real” photographers by encouraging creative freedom over rigid rules—an empowering reminder that how you work matters less than why you create.

7.) Congratulations to Kurt Budliger, who just opened his new Kurt Budliger Photography Gallery & Studio in Middlesex, Vermont—located at Camp Meade, a creative community hub. The space showcases his fine art prints and will host in-person workshops starting this summer.

8.) The inaugural Horizons Photography Conference is happening October 2–5, 2025, in Durango, Colorado—gateway to fall color in the San Juan Mountains. With 14 industry experts, photo walks, field trips, and post-processing sessions, this multi-day event blends learning, connection, and creativity.

9.) Launching June 1, The Light Collection is a new video course from the Learn Nature Photography team. Each instructor covers a different type of natural light—from soft twilight to bold midday drama. It’s only available for 10 days, so sign up here to be notified when it goes live.

10.) In My Photos Are AI!?, Albert Dros shares a personal (and slightly humorous) take on a growing issue—people accusing his landscape photos of being AI-generated. He unpacks why this happens, reflects on his techniques, and raises some thoughtful concerns about the future of photography.