The Smokies - high resolution ebook

[MatthewCromer]

I've published a new free ebook of images from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Images are high resolution and suitable for display on a 1080p class device such as a 24 inch+ monitor or iPad with retina display.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Bad link?

[MatthewCromer]

Sorry, fixed the link!

[dmerger]

Beautiful!

[BrianWJH]

Wonderful images and beautiful light, not hard to see your love of this wilderness in your images, thank you for sharing.

[Brad Smith]

Very nice collection of images and commentary--thanks. I spent a week camping there in the 70's--must get back!

[MatthewCromer]

Thanks for your interest and comment, Dean!

[MatthewCromer]

Appreciate you checking out my Smokies portfolio, Brian.  You're right, I love the Smokies and hope to live next to the park someday.

[MatthewCromer]

Thank you Brad.  Definitely worth another visit, camera in tow!

[Chris Calohan]

Love Cades Corner part of the Smokies.

[Mjollnir]

Wow.  "Illuminated Ridges -Chimneys" is fantastic.

[opgr]

While I do see some nice images in there compositionally, the rendering leaves much to be desired. Almost all images do not utilise the full DR available, or lack contrasty darktones, yet some of them have rather visible local contrast applied. The images would/could definitely have more depth and umph imo.

Further, I have spend pretty much half my youth in the Smokies (Look out & Signal mountain area), and none of these images exhibit the number one characteristic that gave the mountainous area its name. Is this by choice? Did you not have these smoky mountain days that I recall happening quite often during summer? Is global climate change perhaps even changing the character of this area? Just wondering out loud, not meant to be harsh criticism.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

And I thought I was Mr. Grumpy on this forum 

[MatthewCromer]

Thanks all for your feedback.

Oscar, sorry you don't like my processing.  Re: the Smoky mountains, I don't find midday grand scenics very photogenic, and that's when the atmospheric haze is particularly visible. 

[Les Sparks]

Thanks for taking the time to make the e-book. I really enjoyed it. I've spent some time in the park and your photos brought back some wonderful memories. Never made it there in the winter. Your photos make we want to plan a trip there next winter (2013-2014).
Thanks.
Les

[MatthewCromer]

Thanks Les!  The winter is amazing, just be aware that they tend to close much of the park when it snows so you won't be able to drive across 441, for example.

[luxborealis]

Some lovely images that seem to have captured the beauty of the area. I must agree with an earlier poster, though, that some of the images seem to be a bit over processed/heavy. As well, I found the really significant images were crowded out by some images that were very nice, but not as strong or thoughtful/thoughprovoking.

While it is easy to be an armchair quarterback, it is much more difficult to open oneself to criticism by posting work in the first place. So, while I can't speak directly for others, the criticism I am offering here is not intended in a demeaning (or grumpy) way, but rather as part of a forum for learning and I believe that to be the intention of just about everyone who posts here.

Keep at it - you are on the doorstop of an area rich in wonderful photographs.

[luxborealis]

A question about "high resolution free ebook" - are you at all worried about how easily these high resolution images can be stolen for use in other media? I was going to use the euphemism "borrowed" but that is too belittling the bold-faced and unrepentant theft that is becoming more common with high res images being posted, if for no other reason than perhaps to look good on a Retina iPad or similar monitor.