Spring in the Smokies

May 26-30, 2025 - Sold Out

Spring is a fantastic time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains as the waterfalls are flowing, wildflowers are blooming, the wildlife is active, and the vegetation is verdant green. With access to a private blind, you'll get some great shots of black bears and cubs. But even better, we have carefully selected dates and locations where we can photograph both blue ghost and synchronous fireflies after sundown! With resident photographer Roger Trentham at the helm, you'll photograph spots only known to the locals. The workshop itinerary is kept flexible so we can take advantage of the best weather and conditions. Moderately difficulty hikes are required to reach certain locations.

Tuition

$2450
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Max Group Size

4 Students per Instructor
Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

Roger Trentham
Kevin McNeal

Physical Intensity

Great Smoky Mountains Spring Photo Workshop Synchronous Fireflies

Highlights

Marvel at the symphony of lights from blue ghost and synchronous fireflies. Dates are timed for no moon interference!
Access to a private blind to photograph black bears and cubs.
Capture the blooming wildflowers accenting the landscapes.
Explore beautiful waterfalls and creeks surrounded by lush greenery
Special portrait shoot with real mountain folks.
Get off the beaten path and escape the crowds with resident photographer Roger Trentham and instructor Kevin McNeal.
Small group of 8 students and 2 pro instructors.
Post-processing and image critique classroom sessions.

Itinerary

The itinerary will be kept flexible to account for weather, conditions, and group interest. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

Day 1: Meet at 1PM near Gatlinburg, TN for a mandatory introductory session. We'll cover logistics and many of the shooting techniques you'll use during the workshop. After dinner we photograph sunset from a high viewpoint overlooking the mountainous layers and then head into the forest for our first shoot with the fireflies. As it gets dark, the lights start to appear and suddenly they are all around us! We photograph for a couple hours, arriving back after midnight.
Day 2: This morning we head out to photograph a beautiful series of waterfalls. After a quick lunch, we photograph bears at the private blind and meet for a post-processing session where the instructors will show you how to put together your firefly images. Later that evening we have a special shoot with some true mountain folks at an old cabin. When darkness falls, we are in the perfect spot to capture the fireflies as they light up the peaceful forest.
Day 3: With a good potential for sunrise today, we get up early after just a few hours sleep to photograph sunrise from Clingman's Dome. Low-hanging clouds grace the valleys below as the sky turns various shades of pastels. We photograph various spots on the way down before returning for breakfast and rest breaks. That afternoon we do a hike along a creek with many photogenic cascades and waterfalls. For sunset we go up to a place with 360-degree views and capture many shots of the layered mountain peaks. We decide to take a break from the fireflies tonight so we can get some sleep.
Day 4: It's another early morning as we head into Cade's Cove for first light. You'll be busy pressing that shutter button with numerous pastoral scenes and wildlife around us. It's even more amazing with morning fog! We stay and shoot for several hours before returning to town. That afternoon we hold an image critique and post-processing session and then photograph some curious black bears and their cubs from our private blind! With lots of clouds and light rain in the forecast, we focus on shooting creeks, streams, and forests in the evening.
Day 5: We finish with a final sunrise shoot and a morning session at the private blind photographing black bears, cubs, and a curious raccoon. The workshop will conclude no later than 11AM.

Great Smoky Mountains Photo Workshop Spring

Great Smoky Mountains Spring Photo Workshop

Logistics

Please arrive in Gatlinburg, TN by 1PM on the first day for our orientation session (make sure you eat lunch first). The nearest major airports are either Knoxville (TYS) or Asheville (AVL). If you are flying in, we recommend renting a car to get to Gatlinburg. We will be providing transportation for all workshop outings but you will need to drive to our central meeting point(s) depending on the days itinerary.

Lodging is not included in the workshop package, allowing you to stay wherever you like in the greater Gatlinburg area within a reasonable driving distance. After you book the workshop, we'll send participants the name of our recommended hotel.

Everyone on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition. We aren't planning any long hikes but you should be comfortable walking 1-3 miles per day while carrying your photo gear. We rated this workshop as "Difficult" since we need everyone to be able to walk these distances while carrying their photography gear. Some of the hikes can have steeper grades over short distances. The waterfall locations may require walking in water. We recommend bringing a pair of water shoes or sandals. Hiking poles can help with the slippery rocks.

Food is not included as part of the workshop. You are free to bring your own food or eat at restaurants in town. Having your own car will give you more options for dining and shopping between workshop outings. Note that transportation is NOT provided for dining in-between our outings.

Temperatures are pretty mild in spring but it can get quite chilly in the high country, especially in the morning. Afternoon storms and rain are not uncommon this time of year, so come prepared with a rain jacket and backpack rain cover. Please see the gear list further down.

Fireflies

The two main types of fireflies we will photograph are the blue ghost and synchronous. The blue ghosts create the longer streaks while the synchronous create only discreet flashes. At any one time, we’ll likely have a mix of both types. Fireflies are very sensitive to ground temperature, so each year is different for when each type will be more active. But rest assured you’ll be able to capture some great firefly images! Also, no permits are needed for the areas we will be taking you to and we'll be far away from the crowds.

Note that these firefly images are not a single frame straight out of camera. They require taking multiple exposures and blending them together in post-processing. We will be teaching you how to do this. But you will need baseline proficiency in Lightroom and Photoshop for best results.

Blue Ghost

Synchronous

Pricing

$2295/person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

5-Day Photo Workshop with 2 Pro Instructors.
Private Blind for Black Bears and Cubs
Ground Transportation During the Workshop
Special Portrait Shoot with True Mountain Men
Entrance Fees
Post-processing and Image Critique Sessions.
Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

Transportation to/from your home to Gatlinburg, TN.
Lodging
Beverages
Meals and snacks.
Instructor Gratuities.

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit. If you pay the deposit, the remaining amount will be charged 120 days prior to arrival to the credit card we have on file.

Great Smoky Mountains Spring Photo Workshop Black Bear

Recommended Camera Gear

Sturdy tripod and ballhead
Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range.
Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-70mm or 24-105mm.
Telephoto zoom lens for wildlife and landscape compression. A 100-400mm works best from our experience. A 200mm lens is not long enough for most wildlife shooting.
Circular polarizer filters and ND filters for your lenses. A 9 or 10-stop ND filter will be useful for creating very long exposures.
Backpack to carry your gear along with a rain cover for the pack.
Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
Laptop if you wish to back up or review your photos during the trip.

Personal Gear List

Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants.
Rain jacket and a warm layer for cold mornings. Hat and gloves are also recommended.
Sandals or shoes you can walk through water in.
Headlamp
Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat.
Water bottle or hydration bladder.
Hiking poles if you like having them.

Great Smoky Mountains Photo Workshop Wildflowers

Trusted by Over 900 Reviews

    
 
 
        
   Vicki Timmons 
 July 12, 2024
 
 
  Great trip. Great guides. Kevin and Ryan went out of their way to ensure we had a good trip and got the shot!
  
 
       
   Dana Rizzo 
 July 3, 2024
 
 
  Participated in their Spring in the Palouse for Women Photographers multi-day photo workshops and had a great experience. The instructors knew all the best places to take us, and offered guidance and direction as needed. I can't wait to sign up for my next workshop!
  
 
       
   Julie Iverson 
 June 29, 2024
 
 
  This was my first workshop with Action Photo Tours and I had an excellent experience.  Ryan was extremely knowledgeable about the area and had scouted perfect locations to shoot.  Both Ellen and Ryan were so helpful and made sure that all in the party were getting good photos.  I learned how to use bracketing and photo stacking.  I'm already looking for another workshop to attend.
  
 
       
   Debra Mastronardi 
 June 25, 2024
 
 
  What a thrill to chase storms on the Tornado Alley workshop.  David and Shane provided excellent guidance with technical and compositional advice.  We traveled to 5 different states chasing storms!  Once in a lifetime experience.
  
 
       
   Jan Latta 
 June 25, 2024
 
 
  This was my first photography workshop! - My equipment an iPhone 15 pro!  Ryan and Kevin welcomed me into the group of long lenses and sturdy tripods. They were supportive and patient. I learned so much! We were presented with expert instruction and incredible sunrise and sunset opportunities. A great experience photographing the beautiful Palouse country.  Thank you!
  
 
       
   Sherri Oster 
 June 23, 2024
 
 
  Action Photo Tours is by far the best photography workshop operator I've traveled with.  This is high-energy travel.  Their guides are not only very knowledgeable and great photographers in their own right, but they are also great with people.  When you're traveling with a group, you understand how important this is.
  
 
       
   George Schlossnagle 
 June 23, 2024
 
 
  A great tour as always. David assembles great adventures with solid organization and great shooters.
  
 
       
   Erin Davis 
 June 21, 2024
 
 
  So glad I went with Action Photo Tours! Ryan and Shane were amazing, helpful, guiding, and down to earth. I would defiantly book again with Action Photo Tours!  I can't wait for my next adventure!

Google Reviews

Trip Advisor

Roger Trentham

Roger Trentham is an eighth generation native of the Smoky Mountains who expresses his love of the natural world through photography. Roger is a past partner in the Smoky Mountain School of Photography and an experienced nature photography presenter/educator. His work may be
viewed on Facebook at Roger Trentham Nature Photography.

Roger has presented programs at various venues throughout East Tennessee including the Georgia Nature Photographers Association, the Southern
Appalachian Nature Photographers in Knoxville and Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge. Roger considers himself a generalist nature photographer
and feels equally comfortable with macro, wildlife, night and landscape photography. For the past few years Roger has co-led nature photography workshops with nationally known nature photographers/instructors. If you want to explore seldom visited parts of the Great Smoky Mountains, Roger will take you there!

Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States. He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C.. He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

View Kevin's Portfolio.