Category Archives: Smokey Mountain National Park
According to the Cherokee tradition, hidden deep within the Smoky Mountains, there is an enchanted lake that humans cannot see. Known as Atagahi, this magical lake is an oasis for animals of every kind, with thousands of water birds, fish, reptiles, and bears enjoying its water.

Atagahi-The Enchanted Lake
In one story, the enchanted lake reveals itself to a young Cherokee man after days of fasting and continuous prayer. Having proven that he has no intention to hunt at Atagahi, the pure hearted man is permitted to see the lake’s stunning violet water and teeming wildlife. When his vision ends, the man marks the location of the secret lake with a pile of rocks.
A short time after this discovery, a terrible winter brings the Cherokee to the brink of starvation. Faced with no other choice, the young hunter returns to Atagahi to bring food back to his family. When he shoots a bear with his bow, however, the animal falls into the purple water and emerges unscathed. The bear tells the trespasser that he has betrayed them and the young man is attacked by a furry horde.
After the snowstorm passes, the Cherokee find the body of the young man, but there are no tracks from the bears who mauled him. Although Atagahi was forever sealed off from human intervention after the young hunter’s treachery, legend has it that you can still see morning mist rise from the magic lake when you stand at the top of Clingmans Dome.
Clingman’s Dome is a sacred mountain to the Cherokees, where the “magic lake” was once seen. The Great Spirit told the Cherokees that “If they love me, if they love all their brothers and sisters, and if they love all the animals of the earth, when they grow old and sick, they can come back to the ‘magic lake’ and be made well again.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
1 Comment | tags: Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Atagahi-The Enchanted Lake, Smokey Mountain National Park, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Spring Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, The Magic Lake, Topaz Clarity
Charleston, S Carolina – Photographic Workshop Tour
April 2 – 6 2017 $695.00, Limited to 8 Students

Charleston’s Gas Lights
Botany Bay – Boneyard Photographic Workshop Tour
April 6-7, 2017 $175/ Limited to 8 Students

Botany Bay’s Skeleton trees processed with Topaz Labs Star Effects
Smoky Mountains – Photographic Workshop Tour
April 23-26 2017 $495.00, Limited to 8 Students

Spring Dogwoods at rustic cabin Smoky Mountains
Amalfi Coast – Photographic Workshop Tour
June 25 – June 30 2017 $1150.00/ Limited to 8 Students

Provence Photographic – Workshop Tour
July 2 – 6 2017 $1,150.00/ Limited to 8 Students

Sunflowers in Provence
Lake Michigan Lighthouse – Photographic Workshop Tour
Aug 13-16 2017 $345.00/ Limited to 8 Students

Big Sable Lighthouse – Ludington
Zion National Park and Painted Desert – Photographic Workshop
Nov. 5-9 2017 $695 Limited to 8 Students

Cottonwoods along the Virgin River
Southwest Slot Canyon – Photographic Workshop Tour
Nov. 9-11 2017 $350 Limited to 5 Students

Tumble Weed – Antelope Canyon – Camera raw
I Hope you rang in the New Year with peace and joy in your heart!!
Click here to get to my Links page for the 15% off discount code for any of the Topaz products
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop | posted in Boneyard, Botany Bay, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Lower Antelope Canyon, Michigan Photographic Workshop, Nik software, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop CS6, Provence Photo Workshop, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smokey Mountain National Park, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity
I will be going in a day or two early for the Smoky Mountain workshop to capture morning images on the Gatlinburg side of the Smoky Mountains and I am anxious to spend a sunrise at this location.

Sunrise along the rivers in the Smoky Mountains
On August 25th topaz will be releasing an updated version of our masking software Topaz ReMask 5, , complete with new features. As always, the updates are free to anyone who already owns ReMask. And for those who don’t own it, ReMask 5 will be on sale ($20 off) from August 25th – September 18th take advantage of the discounted price of $49.99 (regularly $69.99)
Click here to get to my Links page for the discount code for ReMask 5.
Click here to get to my Links page for the 15% off discount code for any of the Topaz products.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity | posted in Cades Cove, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Greenbrier, Lightroom, Ogle Cabin, Paul Christopher James, Paul James, Smokey Mountain National Park, Smoky Mountains Institute, Smoky Mountains National Park, Topaz Clarity, Topaz ReMask 5
Yesterday was a great day to get out and enjoy nature with a bike ride along the Dexter to Hudson Mills bike trail. If you live in the Ann Arbor area it is a great place to ride and see amazing fields of wild flowers. For me it was a reminder that falls in only a few weeks away and I am looking forward to capturing the colors in the Smoky Mountains. Hope that you can join me!
Smoky Mountains Fall Photographic Workshop Tour
October 25 – 28 2015

Fall Colors along the rivers in the Smoky Mountains are amazing!
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs | posted in Cades Cove, Fall Colors, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Greenbrier, Lightroom 6, Ogle Cabin, Smokey Mountain National Park, Smokey Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity
Along the rivers and streams in the Smoky Mountains there are elegant compositions everywhere. This simple scene with the water flowing around the two rocks had a nice flow leading you into the picture from the top left across the image to the center right and then back down to the bottom left. It is not you traditional rule of thirds image but it works for me.

Two Rocks along a Smoky Mountain Stream
I captured this image on my Canon 5D Mark II at F/16 3.2sec and with an ISO of 200

Two Rocks Raw image
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Labs, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Greenbrier, Michigan photographic workshops, Ogle Cabin, Paul Christopher James, Photoshop CS6, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spring Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Carnival - Photographic Workshop Tour, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, Zion National Park
The spring wildflowers in the Smoky Mountains bring splashes of color along the rivers, streams and meadows. The main focus for capturing images during the Smoky Mountain workshop be larger landscapes of the wonderful meadows, mountains, rivers and waterfalls but we will also spend time on the small niches that bring color and character to the landscapes.

Wildflower close up captured during the Spring Smoky Mountain Workshop
This little cluster of wildflowers made a wonderful composition for a close up along a river that we were photographing last spring. I used Topaz Clarity to make this image pop and then used a vignette to bring the attention to the center of the Composition.
Hope that you will be able to join me for the Spring Smoky Mountain Workshop!!
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Cades Cove, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Dogwoods, Greenbrier, Gregg Cabin, Gregg-Cable house, Italian Photographic Workshop, Little River, Little River Road, Ogle Cabin, Rime Ice, River time exposure, Rome Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Smoky Mountains National Park, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Spring Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Tremont, Tuscan Photo Workshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop, White Rainbow, Wildflowers
Often when I am out shooting I talk to other photographers as I wait for the light and on a rainy overcast day I am often the last person to leave the location. On a shooting trip 25 years ago to the Dolomites in Northern Italy the mountains were socked in and I decides to call it a night and went back to the lodge where I was staying. As I was eating my meal and looking out the window at the mountains the clouds parted and the most wonderful light hit the top of the mountains. That is when I made myself a promise never to leave until 15 min after the sun has set. I always wait for the magic to happen and I am seldom disappointed.

Clingman’s Dome – Gods rays
Some of my favorite shots are on overcast days when a break in the clouds can give you dramatic effects.
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Rome photo workshop, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Topaz Labs, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Cades Cove, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Dogwoods, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Greenbrier, Michigan photographic workshops, Ogle Cabin, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain spring photo workshop, Southwest Photographic Workshop Tour, Tuscan Photo Workkshop, Venice Carnival - Photographic Workshop Tour, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
After teaching last springs Charleston workshop Jonathan sent me a nice email and a few of the great images that he captured while we were on location.

Civil War Memorial
This infrared composition that Jonathan shot in a Charleston graveyard that we visited is amazing.

Old Charleston Church
Hi Paul, Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your workshop. I learned so much on this workshop that I am looking forward to going out with you to Las Vegas next year. I was really touched by the way you welcomed me and Gina into your group even though I was the only shooter you did not leave out the non shooters. It was a pleasure to meet you and learn from you. You are a very gifted photographer and teacher. Here are a couple of images I processed.Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and friendship.
Great Workshop!
Jonathan and Regina Davis
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz product Click Here
Glow can be used as a stand-alone or a plugin to transform your photos from dull to dazzling. Containing more than 70 unconventional and quirky filters, you can infuse your images with neon, graphic, liquid and other electrifying effects.
Take advantage of the introductory price of $49.99 (regularly $69.99).
Use the coupon code ‘INTROGLOW’ and buy Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Photographic Workshop, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Topaz Labs | posted in 2012 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Photo Contest winners, Charleston Churches, Charleston Doorways, Charleston Graveyards, Charleston Photographic Workshop, Depth of field, Dogwood Tree, Edisto Beach, Fall Smoky Mountain workshop, Foley Beach Pier, Italian Photographic Workshop, Live Oak, Magnolia Plantation, Michigan Photographic Workshop, Nik software, Paul Christopher James, Photographic Workshops, Slave Cabins, Slot Canyon Photo Workshop, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smokey Mountain National Park, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz BW effects 2, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
Hope your holidays are filled with family and friends!

Christmas Eve
Often I am focused in on too many details and sometimes a wide angle lens helps me see a little more order in a chaotic world.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Charleston Spring Photo workshop, Christmas Eve, Digital Photographic Workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Tuscany photo workshop, Venice Photo Workshop | posted in Charleston Photographic Workshop, Fall Smoky Mountain photo workshop, Italian Photographic Workshop, Michigan photographic workshops, Paul Christopher James, Rome Photgraphic Workshop, Slot Canyon Workshops, Smokey Mountain National Park, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Venice Italy Photographic Workshop
From the 26th through the 29th of October I will be back teaching in the Smoky Mountains one of our great national parks. The image of Sparks Lane was captured this april when the dogwoods were in full bloom and I am anxious to see it in its fall color.

Sparks Lane Simplify 4 Spring 2014
Throughout the smoky Mountains there are historical landmarks of the families that lived and raised their families in this area which help us make a connection with our past and sometimes our present. Last weekend I spent a few minutes with friend who’s last name is Sparks and asked if they had any connection to the Smoky Mountains. It was not surprising to find out that their family had moved to southern Indiana from Tennessee.
In October when I am capturing images on Sparks lane in the Smokies it will be fun thinking of the Sparks family members who I have spent time with capturing images of the masked characters at Carnival in Venice and at the top of St Peters Coppola in Rome.

Sparks Lane CR2 raw image Spring 2014
To Save 15% on any of the Topaz Click Here
To save 15% on the Nik collection Click Here
To save 50% on the Topaz Suite now $379.99 Click Here
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a comment | tags: Nik Software, Paul Christopher James, Smoky Mountain Photo Workshop, Southwest Photo Workshop, Topaz Clarity, Topaz Simplify | posted in Cades Cove, Dogwoods, Fog Bow, Greenbrier, Gregg Cabin, Gregg-Cable house, Lightroom 5.6, Little River Road, Photographic Workshops, River time exposure, Smokies, Smoky Mountains Institute, Smoky Mountains National Park, Topaz Clarity, topaz simplify, Tremont, White Rainbow