An humble, old church sits on a dirt road that circles the valley of Cade's Cove. Beside the church, a graveyard marks the resting places of several souls who braved this isolated mountain cove to make a living, raise families, and form communities. It is now part of the Cade's Cove Historic District, which is comprised of three churches, a gristmill, some cabins and other structures that represent pioneer life in Appalachia. The historic district is now maintained by the National Park Service. For photographers, the 11-mile road around Cade's Cove takes us back to a different time and offers a rich offering of classic settings for pictures. I have always loved this particular one because it is serene yet vibrant with fall color. My eyes always go from the small church to the background color and back to the church, on and on. The lack of intrusion by technology also appeals to me. This is the way our country looked when man only took from the earth what was needed to survive the day.

Cade's Cove, Tennessee

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