Darren Koobs Photography

Darren Koobs Photography Outdoor, Nature, and Travel Photography

Just thought I would show a tiny bit of my editing process by showing these three different results. All have been edite...
05/16/2026

Just thought I would show a tiny bit of my editing process by showing these three different results. All have been edited the same as far as exposure and color. First image is a deep crop showing only the carpenter bee in flight. Second image is my regular type of crop that shows some environment. This one is my favorite. The third and final image is the full image with no crop, where you can see the entire environment that the carpenter be is foraging in. The flowers are rocket larkspur.

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Z MC f/2.8 105mm S lens
f/8, 1/2500sec, ISO 1000

05/16/2026

I’m at Audubon Acres, in Chattanooga Tennessee, photographing the peace, the quiet, and soaking up the sounds of birds, breeze and slowly flowing water. Places like this are healing.

I like this shot because the spur of the larkspur is plainly visible, with the bumble bee on the spur itself.Nikon Z 6ii...
05/15/2026

I like this shot because the spur of the larkspur is plainly visible, with the bumble bee on the spur itself.

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens
f/10, 1/3200sec, ISO 1000, EV .7

Bumble bees are some of the most effective pollinators. Their large size and hairy bodies efficiently collect and sprea...
05/15/2026

Bumble bees are some of the most effective pollinators. Their large size and hairy bodies efficiently collect and spread pollen. They can fly in cooler temperatures and in darker conditions than other pollinators and so are actively pollinating for longer hours. They have a special technique, known as buzz pollination, where they vibrate the flower to release pollen in tightly closed tubulars. In fact, surprising to me when I read this, they can be up to 50 times more effective at pollination than honeybees. As a photographer I find much enjoyment focusing on them as subjects. They are so docile, basically ignoring me as long as I don't make sudden movements. And if I startle them, they have never attacked me. They just buzz away and continue their foraging.

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens
f/10, 1/1600sec, ISO 1000, EV .7

05/14/2026

This was more exciting than seeing bears in Cades Cove! Pileated woodpeckers are just so fun to watch! Video and photos all taken in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.

05/14/2026

Even with the long lines you sometimes have to wait in at Cades Cove and places like it, it's still a fantastic place to recenter yourself. Wildlife, history, gorgeous countryside, is all worth it.

White-tailed deer doe, photo taken from the car window in Cades Cove.Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Nikkor f/5.6-6.3 180-600mm lens ...
05/14/2026

White-tailed deer doe, photo taken from the car window in Cades Cove.

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Nikkor f/5.6-6.3 180-600mm lens
180mm, f/6.3, 1/400sec, ISO 3200

This guy was the most exciting part of our recent visit to Cades Cove this past weekend. Pileated woodpeckers are so ico...
05/13/2026

This guy was the most exciting part of our recent visit to Cades Cove this past weekend. Pileated woodpeckers are so iconic to me. Their energetic behavior, loud echoing calls, striking patterns and bright red crest...so fun just to observe. This one is a male, you can tell by the red cheek stripe, and red goes from his crest all the way to the base his beak

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Nikkor f/5.6-6.3 180-600mm lens
600mm, f/8, 1/200sec, ISO 1250

ICM photograph of the drive in Cades Cove. Single exposure, vertical movement couple with the movement of the car, taken...
05/12/2026

ICM photograph of the drive in Cades Cove.

Single exposure, vertical movement couple with the movement of the car, taken through the windshield

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Nikkor f/5.6-6.3 180-600mm lens
180mm, f/32, 2/5sec, ISO 100

At the end of our drive down Rich Mtn. Road we parked to stretch and get a longer, closer look at the beautiful forest. ...
05/12/2026

At the end of our drive down Rich Mtn. Road we parked to stretch and get a longer, closer look at the beautiful forest. My wife saw these bright red wildflowers. She asked what they are, and the name that came to mind was cardinal flower, which of course is incorrect. I knew it was wrong but couldn't think of the correct name. So, she pulled up her Plant Parent app, and it identified these as wildwood pinkroot. They are so beautiful and so unique.

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 S lens
f/10, 1/160sec, ISO 1250, EV .7

We decided to finally take Rich Mountain Road out of Cades Cove yesterday because we had talked about doing it but never...
05/11/2026

We decided to finally take Rich Mountain Road out of Cades Cove yesterday because we had talked about doing it but never had. It's a one-way gravel road that at one time was the only way in and out of the cove. Right after we started on the historical route there was a mother black bear and her cub. I attempted to take several photos through the open car window, but this is the only one that turned out. Obviously, we didn't stay in that spot, only stopping for a few brief seconds before driving on.

Nikon Z 6ii, Nikon Nikkor f/5.6-6.3 180-600mm lens
180mm, f/5.6, 1/400sec, ISO 3200

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1194 Newfound Gap Hwy
Cherokee, NC
28719

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