Darren Koobs Photography

Directions Website

Darren Koobs Photography Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Darren Koobs Photography, Photographer, 1194 Newfound Gap Hwy, Cherokee, NC.
(2)

Outdoor, Nature, and Travel Photography
Unfortunately not available for bookings
See more of my work at my web site https://www.darrenkoobsphotography.com/
Buy digital downloads of my work at https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/212083833/Darren%20Koobs

10/26/2026

You can do a lot with artificial lighting in outdoor macro photography. Here I'm using a cheap Smallrig video light that cost about $15. It's just a small LED panel that can be adjusted for brightness and color temperature. I just wanted to show a little of my process when it's cloudy outside or when sunlight isn't ideal. If you find this video helpful go ahead and share!

The leaves of this variety of marigold are a bluish-green and when I took this photo, there was heavy cloud cover, so th...
10/26/2026

The leaves of this variety of marigold are a bluish-green and when I took this photo, there was heavy cloud cover, so the blue hues really showed up. I actually "warmed" the color temp a lot in the green just to try and remove the heavy blue that is in the RAW image.

I like how it makes the warm orange of the marigolds really show.

This is one of the last photos I took on my walk around McKamy Lake yesterday. It was a little after 9:30 in the morning...
10/26/2026

This is one of the last photos I took on my walk around McKamy Lake yesterday. It was a little after 9:30 in the morning and the light was getting harsh. I liked the look of the lake's surface, with only a little movement and glassy reflections.

Fall colors starting to show at the edge of McKamy Lake where a foot bridge offers an easy walk through a marshy area.
10/26/2026

Fall colors starting to show at the edge of McKamy Lake where a foot bridge offers an easy walk through a marshy area.

Morning view of McKamy Lake, Chilhowee Recreation Area, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USASo far, the fall colors ...
10/26/2026

Morning view of McKamy Lake, Chilhowee Recreation Area, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA

So far, the fall colors haven't been as bold and vibrant this year as I'd hoped. We got a lot of rain this past summer, but it wasn't enough to end the area drought. Water tables are still low. What's happening wherever I've gone is the leaves are turning color and falling at the same time.

But it's not drab, either. There are groups of trees and some isolated trees that are bucking the norm and getting really vibrant colors. So, what I've been doing is using composition to pull visual focus to the color. Frame within a frame is one technique I've been using a lot. In this photo I would say that, although this is not a minimalist photo, it is using the principles of minimalism to make the red and yellow stand out.

Graveled walking trail that circles McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest in Tenn...
10/25/2026

Graveled walking trail that circles McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee USA. A couple hundred yards further up this trail is the trailhead for the hike to Benton Falls.

McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA
10/25/2026

McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA

Walking trail that circles McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA
10/25/2026

Walking trail that circles McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA

Lake shore of McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA
10/25/2026

Lake shore of McKamy Lake in the Chilhowee Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA

View from Chilhowee Overlook on Oswald Road (Forest Service Road 77). Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA. There is...
10/25/2026

View from Chilhowee Overlook on Oswald Road (Forest Service Road 77). Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee, USA.

There is still some morning fog in the valley.

Address

1194 Newfound Gap Hwy
Cherokee, NC
28719

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Darren Koobs Photography posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category