Jeff Pfaller Photography

Jeff Pfaller Photography Parkaholic and Photographer. I'm always on the hunt for one-of-a-kind, ephemeral moments.

Hi Old Town Art Fair ! It's going to be a gorgeous day and the guy two booths down from me has super rad retro dioramas....
06/13/2026

Hi Old Town Art Fair ! It's going to be a gorgeous day and the guy two booths down from me has super rad retro dioramas. Come see us at the intersection of Menomonee and Orleans. I'm booth 455.

Elkmont Campground during the synchronous firefly peak is a 360 degree orchestra of lightning bugs.
06/10/2026

Elkmont Campground during the synchronous firefly peak is a 360 degree orchestra of lightning bugs.

Everyone's heard about the Great Smoky Mountains synchronous fireflies that put on an orchestra in Elkmont Campground. B...
06/09/2026

Everyone's heard about the Great Smoky Mountains synchronous fireflies that put on an orchestra in Elkmont Campground.

But what many don't realize is that there are 19 different species of fireflies, and you can see them many places that don't require a ticket or a coveted lottery win.

I came upon this spot in Cades Cove, Tennessee, essentially by accident.

Like many folks, I didn't have a pass for Elkmont, so I decided to check out a backup place that many people mentioned as a great spot to see fireflies. Cades Cove is a long loop drive with many historic buildings and open meadows. Worth a visit during the daytime or on that one day a week where only bikes are allowed.

I didn't have a real plan for where to stop, and as I drove around the loop I was running out of daylight. It's a one-way, one-lane road, so doubling back to earlier spots that looked promising wasn't really part of the equation.

So, as the sunset, I pulled off into a random parking spot. This large sentinel-like tree stood alone in a field. At the very least, I thought it'd be an interesting composition at sunset.

What I wasn't prepared for was for the tree to fill with glitter when the fireflies came out. The tree sparkled like it was alive. Lightning bugs winked on and off as far as I could see across the meadow. The field quite literally came alive as they surrounded me.

I was dumbstruck. And hooked. Every year I visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and I come back to this spot. But really, you can go anywhere in Cades Cove and see a similar display. I've witnessed the same phenomena in multiple places on this drive. If you're looking for a good way to spend a summer evening, you can't go wrong here.

This long exposure photograph was taken in the evening on my last day in the area during one of my guided trips. We arrived right around sunset after cutting our drive on the full loop short due to many, many photo breaks to see bears.

This photographic artwork is stacked with over a hundred layers of fireflies to showcase the density of the species.

06/08/2026

I promise you've never seen fireflies like the fireflies in Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

99% of nature photography is the wait.
06/05/2026

99% of nature photography is the wait.

06/01/2026

Saying goodbye to the fireflies. This year was such a gift with such a joyful group.

I've got a firefly geek, amateur botanist, and a birder with me in the Smokies, and hearing their joy at the synchronous...
05/30/2026

I've got a firefly geek, amateur botanist, and a birder with me in the Smokies, and hearing their joy at the synchronous fireflies is giving me life. We walked .8 miles in 2 hours because of all the slugs, flowers, salamanders, birds, and and and kept stopping us in the best way. ♥️♥️♥️

Living the Smokies Life this weekend chasing fireflies. 4 years and it still hasn't gotten old.
05/29/2026

Living the Smokies Life this weekend chasing fireflies. 4 years and it still hasn't gotten old.

Is a total solar eclipse on your bucket list? Cross it off with me in '26, '27, or '28! I've got places to stay in the p...
05/27/2026

Is a total solar eclipse on your bucket list? Cross it off with me in '26, '27, or '28! I've got places to stay in the path of totality, private chefs booked, and am ready to help you not just see it, but photograph it too.

Details here: https://jeffpfaller.com/collections/guided-trips

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150 S Cottage Hill Ave
Elmhurst, IL
60126

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