Moments By Stephanie

08/20/2026

When the Mountain Wakes

There are moments in the mountains that feel almost unreal — when the darkness gives way to color and the first light begins to stretch across the ridges.

This was one of those mornings on Grandfather Mountain.

Captured June 6th, and still one of those views I haven’t forgotten. Some moments are worth remembering long after the light has faded.

📍 Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

(c) Stephanie Sheffield
All Rights Reserved
Sharing is appreciated 😊

08/15/2026

Sometimes, the most extraordinary moments happen when two worlds meet.

On this night at Doughton Park, a passing cloud crossed the Milky Way, creating an unexpected celestial crossing above the Blue Ridge. For just a brief moment, the stars, the cloud, and the lone tree seemed to align into something I could never have planned or predicted.

A fleeting moment. A sky I won’t soon forget.

“Celestial Crossing”
7-16-26

📍 Doughton Park | Blue Ridge Parkway


(c) Stephanie Sheffield
All Rights reserved
🌟Sharing is encouraged! 🌟

08/12/2026

🌟🌟🌟ONLY 3 DAYS left to vote! 🗳️

You can vote ONCE PER DAY, per device…until AUGUST 14th

Please share with anyone you can think of….help me make it to the cover 🤩 📸

⬇️ Vote using the link below ⬇️

https://cont.st/ehFZVu_vswHVmB?g=1

08/08/2026

“Blooms with a View”
📍Grandfather Mountain, NC
✨Sunrise at the Swinging Bridge event✨

8-1-26
1/4 sec. f/8 ISO 640

08/07/2026

“ AWAKENING APPALACHIA “
1st place 🥇- Professional Photographer category
WNC Magazine - 2026 Images of WNC

Some photographs become special for reasons that have nothing to do with awards.🌟

Awakening Appalachia was captured during the very first photography workshop I ever led. Long before it received any recognition, it had already become one of my personal favorites and has hung on the wall of my office ever since as a reminder of that milestone.

Today, I’m incredibly honored to share that this image was awarded 1st Place in the Professional Category in WNC Magazine’s 2026 Images of Western North Carolina photo contest.

Standing at the release party this week, holding the magazine and seeing this photograph in print, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much this journey has grown. What began as a simple sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway became a reminder that some of life’s greatest blessings unfold one step at a time.

I’m deeply grateful to WNC Magazine, the judges, and to everyone who has encouraged and supported my photography over the years. Your kindness, encouragement, and friendship have meant more than you know.

Some moments stay with us long after the shutter clicks.

This is one of them. 😉📸

(c) Stephanie Sheffield
All Rights Reserved
✨Sharing is always appreciated ✨

08/05/2026

Super honored to have been chosen as Grand Prize winner!!!

The Grand Prize winner of this year’s Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine Photo Competition is Stephanie Sheffield, an insurance agency owner from Gastonia. Her photograph of an anole tucked inside a flower beat out 2,795 other images to win the top prize.

“This photograph stood out from the rest of the competition for its extraordinary color, sharp focus and intimate portrait of an anole,” said Art Director Marsha Tillett. “The composition leads your eye to the vibrant anole and beautiful background, while the dramatic lighting highlights the animal’s texture. This image transformed a small reptile into a compelling wildlife subject. The combination of artistic beauty and technical quality is what made this a Grand Prize-winning photograph.”

08/03/2026

Waiting for the Light🌟

Sometimes the most beautiful part of sunrise isn’t the moment the sun appears. It’s the quiet anticipation… standing still, watching the sky change, and finding beauty reflected in the simplest places.

📍 Grandfather Mountain | August 1, 2026

David McKenzie Tell Julie I said thank you for being my model 😉

08/01/2026

Can I get your support??? ❤️
I’m so honored to have been chosen as Top 10 finalist for the Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine contest. Image that gets the most votes wins so EVERY VOTE is important! 🌟
(I have some big competition -help me out 😳)

You can vote ONCE PER DAY, per device…until AUGUST 14th

Please share with anyone you can think of….help me make it to the cover 🤩 📸

⬇️ Vote using the link below ⬇️

https://cont.st/ehFZVu_vswHVmB?g=1

07/29/2026

Waterfall Wednesday 💦

📍Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia • 2024

The last time I stood here, the sound of rushing water drowned out everything else. Waterfalls have always been one of my favorite subjects to photograph. Their power, beauty, and constant movement have a way of bringing a sense of peace that’s hard to describe.

It’s been a while since my last waterfall-chasing adventure, and I’m definitely due for another.

What’s your favorite waterfall to visit?

(c) Stephanie Sheffield
All Rights Reserved