Roanoke Photographer

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Blue Ridge Ironman - Roanoke, Virginia

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The 2022 Carilion Clinic Ironman 70.3 Virginia's Blue Ridge race marked the race’s second year in Roanoke, Virginia. The Ironman triathlon showed off both the Blue Ridge Mountains and southwest Virginia to people from around the world and around the country. Triathletes started at Carvin’s Cove with a swim, then biked along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and lastly ran throughout downtown Roanoke.

Photographing an Ironman

Today’s assignment really focussed on capturing the location of the race, and not so much the athletes themselves. My goal and purpose was to highlight the area’s unique mountains, the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, and the terrain. Throughout the day I walked, I hiked up hill sides to get unique vantage points, I hopped on a boat, and I road on the back of motorcycle all to successfully document the Roanoke Blue Ridge Ironman 70.3.

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McAfee's Knob Full Moon - Sunrise Hike

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Hiking McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail near Roanoke, Virginia at sunrise is a bucket list item for any hiker or adventure seeker. Hiking “the knob” is an easy accomplishment for any solo hiker or a family with little kids as it’s only 3.5 miles each way and 7 miles round trip along a fire road or trail.

a guide to Hiking mcAfee’s knob at sunrise

For a sunrise hike in May, you’ll have to be at the parking lot no later than 3:45am. So, bring a headlight and a thermos of your favorite coffee. The hike although not strenuous for most takes 4+ hours, so prepare to bring a bottle of water, a small snack, and sturdy hiking boots as the trail can be muddy. Alight top to keep you warm upon summiting (even in the summer) is recommended. The knob with its sweeping views is exposed to the elements and always has a breeze.

is mcafee’s knob a hard hike?

The hike to Mcafee Knob is a slow and steady uphill hike up Catawba Mountain. The trail, is a part of the larger Appalachian Trail, which is wide and well groomed with easy to denote markers. The only exception is when you reach the top.

some of roanoke virginia’s best hikes are 1/2 day hikes

When you reach the top of Catawba Mountain you can easily go past the iconic McAfee Knob rock overlook. The overlook’s sweeping panoramic views of the Catawba valley beneath you are not to be missed. Make sure you look for trail signs and breaks in the brush, which will lead you to McAfee’s knob overlook. It’s very easy to continue on the Appalachian Trail and not walk the extra 50 feet to the overlook.

hiking mcafee’s knob 1-2-3 information

Quick information about hiking McAfee’s Knob in any season:

  • Bring a water bottle

  • The hike takes about 3.5-4 hours of moving time round trip.

  • Total distance is about 7.2 miles

  • Go early! - The parking lot at the top of 311 in Catawba fills up quick and parking signs are strictly enforced.

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Escatawba Farms Fly Fishing

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A great day trip fly fishing has to be at Virginia's best fly fishing stream, Escatawba Farms located just outside of Roanoke, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Escatawba has streams stocked with trout and other fish species, which will test anglers of all skill levels.

Virginia’s Best Fly Fishing is in Roanoke, VA

Whether you’re a beginner going out with a guide or a skilled fishermen with many lores under your belt, Escatawba has something to offer everyone.

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McAfee's Knob Sunrise Morning Hike

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An early morning sunrise hike on the Appalachian Trail just outside of Roanoke, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains to capture the sunrise at McAfee's Knob. McAfee's Knob is the most photographed location on the Appalachian Trail. Hiking McAfee's Knob is not hard at all. The hike offers two ways up to the top; a fire road of compact dirt and small rocks, and a more rugged trail with roots, big stone steps, and some mud.

blue ridge mountains photography

Hiking with a camera takes some effort. You want to bring your best camera, all of your lenses, a filter or two, and a tripod, but then you realize your hike is 5,8,12,15 mile round trip hike. Packing light when hiking is key. When camping or hiking my outdoor camera setup consists of 1 camera body and 1 lens.

Hiking with a tripod

Although a tripod would’ve been nice on this early morning sunrise hike, it would’ve been heavy and cumbersome to carry. Instead of carrying a tripod for slow exposure shots I always:

  • Find a rock to balance my camera on

  • Increase my ISO

  • Photograph slightly under exposed and increase exposure or shadows in post production

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Sharp Top Trail - Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking

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The views atop Sharp Top are jaw dropping. If you’re a bit more daring, there are multiple boulders to climb, which allow for even more impressive and even more unobstructed views of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Roanoke Headshot Photographer

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Since moving to Roanoke, Virginia, I haven’t photographed all that much. Last Sunday, I changed that “streak” with my first headshot session and I quickly became a “Roanoke Professional Photographer”.

Kuei, photographed above, is our neighbor and a professional software developer. Monika told her I photograph professionally in New York and she asked if I’d be interested in taking her photo. She wanted a headshot photo she could use in her email signature, contact card, and LinkedIn.

So, I setup my mobile headshot studio right in her garage and within a couple of minutes I was ready to go. We tried a few different looks and I always asked Kuei for her feedback; glasses, no glasses, jacket, and no jacket. After the backdrop photos we walked 15feet behind me to the outdoors.

For our outdoor headshot photos, I brought one light outside with a small diffuser. I used the sun as a hair light and the woods as a background. The headshots above are lightly edited and retouched removing hair fly aways and oil spots.