Scroll down to view Steve Madden’s featured photos for October through December 2023.
All photos in this collection are copyright 2023 Steven L Madden.
SFPD31 December 31 2023
Snow Capped Smokies
You had to be out early on New Year’s Eve to see snow-capped peaks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
By early afternoon, as I continued my long walk beside Cades Cove Loop Road, bright sun had melted most of the snow.
SFPD27 December 27 2023
Since Daylight
Instead of the sunrise I hoped to see at Ijams Nature Center, a pair of fishermen floated on the Tennessee River.
“I’m curious. How long have you been at it?” “Since daylight,” the standing man replied. “Without catching any,” his companion added.
Cumulous clouds obscured the sun until midday when a brilliant blue sky overcame morning rain. Perhaps for the determined sportsmen, luck improved with the weather.
SFPD25 December 25 2023
Immaculate Conception Sculpture
Designed by sculptor Raymond Averill Porter, this Immaculate Conception World War I Memorial stands in Victory Memorial Park in Norwood OH above the names of local men who were killed during wartime.
How fitting that I noticed the Immaculate Conception sculpture during my walking tour of Norwood on Christmas Day.
ISFPD20 December 20 2023
Aslan at Work
Today I visited the Candora Marble building in the Vestal Community of South Knoxville, and I marveled at its marble walls and floors.
I spoke with Wes, a Tri-Star Arts painter, who informed me that Aslan Foundation recently renovated this historic building and grounds.
Thanks to Aslan, even the gravel drive through parallel trees to the Candora Marble Building is special.
SFPD20a December 20 2023
Heavenly Vision
Clouds drew my attention skyward where, through parallel trees, I witnessed this heavenly vision.
You simply must visit Tri-Star Arts in the Candora Marble building! The floors and walls, themselves, are magnificent. Now adorned by excellent artworks, they are astounding. You will want to return often to this landmark structure in historic Vestal.
SFPD15 December 15 2023
Rainbow Effect
This rainbow greeted our senior adult group upon arrival at the nearest overlook at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin KY.
Exploring natural wonders with fellow church members creates non-stop camaraderie and lasting friendships.
SFPD12 December 12 2023
Frosty Morn
The temperature was 25 Fahrenheit when we began our hike at Seven Islands State Birding Park. The French Broad River intensified the cold and frost.
Frost covered trees, shrubs and grasses, appearing somewhat like new fallen snow. Had we approached them more closely, I suppose the nineteen deer we counted were frosted also.
Frosty hills and meadows paint wonderful Winter images.
SFP124 December 4 2023
Fortuitous Night Hike
The first night I camped at Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville Tennessee, I enjoyed a night hike along Byrd Creek Trail.
I thought the yellow-blazed trail would return me to its trailhead near the park office. When I came to a trail junction in the pitch-dark woods, I used my Avenza GPS map to walk a nature trail to the famous multi-arch dam.
How fortuitous to see the back side of the CCC-built dam at night during the holiday season!
SFPN24 November 24 2023
Fly Me To The Moon
My grandson’s first visit to Cincinnati Zoo was perfectly timed during the Festival of Lights.
Among four million LEDs illuminating the night sky, I was most fascinated by glowing Jellyfish that danced in the winter breeze.
SFP116b November 16 2023
Sand Cave
Sand Cave, in Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, is unlike any sandstone rock house I know. Its deep and shifting sand floor is as fascinating as its weathered ceiling.
I suppose countless animals and humans took shelter there down through the eons.
SFP111a November 11 2023
Silver Point Tower
This tower grows like a tree from Edgar Evins State Park visitor center near Silver Point Tennessee, about an hour east of Nashville.
A gentle climb to the top presents a view of the dam of Caney Fork that created Center Hill Lake.
The tower is accessible when the visitor center is open.
SFP111b November 11 2023
Center Hill Lake
This view of Center Hill Lake was at the furthest point along Merritt Ridge Trail from the Edgar Evins State Park trailhead.
Four miles remained to finish my eight mile trek, made quite difficult today by numerous fallen trees.
I caution against hiking Merritt Ridge Trail unless a park ranger tells you blow downs have been cleared from the trail.
SFP116 November 6 2023
Decorated Blue Spruce
I visited Racheff Gardens and Arboretum hoping to see fall colors among more than 75 tree species.
Nature anticipated my arrival and decorated this Blue Spruce with red leaves.
SFP116a November 6 2023
Mellow Yellow
This Eastern Redbud has mellowed since Autumn arrived at Racheff Gardens and Arboretum in Knoxville Tennessee.
Its leaves are now a pretty pastel yellow.
SFP111 November 1 2023
Young Anne Frank
This quote is attributed to Anne Frank, a German girl whose Jewish family hid from and eventually were arrested by Nazi occupiers in Amsterdam in the 1940s.
Anne was thirteen years old when she began to keep a diary. Her private writings were published by her father after Anne’s death, at age fifteen.
Anne Frank was wise beyond her years.
I found this quote at Goodreads.
SFP028 October 28 2023
South Arch
Three church friends joined me for a short hike to Twin Arches in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Jamestown Tennessee.
SFP028a October 28 2023
North Arch
Fall colors made the mammoth sandstone arches even more marvelous.
SFP018 October 18 2023
Overlooking Fern Lake
This image appears similar to the photo I featured two days earlier.
Today, I peered through trees near Pinnacle Overlook at emerging fall colors and a body of water called Fern Lake.
The Pinnacle is in Cumberland Gap National Historic Park near where Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee meet.
SFP016 October 16 2023
A River Runs Through It
Big South Fork River runs through the Cumberland Plateau in Southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee.
We enjoyed this splendid view from Devil’s Jump Overlook in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area during our seven-mile hike along Blue Heron Loop.
SFP109 October 9 2023
River View
This view across the Cumberland River was from the waterfall parking area at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin KY.
SFP109a October 9 2023
Across the River
I ventured across the Cumberland River from the Kentucky state park to capture this view of Cumberland Falls.
Hike a short distance along Eagle Falls Trail, and turn right at the loop trail sign, to see a similar view when you visit Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.
SFP105 October 5 2023
Round Bald
Mount Mitchell, highest peak in the eastern United States, is barely visible above a distant layer of fog.
We had walked less than a mile from Carver’s Gap to Round Bald when I captured this Roan Highlands image.
SFP102 October 2 2023