VIBRilliANT
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I could not decide whether to call this collection Vibrant or Brilliant, so I combined them into one new word: VIBRilliANT. You heard it here first!
I feel brilliant when I capture an image that features vibrant colors. This collection includes several such images. Enjoy!
Words to live by: Vibrant colors increase energy in the mind and soul.
SVI51V Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
Here in Appalachia, many Summer flowers are colored yellow and purple. Is that true where you live?
Black Eyed Susan is a member of the Sunflower family.
I don’t know the name of this purple flower that resembles Virginia Bluebell, which blooms in Spring.
I captured its image at Ijams Nature Center in July. I trust this Summer bloomer is native to Appalachia.
SVI47H Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
Do you recognize these other-worldly creatures? We don’t see them often.
I marveled while these Moon Jellyfish propelled themselves through saltwater at Newport Aquarium in Newport KY.
SVI46V Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
A brilliant morning sky reflected on the Tennessee River in South Knoxville.
SVI45V Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
My third visit to North Knoxville’s Baxter Gardens featured distinctly different flowering plants.
Along with these Dianthus Firewitch perennials, multi-colored Azaleas and Catawba Rhododendrons were at peak in mid-April.
SVI44H Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
Carpets of Creeping Phlox and multi-colored hills greeted me as I arrived at Baxter Gardens in Fountain City.
Spanning 32 acres atop Black Oak Ridge, the Baxter estate offers grand views of hills and ridges between Knoxville and the Smoky Mountains.
Ginger and Bill Baxter welcome visitors to their private gardens throughout April each year.
SVI43H Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
I rarely see this retro University of Tennessee logo anymore.
An hour before daylight, it beamed brightly from UT Conference Center in downtown Knoxville.
SVI42H Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
An almost-full moon and partly-cloudy sky combined to create this image shortly after sunset in South Knoxville.
SVI41H Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
The creator of this handcrafted bird bath obviously enjoys vibrant colors.
Their artwork is displayed at UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge TN.
SVI40H Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
While trees and blue sky reflect on its surface, silt on the bottom of Byrd Creek is illuminated by mid-afternoon sun at Cumberland Mountain State Park.
SVI39H Copyright 2024 Steven L Madden
These Moss-covered trees recline at the site of CCC Camp 1461 in the Smoky Mountains, near Tremont Institute.
Consider how many months or years nature took to completely surround the tree trunks with Moss.
SVI38V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Look up “Vibrilliant” in a dictionary and you will see this image beside the definition.
At least you should! The problem is they stopped printing dictionaries before I created the word Vibrilliant. Oh well…
In case you’re wondering, this is the back side of the Cumberland Mountain State Park bridge at night during holiday time.
SVI37V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Flying Jellyfish appeared as enormous planets beside a diminutive moon.
The otherworldly orbs were sighted at Cincinnati Zoo during Festival of Lights.
SVI36V Copyright 2022 Steven L Madden
This unique tree and its neighbors painted a colorful canopy over Russell Field Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in early October.
SVI35V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Fall colors brightened our Mid-October hike around Blue Heron Loop in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
This view is from Devil’s Jump Overlook, a large platform that presents panoramic views of the Cumberland Plateau and Big South Fork River. Nearby Blue Heron Overlook is even more impressive. You can drive to both overlooks along Gorge Overlook Road near Stearns Kentucky.
SVI34V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Mountain Ash shrubs were laden with brilliant berries the October day I hiked an AT section through the Roan Highlands beginning at Carver’s Gap.
SVI33V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
It is an unmistakable sign that Summer is yielding to Fall.
It is commonly called Bursting Heart (a.k.a. Hearts-A-Bustin') and I saw my first of the season beside the nature trail at Cove Lake State Park in late September.
SVI32V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Fatigue and muscle aches set in miles ago. By late afternoon, I was not a happy hiker!
A smile spread across my face when I noticed pink flowers in a water seep near Cosby Campground. The plants that cheered me, I believe, are Pink Turtleheads.
SVI31V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Phlox and other Summer flowers brightened the cloudy August day when I first visited Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton TN.
SVI30H Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
I enjoyed this panorama of Bluff Mountain just before 9pm on July 4.
I could see about 100 miles of ridge line from left to right. Within my field of vision, fireworks exploded almost non-stop to celebrate our nation’s birthday.
Thank you, Boyce!
SVI29H Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Q—How can you know if a bee is male or female?
A—Let is sting you. Only female bees sting.
Perhaps this image belongs in my Sunrise Sunset collection. It is a Gaillardia cultivar called Sunset Sunrise.
SVI28H Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
This is a favorite among many mountain scenes I captured one early Summer evening.
Views from pull offs of Foothills Parkway were quite nice between Cosby and Interstate 40 in East Tennessee.
SVI27H Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
A fine weather day was rudely interrupted by a late afternoon thunderstorm in my hometown of Knoxville Tennessee.
After an evening pottery class, I returned home in time to catch this brilliant South Knoxville sunset image. Simply amazing!
SVI26V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
Blooming flowers were few and far between at Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum in early May.
Thus, exotics like Californian Poppy placated my photographic pursuit.
SVI25V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
This is a view of Big Creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park called The Cathedral.
I appreciate Dale who led a group of Southern Appalachia Nature Photographers to this location. It presented a fantastic photo opportunity.
I will return alone for tranquility The Cathedral offers.
SVI24V Copyright 2023 Steven L Madden
I was boiling water when bubbles on the underside of a sauce pan lid caught my eye.
A little photo editing magic colored the transparent bubbles brilliantly.
SVI23V Copyright 2022 Steven L Madden
You know the feeling. Something catches your eye and you must stop and take a closer look.
That was my experience when I saw this display near Rock Island State Park in Walling Tennessee. The inviting sign and artwork were hand crafted by the friendly owners of Happy Yaker Cottages.
SVI22V Copyright 2022 Steven L Madden
I most often visit the Horse Creek area of Cherokee National Forest, near Chuckey Tennessee, in Spring when wildflowers abound.
In late October I was fortunate to saunter along Squibb Creek Trail and marvel at the variety of trees adorned with a kaleidoscope of leaf colors. Simply amazing!
SVI01H Copyright 2020 Steven L Madden
Driving back roads to Tremont for a Smoky Mountains hike, I was dazzled by a field of sunflowers in bloom.
Thankfully, owners of the field in Blount County, Tennessee welcomed visitors.
SVI02V Copyright 2020 Steven L Madden
I saw these flowers in bloom late October at The University of Tennessee Gardens. They were pastel yellow. Are they a Coneflower variation?
SVI03H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
Before our hike, Julie and I drove Cades Cove Loop in Smoky Mountains National Park, and we walked to John Oliver Cabin where I took this photo.
“A lucky shot!” I told Julie when I shared the image later. Indeed it was.
SVI04H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
This is part of a charming mural painted on a bridge support at World’s Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee.
I wish I knew the artist to credit for this fine artwork.
SVI05H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
Carla and I had plenty of leisure time at our campsite at Lotterdale Cove. So, I decided to photograph glowing firewood embers that warmed and entertained us.
SVI06H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
A soft sunset, its reflection on the Tennessee River, and S20’s ultra wide field of vision made this impressive photograph of Henley Street Bridge in Knoxville, Tennessee.
SVI07H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
After living in South Knoxville in Tennessee most of my adult life, in 2021 I saw this mural for the first time. Located in the Mt. Olive community, it claims to be “Knoxville’s Best Kept Secret.”
SVI08H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
Mostly signs and memories remain of JFG Coffee Company. This sign is visible near the south end of Gay Street Bridge in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Started in Morristown in 1882 by James Franklin Goodson, JFG was once a prominent local enterprise.
SVI09H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
I saw this cluster of Bloodroot blooms while hiking midday within Norris Watershed near Norris, Tennessee.
Spring wildflowers were showcased brilliantly along trails near Norris Dam by the third week of March.
SVI10H Copyright 2020 Steven L Madden
I am lukewarm about Sassafras tea but I have high regard for Sassafras trees because of their three distinct leaf shapes.
I captured this memory one Sunday while strolling along Deer Run Trail at Panther Creek State Park near Talbott, Tennessee.
SVI11H Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
This is a sample of Fall colors we witnessed while hiking in Cherokee National Forest near Greeneville, Tennessee early November.
SVI12V Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
These flowers were in bloom in October at Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum in Knoxville, Tennessee.
I have not seen such color variety among wild Asters, compared to these vibrant cultivars.
SVI13V Copyright 2022 Steven L Madden
Tom and I entered a winter wonderland when we hiked Lumber Ridge Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in January.
By mid-afternoon, bright sun began to melt the stunningly-beautiful snow.
SVI14V Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
I saw Gay Wings in bloom during an April hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
My trails that day included Cooper Road and Little Bottoms.
SVI15V Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
I hike select trails each Spring looking for Trout Lilies with their speckled leaves and impressive yellow blooms.
On this day in March, I hiked River Bluff Trail near Norris Dam and Rocky Top, Tennessee.
SVI16V Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
A blue sky day in January prompted me to hike in the Smokemont area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
As I retraced my steps along Dry Sluice Gap and Bradley Fork Trails, I lifted my camera’s eye to this imposing tree.
SVI17V Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
I was surprised by early January Vinca blooms but not by early morning frost that outlined their leaves.
This photo was taken in Woodlawn Cemetery, a quarter mile from my home.
SVI18V Copyright 2021 Steven L Madden
In October, a Black-Eyed Susan bloomed brilliantly among vibrant American Beautyberry shrubs at Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum in East Tennessee.
SVI19V Copyright 2020 Steven L Madden
I witnessed this brilliant sunrise along Pickett Park Highway at Pogue Creek Canyon near Jamestown, Tennessee.
If you admire this view, you can spend the night in a red caboose on this same property.
SVI20V Copyright 2020 Steven L Madden
Carla and I discovered a nature trail next to the campground at Cove Lake State Park in Caryville, Tennessee.
This image of an Algae-covered pond was an arms length from the trail.
SVI21V Copyright 2020 Steven L Madden
We hiked in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in October and enjoyed vivid colors in abundance.
I captured this image while hiking Miry Ridge or Panther Creek Trail.