Beautiful Destination: Foster Falls Sequatchie TN.

With all this craziness we have been experiencing with the COVID19 spread I decided to go for a hike to a wonderful and amazing Tennessee State Park.

Base view of Foster Falls

Before I even started my journey I decided to look for some information like hours of operation, trails, overlooks, waterfalls lower view. After getting all my information right, I packed my gear and began the 2 hour and 24 minute drive from Clarksville TN to Foster Falls Recreational Park in Sequatchie TN. 

As I reach my destination there’s a pretty large parking for multiple vehicles. Theres restrooms facilities including a water fountain to fill up your bottles. 

From the parking lot to the waterfall overlook is less than 4 minute walk. The waterfall lookout is pretty spacious for people to view the waterfalls and all it’s beautiful surroundings without bumping into each other. 

After snow day. Foster Falls

There are two trails: if you go towards the right it will take you over the waterfalls and if you go left it will take you to the bottom of the waterfalls. Both trails are pretty easy to hike. Just make sure you have some good hiking boots or sneakers. Never go hiking with sandals, slippers or crocs (not good for your feet, believe me you will feel it later). 

The first time I went to Foster Falls I took the top view of the waterfalls and have to tell you it was amazing.

 

Top trails. Foster Falls

So on my last couple of visits I decided to hit the lower trail and get a good view of the waterfall. There’s also a suspended bridge that either way you look it will be amazing. 

One of the visits was right after it snowed, just majestic. You could feel the coolness and the fresh breeze cover you soul (image added).

After snow day. Foster Falls

I was able to capture different shots from different angles. Using my Canon 60D, GoPro Hero7 Black and Sony a6000. Performing long exposures and low shots. 

Beautiful Sunset. Foster Falls

You will definitely love this place. Is one of a kind. From it’s awesome trails to it’s breathtaking views. In summer they also allow people to go swimming and enjoy the park. It also has more than 20 campgrounds, a pavilion, bbq pits and other amazing trails to enjoy. Just remember to pick up after yourself and keep it cleaner than how you found it. 

I would like to thank the Tennessee State Parks for keeping it clean and in good shape for hikers, turist, photographers and adventurers. Also to TriStaAdventures for sponsoring my epic adventures and capturing amazing shots. 

Here are some other shots taken at Foster Falls. Enjoy. 

Note: Images have been edited with Lightroom from Adobe and Luminar 4 from Skylum Software. Captured with either/or GoPro Hero 7 Black, Canon 60D and Sony a6000. 

For more information about the hours of operation, campsite reservations and other questions please visit: https://www.tnvacation.com/local/sequatchie-foster-falls-recreation-area

For all the epic merch I use, visit: http://tristaradventures.com/

Spider Monkey - Captive in solitude.

Last week I was able to visit the Nashville Zoo with the family and as you all know I took my gear with me. I truly enjoy visiting the zoo.

But there is a feeling of sadness when I see them with this facial expression of pain and suffering.
Yes they might have acres and acres of land to run, jump, eat and play. But is not the same this as if these amazing animals lived in the wild. But what can I do. Absolutely nothing.

The most intriguing animal that caught my attention and was able to capture an amazing shot, was the spider monkey. Here is some extra reading if you would like to learn more about these fascinating animals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_monkey

When I approached the area where they were. Not only was it extremely hot for them but you could see their facial expressions of not only boredom but of pain. Those big round eyes just telling you to let them free, that they want to be in the wild. And with sadness the only thing you can do is take the picture and walk away.

The spider monkey is a very active and versatile animal. One that loves to be hanging from tree to tree and eating fruits and nuts which is part of their diet. Being surrounded by this metal fence and not being able to explore the outside world might be slowly killing them. The spider monkey that I was able to photograph stood hanging on the fence for about 15 minutes. Just looking at me.

I understand that some of these animals are endangered species and that they are trying to grow their population. And that the zoo is the perfect place for them, but is it really what they need?

As studies show the population trend for spider monkeys is decreasing; the IUCN Red List lists one species as vulnerable, four species as endangered and two species as critically endangered. But why not create a foundation to help them at their natural habitat. Which their might be a foundation to help them re-populate.

As a photographer and a parent I have to teach my girls to love nature and respect it. Including the animals that live in it. To appreciate what has given to us as a gift to enjoy. Let's try our best to protect either way possible our nature and it's beauty that surrounds us. We have an advantage against those poor animals that are locked up, we are able to do something positive to help out.



"It’s hard to see an animal caged and locked up like a prisoner. Locked up in places where they exploit them by viewing them as trophy's. Day in day out they are surrounded by sadness, pain and the desire to escape. When their animal instincts are to be free in the wild jungles around the world. But as a photographer I’m able to capture that emotion where it shows pain or maybe numbness from a daily routine life." 

BoriPhotography

Some of this information has been obtained from Wikipedia. And the statements presented on this blog are the writers opinion and all images are property of the BoriPhotography. 

Linda Bennett - A True Fighter.

Hello everyone. I know it's been a while. Have been very busy with a lot of stuff. From family, work and photography. But today it's not like any other blog that I have written. As you all know or if you don't know now you will. I give free Breast Cancer Survivor Photo-Shoots. Yes free. This has been my third year doing this. And it's a an amazing joy to see a smile on these amazing woman I photograph. But this blog is dedicated to a true fighter, a survivor and a single mother. Who you may ask? So let me introduce you to Linda Bennett. Here is her story.

"Hi! My name is Linda Bennett.  I am a 53 years old and I am a breast cancer survivor.  I was diagnosed in July of 2012 with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of my left breast.  
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), sometimes called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common type of breast cancer.  About 80% of all breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas.  Invasive means that the cancer has “invaded” or spread to the surrounding breast tissues.  

I had never suffered any major sickness in my adult life, so I was completely shocked when my doctor informed me that I had breast cancer.  I felt numb, empty and was certain that I was going to wither away and die.  After meeting with my doctor, I went home and cried…and then cried some more.  I kept asking God “Why me?” but also “Why not me?”
  
Prior to receiving my heart-breaking diagnosis, I was separated from my husband for 2 years and was a single mom raising my two boys alone.  After the initial shock and overwhelming sadness, God bestowed a genuine calmness over me.  From that moment forward, I knew everything would be ok. I was no longer completely consumed by the devastating diagnosis I had received and my attitude toward everything that was happening in my life positively changed forever.  

I went through every doctor's appointment and every surgery with a smile and positive thoughts and expectations.  My doctor offered me 3 choices: undergo a full mastectomy, have a partial mastectomy or take medications.  I chose a full mastectomy. My surgery was scheduled for August 5, 2012 and my doctors informed me that I was a candidate for the tram flap surgery. 

TRAM stands for transverse rectus abdominus, a muscle in your lower abdomen between your waist and your pubic bone.  A flap of this skin, fat, and all or part of the underlying rectus abdominus (“6-pack”) muscle are used to reconstruct the breast in a TRAM flap procedure. I gladly chose this reconstructive procedure over inserting silicone.

My journey with breast cancer encouraged me to make significant changes in my life.  I divorced my estranged husband, recognizing that his abusive ways had no place in my new life.  I made the decision to leave Florida, where I lived for 30 years, and start a new life for myself and my children.  I relocated to Tennessee to be near my brother and his family and begin the next chapter of my life.  The Lord has been with me for every step in my journey because he has continually blessed me and opened doors for me and my family.  

When people look at me and say things like “You've never been thru anything”, my reply is always “You have never walked in my shoes”.  I'm happy and smiling daily because, no matter what is going on in my life, I'M TRULY BLESSED.  I share my testimony with whomever will listen, because you never know who you may positively touch and help by sharing your story.  God Bless. "

What an inspiration. It was truly amazing being able to spend time with this lovely lady. So if you have an inspirational story to tell and motivate someone please come forward. Maybe your story will encourage and inspire others to also fight and get help. Thank you for reading. Feel free to share.

"Travel the world, capture every moment and feel blessed you were there at that moment in time"

BoriPhotography

Land Between The Lakes - A unique place.

As I woke up that day I had one goal and it was to visit an amazing park. Looked in Google and found Land Between The Lakes. I started looking at the photos provided by some other great photographers. I was pumped, ready to hit the road and visit this amazing place. Woke up the wife, prepped the girls and in 30 minutes was out the door with gear ready for an awesome adventure.

Land Between The Lakes is located half of it's territory is Kentucky and the other in Tennessee. The drive towards this amazing place is beautiful. Being able to see the farm lands, the cows and even spotted a couple of hawks along the road. I was super excited.

To get to this amazing location you have to cross a bridge, this bridge i high and narrow. Incoming traffic will be like if they are invading your lane but they are not, so don't be scared. They are building a two lane bridge right next to it, so hopefully they can leave the old one there for viewing a photographers delight.

As we drove towards the welcoming center it was cold and chilly, but you can smell the fresh scent of pine trees that surround you. Just amazing. If you want to see the Bison and Elks, you need to get a $5.00 pass which I consider to be cheap for the amount of wildlife you see there, plus the experience of being there.

We got to ELK & BISON PRAIRIE, I got my camera ready for that amazing shot. Was pretty down because I was not able to see any bison (they were being kept enclosed for some environment test) or elks the first 5 minutes of driving in this area. Then my wife tells me "Babe look over there, I see something among the trees". I stop and there they were..... Elks just chilling among the talk shaded trees. I got so excited. I was able to take some shots from more than 300 feet.

So we continued driving down the road to see if we were able to see any deer or more elk. Also was able to capture some amazing shot of the flora that surrounded us. As we were getting closer to the north side of the park we saw how the females and baby elks were separated from the male elks. Was able to get some shots of them. Pretty epic.

We decided to drive back to where we saw the male elks. They we still on the same spot we had saw them before. So I parked the car and started walking towards them keeping a safe distance. What an amazing feeling it was. Mother Nature, my camera and these graceful yet powerful elks in front of me. As I got closer they stood up, from 3 we had seen before, out of nowhere there were a total of 6 elks. Wow. I was able to see their warm breath come out their mouths while just staring at me, just wondering what was going to be my next step. But I stood there amazed by there beauty.


After a while we decided to drive around the other side of this amazing place. We reached a spot that was amazing. The reflection of this amazing place was breathtaking. Beautiful in a way like no other. Stayed on that spot for maybe 40 minutes. The sun was going down and it was getting colder by the minute.

Wrapped it up and loaded the girls, put gear away and started driving home. And for our surprise we saw an American Bald Eagle. Wow, epic capture. Was able to get a couple of shots from down below. There is a lookout tower where there are two huge nests. Now we know were to look for some epic shots.



Believe me when I say that I was a happy camper, like a when you give candy to a kid. And when I started editing these amazing shot, making those amazing colors pop...... it's a feeling like no other. I encourage you that reads this, please do go out and explore the world, take your kids with you so they can experiment and value what mother nature has for them.

Here is a link o of my Facebook BoriPhotography Galleria where you will find more photos I took from this amazing place. You are more than welcome to comment and share.

Cumberland River Walk - A river with beauty and enchantment.

We take another journey through Cumberland River Walk. A river traveled by boats and barges. Used for fishing and other marine sports in the summer. Have found my self waling down the 1 mile walking trail just fascinated of all the beauty found there.

This river walk is a stage year round. Where different activities are show cased there. But I have to say that for me the most amazing thing to do there is to take photos of its scenic beauty. How the trees reflect on the river, the snow makes it look like a magical place, the early morning fog covering the whole river. It's just amazing.

A LITTLE HISTORY:

Clarksville’s historic downtown area was changed forever on 22 January 1999 when an F3 tornado struck leaving approximately a 4.3 mile, 880 yard-wide path.  Estimated wind speeds were in excess of 200 mph.  It first struck along Riverside Drive, destroying the Petri Cigar Building, damaging trees in Valley Brook Park and devastating the Dog Hill neighborhood.  In approximately five minutes, it had taken a five-mile path through Clarksville to St. Bethlehem area, hitting the campus of Austin Peay State University area and the Red River neighborhood. (Info pulled from http://www.mchsociety.org/Index.html)

Then again in 2010 Clarksville TN is hit by another devastating flood. The flood broke all recent records and came within 5 feet of the largest recorded flood on record, the 1937 Flood. The flood stage is 46 feet, the previous record (1975) was 57.10 feet, the crest of this flood was 62.58 feet (info: http://www.clarksvilleonline.com). It left many businesses so damaged that they didn't open again. All the cars at the dealership were completely totaled. If you go to the Wendy's Fast Food restaurant there you will see a mark that will show you up to where the water rose. It was a devastating and sad moment for Clarksville.

But since then Clarksville Montgomery County has taken measures to ensure that doesn't happen again. From expanding the river sides to making sure all debris is cleaned from the river.

Now I will share with you some photos that I was able to capture these last couple of day. If you would like to see more of these amazing shot please follow the link BoriPhotography Galleria.  Thank you all for your amazing support. Please feel free to like, share and comment.

"Travel the world, capture every moment and feel blessed you were there at that moment in time"

BoriPhotography

Dunbar Cave - A gem of its own.

So today we embark to a journey to Dunbar Cave Natural Park. A unique and beautiful sanctuary to admire and enjoy. A national landmark that has brought so many people together. From our own locals, visitors and many photographers like myself that love its pure nature. Where you can enjoy an early walk/run or take your camera and start shooting away.

From its beautiful fauna to its memorizing flora. Plus we can't forget the history that is felt there. Dunbar Cave is located in Clarksville, Montgomery County. It's situated on a 110 acre land and it has numerous sink holes, plus Dunbar Cave is over 8 miles in length is one of the largest cave in Montgomery County.

Thomas Dunbar and his family settled the land containing the cave in 1784. Dunbar thought that he had title to the land, but due to incorrect paperwork he was never actually the legal owner. The first known owner, Robert Nelson, claimed the land in 1792. Mr. Dunbar and his family were ejected from the land (Dunbar immediately purchased the land next to the cave property and lived there until his death in 1826). The cave retained Dunbar’s name as he was the first settler to live there. (Info pulled from http://tnstateparks.com)

I have been numerous time at Dunbar Cave. It's peaceful and I'm one with nature. I haven't been inside the cave but you can feel a cool breeze coming through the locked gates. They say it's a constant 58 degrees in the cave. The entrance of the cave was an amazing location for different activities, where bands played, food was sold and an enjoyment for everyone.

Now the park is being under construction to restore the lake. You can still enjoy the beauty of this place. From it's epic trails to it's serene views. If you do visit Dunbar Cave please remember not to litter, we need to keep these historical locations as beautiful as they are.



Thank you for your epic support. You're are more than welcome to share this article with friends and family. Check out this beautiful video of an early morning at Dunbar Cave before they did the reconstruction of the lake YouTubechannel. Also want to check out more amazing photos from this amazing place click on the following link and it will direct you to my galleria BoriPhotography Galleria.

"Travel the world, capture every moment and feel blessed you were there at that moment in time"

BoriPhotography

Downtown Clarksville - Historic Beauty

I used to live here back in 2005 and was not into photography as I am now. Downtown Clarksville was a no zone for me just because I didn't see no purpose of going there (my feelings have changed). But since I started in the amazing photography journey I love old architecture and historic sites. Specially taking a black and white photo of the location. For me it tell a different kind of story.

So last year on a cold afternoon in December walking at downtown Clarksville I was able to capture some amazing shots. Even thought it was cold I have to say it was worth it. Just wished that there was a home style coffee shop opened, but no luck.

We parked right next to the statue of Lieutenant Colonel John Montgomery (c. 1750–1794) was an American soldier, settler and explorer. He is credited with founding the city of Clarksville, Tennessee. Montgomery County, Tennessee is named after him. In 1780 he signed the Cumberland Compact and in 1793 commanded territorial troops in the Nickajack Expedition against the Creek tribe.
Montgomery was killed near Eddy Creek, Kentucky on November 27, 1794, by an Indian ambush while hunting. His statue stands near Clarksville's Public Square. (information pulled from Wikipedia).

 

                                                                 Then we saw The Roxy Theater. 
Standing on a corner of the Public Square it offers live theater shows to the public offering a wide variety of selection in the spirit of literary theater. The Roxy was built in 1947 after the 1913 Lilian Theater burned down in 1945. And it stands after reopening in 1947.





This courthouse has been through two mayor fires one in 1878 that they called The Great Fire and the other one in 1900. Also two tornado's one in 1884 and the second one in 1999. The love of the people have kept it a historic monument. A sight of pure enjoyment. 

"Bursting with Pride" is quite a large 10,000 sq ft. mural in downtown Clarksville, painted by Ricky Deel. The mural overlooks a large parking lot on Franklin St. and is near the Roxy Theater.




A statue in honor of the 1999 tornado sits on a park bench reading an edition of The Leaf Chronicle that came out the day after the devastating tornado. The newspaper never missed a day of print.
1/22/1999 - An F3 tornado struck Clarksville at 4:15 a.m. and traveled through downtown. Five people were injured and 25,000 were left without power. The tornado ripped apart a five-block area of downtown Clarksville, tore up buildings at Austin Peay State University and left the Montgomery County courthouse in ruins. (Information obtained from http://www.tennessean.com)

One of the most humanitarian symbol of love and caring I have seen. A note saying "I am not lost. If you're stuck out in the cold please take what you need to keep warm and help someone else when you can. From Michael and Zara."
This is located in Strawberry Alley Downtown Clarksville. Have to say this really hit hard. Because I have seen so many homeless people with and without children suffering the wrath of a cold weather. As human beings we try to help the ones we see and it's hard not being able to help all of them. So please help those that you see out side in these cold temperatures. God shall grant you many blessings.  



Follow the link to my Facebook page BoriPhotography Galleria for some more photos taken on this trip Downtown Clarksville TN. Thank you and don't forget to like, share and comment. God bless.

"Travel the world, capture every moment and feel blessed you were there at that moment in time"

 BoriPhotography