Upcoming events

Switch to Calendar View

• High Country: Capturing Fall & Winter Landscapes with Lynn Willis

  • When
    September 17, 2026
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
  • Location
    Boone Public Library Meeting Room

  Register

  The High Country region is pleased to welcome acclaimed local photographer Lynn Willis as our guest presenter on Thursday, September 17 at 5pm at the Boone Public Library meeting room. 

  Lynn’s imagery has been published in calendars, books, catalogs, and websites, along with regional and national magazines. He has frequently been a finalist in the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition, notching multiple category wins over the years as well as the People’s Choice Award.

  Lynn is the owner of High South Creative, a design and photography firm, and his portfolio includes a wide array of photos of adventure sports and mountain landscapes from the Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition, he formerly taught photography at App State University.

  His personal projects include donating his images for environmental causes, land protection with conservancy groups, and the promotion of local trails, parks, and Greenways.

  Don't miss this chance to hear from one of the High Country's most accomplished landscape photographers as we head into the fall and winter seasons! The presentation is open to all!

  Boone library is located at 140 Queen Street. Parking is plentiful and free. 

  Show details
• High Country: Elk in Cataloochee Valley

  • When
    September 19, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM
  • Location
    Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina
  • Registered
    11 registrants

  Register

  Join the High Country Region for an outing to photograph Elk in the Cataloochee Valley near Cherokee, NC. We will be visiting during the start of the rut season when antlered bulls bugle and fight for domination and the right to breed with cows. We'll meet at 7am at the parking area near the Chapel. Bring a long lens for closer views of the action (park regulations require keeping a distance of 50 yards of Elk). A second camera or wider lens  is also recommended for capturing dramatic environmental images of the Elk in their surroundings. 

  We are grateful to High Country Region photographer Lisa Wilmoth for leading this outing!

  Be advised that portions of the road leading to the Valley are unpaved and winding, so plan for some extra driving time for safety. 

  Here's a Google Map link showing the route from a waypoint near Waynesville.

  https://maps.app.goo.gl/QQhWKUwv1zyRET7K7
  

  For those wishing to stay overnight before and/or after the outing, Waynesville and Maggie Valley are good options. 

  Questions? Email high-country-coordinator@cnpa.org

  Show details
• Low Country: Al Heacox

  • When
    September 21, 2026
  •  
    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • Location
    Palmetto Electric Community Room 1 Cooperative Way; Hardeeville, SC

  CNPA Lowcountry In Person Meeting and Photo Critique September 21, 2026. See the June newsletter for details.

  Show details
• High Country: October Meeting

  • When
    October 10, 2026
  •  
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Watauga Arts Council - 377 Shadowline Dr., Boone

  Register

  
  

  Show details
• High Country: Wild Ponies/Fall Color at Grayson Highlands

  • When
    October 11, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Grayson Highlands State Park

  Register

  Join us for an afternoon & early evening shoot at Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia (about 45 minutes from Jefferson, NC). The park is known for its scenic vistas, colorful fall displays and the many feral ponies that roam the ridges and trails.

  Peak color is predicted for mid-month so the views should be impressive. We've chosen the later afternoon timeframe to take advantage of Golden Hour conditions starting around 6:20pm and sunset at 6:55pm. 

  The park entrance fee is $7. The gate is often unstaffed so please bring the exact amount in cash to place in the self-pay envelope when you arrive.

  We'll meet up at the Massie Gap parking area at 3:45pm and hike the 1/3 mile Rhododendron Trail to the first viewpoint at 4:00pm. It's a well-maintained trail with a modest incline to the top (officially designated as moderate difficulty). Hopefully, we'll be greeted by ponies nearby when we arrive. There are several trails (varying difficulty) that branch off from this point for those who wish to explore further. 

  For anyone who is extra-ambitious, this particular night will offer one of the last good Milky Way photography opportunities of the year if the weather cooperates. The park features several expansive southern-facing viewpoints.
  

  Please bring a flashlight and/or headlamp, just to be safe, for the return trip to the parking lot when you're done shooting. 

  A note about the ponies: Although they are "wild" they have become accustomed to people and may approach. Please try to keep a reasonable distance (150 feet by rule) and do not feed or pet them. 

  Show details