SANP upcoming events

Field Event -Jefferson Cedar Barrens (09/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Calling all WILDFLOWER enthusiast!!!

Our very own Kris Light has offered to take us on a wildflower search. She is great source of knowledge and eager to take us to a place that most of us may not even know exist. We will be introduced to early September blooms in our own back yards. The Jefferson Cedar Barrens is located in Oak Ridge, TN. Some of the blooms we anticipate seeing are Blazing Stars, and Gray-headed Coneflowers. This is a very easy, level terrain with very little walking. We could also go to the Worthington Cemetery Cedar Barrens a couple of miles away on Oak Ridge Turnpike afterwards if people are interested. The Worthington site has some interesting old headstones of members of pre-Oak Ridge families. Plan to attend and get registered soon.

We will provide directions, detailed itinerary and equipment suggestions to registrants, but there should be a host of opportunities from wildflowers to headstones.

GSMNP Cades Cove & Tremont (09/28/2026)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT

IT'S ANOTHER FIELD EVENT!!!!

On September 28th we will head to Cades Cove to hopefully catch some of the great migration. There should be both birds and butterflies traveling through East Tennessee on the way to their winter homes. We may see Tanagers, Warblers, and Grosbeak. It should be peak time for Monarchs and other species of butterfly as well. This is also the time that the bear begin consuming mass for their winter weight, so don't be surprised if we see some under the oak and walnut trees.

If the weaather cooperates we may leave the cove and head to Tremont for some time on the water. There is never a day in the GSMNP so plan to join us.

You should plan for water, landscape, and wildlife photogrpahy and perhaps even a some macro shooting, and pack a dinner as we will share a meal somewhere in the Cove, probably on Sparks Lane. Please reach out to Kelli or myself if you have questions. This is a week day event, so plan accordingly if you need to take the day off!

More details will be sent to registrants a few days prior to the event.

Cindy Hatcher & Kelli Thompson

SANP FIeld Event Coordinators

Club Meeting - Speaker: Jim Britt (09/29/2026)

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

SANP Monthly Club Meeting

Sept 29, Program - Jim Britt

My Photographic Journey: Stories and Lessons

Club member: Jim Britt

After his early years spent on a Mississippi farm, followed by college, medical school, a stint as a Navy Flight Surgeon and radiology residency, Jim Britt came to Knoxville in 1975 to begin a thirty-year plus career as a diagnostic radiologist. His years of practice saw the introduction and explosive development of digital imaging technologies such as CT, MRI, Ultrasound, and PET scanning.

Jim retired in 2005 to pursue other interests and passions, foremost among them his desire to learn to capture the beauty of our natural world through the medium of photography. As he puts it, “For most of my professional life, my job was to look at images of the human body and all the things that can go wrong."

So in retirement, it seemed natural for Jim to continue his interest in producing and examining images, only nicer ones. Instead of brains and bones, he could look at mountains and forests. Instead of lungs and livers, he could look at sunrises and sunsets. Instead of searching for diseases, he could search for beautiful light. And Jim discovered that he enjoyed it immensely.

Jim’s travels have taken him to many countries in Europe and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, and many places in the U.S. But he has come to appreciate more-and-more the photographic opportunities in Southern Appalachia and here in our own East Tennessee.

Join Jim at our monthly meeting on September 29 as he shares some of his adventures, stories, rewards, regrets, and lessons learned in his journey toward becoming a better nature photographer.

Field Event - Sunrise and Chasing the Light (10/09/2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We were inspired by Bill Lea's presentation on Chasing the Light, and so we are going to chase the light anf Fall colors at the higher elevations in early October.

We will begin our morning with sunrise at Kuwohi then venture down to Oconoluftee shortly thereafter to hopefully catch some Elk during the rut. We will then go to Mingo Falls then hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will have potential designated stopping points, but we will be watching the light and hoping for some spectacular moments on the way. But as Bill said, we are going to play it by eye - instead of ear.

More details in terms of equipment, carpooling, and the like will be provided to registrants as we get closer to the event. But we want to give everyone an opportunity to sign up early - and although it is a Friday, you have plenty of time to ask off from work. See we are reading those survey results. If anyone is interested in hosting the same event the next day on October 10, reach out to Cindy or me.

Club Meeting - Speaker TBD (10/27/2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

SANP Monthly Meeting

Speaker: TBD

Title: TBD

Field Event - Old Car City and Berry College and/or Gibbs Gardens (11/06/2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Back by popular demand, we are headed South to OLD CAR CITY to capture nature from a different angle. We have had a lot of interest in visiting this famous junk yard since the event held last year. OCC is located in White, GA, just north of ATL. There are 6 miles of trails surrounded by approximately 4000 classic cars. This is one you don’t want to miss. Everywhere you look there are unique photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your imagination.Think trees growing our of hoods, broken windows, and tons of patina.

You can meet us at OCC, or make plans to meet at exit 81 (Lenoir City) at Bimbos to share a ride. You can take I75, or for our members that live east of the interstate you may want to take the scenic route down HWY 411. We will be heading out at 7am.

If you want to make an entire day of it, or overnight and make it a two-day event, you can head over to Gibbs Gardens located in Ball Ground , GA. It’s about a 45-minute drive east of OCC. Also, Kelli and I chose to visit Berry College in lieu of the gardens last year and it did not dissapoint. The fall colors should be at their peak. The college is approximately 45 minutes west of OCC. Either would afford you wonderful photo ops. There is lodging near, but looks to be fairly limited.

More detailed informatiion will be sent to the registants a few days prior to the event.

Attached are the links to both websites for hours, pricing, and overviews, as well as the Google Maps link.

https://www.oldcarcityusa.com/

https://www.gibbsgardens.com/visit/directions/

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BhPTrX5oWErvkeUy9

https://www.berry.edu/

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Cindy Hatcher & Kelli Thompson

Field event coordinators

Salon Banquet - 2026 Digital & Print Competition & Dinner (11/13/2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 22:30:00 GMT

The date: Friday, November 13 2026, 5:30 pm

The place: Bearden Banquet Hall, 5806 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 (Next to Buddy's Barbeque)

Ticket price: TBD

Mark your calendars for the SANP Annual Salon, Banquet including dinner and digital and print competition. Registration will be open soon.