Jacob Martella Photography

A sweeping panoramic view captures a vast landscape of rolling green mountains and valleys under a bright blue sky filled with puffy white clouds. A highway winds through the valley floor where a town is situated, with a plume of white smoke rising in the distance, while rocky outcrops and trees frame the foreground.

Last day of February - ending with three states in one view from Pinnacle Overlook. Car in Kentucky, standing in Virginia, looking at Tennessee.

Thanks for following along. What should March bring?

#PinnacleOverlook #AppalachianMountains #MountainPhotography

A scenic landscape features a train track curving through a lush green meadow towards a yellow wooden water tank standing on the right. Rolling hills covered in dark pine trees rise in the background under a dramatic sky filled with heavy grey and white clouds.

Los Pinos water tank on the Cumbres & Toltec - still standing thanks to preservation work. Steam railroads required massive infrastructure. Most is gone now.

Every surviving piece tells part of the story.

#CumbresToltec #RailroadHistory #ColoradoPhotography

A vast, sunlit view of the Grand Canyon features endless layers of red and tan eroded cliffs and mesas extending to the horizon. A small segment of the Colorado River winds through the deep canyon floor on the left, set against a bright blue sky dotted with white clouds.

The Colorado River - architect of the Grand Canyon. 277 miles flowing through, millions of years carving. That small ribbon of water created all of this.

Water is patient. Water wins.

#ColoradoRiver #GrandCanyon #ArizonaPhotography

A low-angle black-and-white photograph features a massive streamlined diesel locomotive, engine number 5771, labeled "Rio Grande" on its nose and side. The train sits on tracks stretching into the distance, pulling passenger cars under a bright sky filled with fluffy cumulus clouds.

D&RGW 5771 - pulled the California Zephyr and Rio Grande Zephyr through the Rockies. Restored to its Aspen gold and silver livery.

Represents a golden age of diesel passenger service. Worth remembering.

#CaliforniaZephyr #ColoradoRailroadMuseum #RailroadHistory

A rustic wooden barn stands nestled among tall trees with lush green and yellow foliage. A long wooden flume or trough system runs horizontally across the foreground, bordering a paved path, while dappled sunlight filters through the canopy above.

This restored barn in Cades Cove helped settlers survive in the secluded Appalachian environment. No hardware stores, no online orders - just self-sufficiency.

Ordinary people leaving traces for us centuries later.

#CadesCove #SmokyMountains

A wide landscape shot captures the vast expanse of a massive crater, with steep, tan rocky walls sloping down to a dry, flat bottom. The rim of the crater stretches across the horizon under a bright blue sky with a few small, scattered white clouds, while the reddish-brown rocky ground and the roof of a viewing platform are visible in the immediate foreground.

50,000 years ago, a nickel-iron meteorite slammed into Arizona and created this: Meteor Crater. 0.737 miles across, 580 feet deep.

Whatever was living here had a very bad day.

#MeteorCrater #ArizonaPhotography

A wide landscape view looks down into a deep, forested gorge with steep slopes covered in dark green trees. In the distance, blue mountain ridges are visible under a dramatic sky filled with heavy, dark grey storm clouds hovering over bright white cumulus clouds.

Approaching Toltec Gorge on the Cumbres & Toltec. Heart of the San Juans, beautiful every direction. No roads reach here - only the railroad.

Grateful for 1880s engineers whose work lets us experience this today.

#ToltecGorge #SanJuanMountains #ColoradoPhotography

A twilight street scene captures the Hotel Monte Vista with its large, bright red neon sign glowing atop a building against a deep blue sky. Below, a busy street is lined with parked cars, brick buildings, and illuminated storefronts, including signs for the "Switzer Building" and local businesses on the left.

Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff - iconic Route 66 hotel since 1927. Famously haunted. That neon sign was once an emergency beacon.

Old neon signs are disappearing Americana. Worth documenting.

#Flagstaff #Route66 #ArizonaPhotography

A layered mountain landscape features dark, rolling foothills in the foreground that give way to a distant range of rugged, snow-capped peaks stretching across the horizon. Above, a dramatic sky is filled with heavy, textured grey and white clouds, casting shadows over the vast scenery below.

Top of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet! Clouds blocked the eastern view, but the Collegiate Peaks are visible 60+ miles west.

Can't control mountain conditions. Appreciate whatever view they give you.

#PikesPeak #ColoradoPhotography

A wide landscape view captures a lush, vibrant green valley dotted with scattered pine trees, rolling gently toward a backdrop of forested mountains. Above, the bright blue sky is filled with large, fluffy white cumulus clouds casting soft shadows on the hills.

Same tracks, same grades, same views as 1880. The Cumbres & Toltec was essential transportation then, heritage tourism now.

The mountains don't care why you're traveling through. Spectacular either way.

#CumbresToltec #RailroadHistory #photography

A night photograph captures a busy street scene with a bright marquee sign on the left reading "CHECK OUT OUR TOTALLY AWESOME 80'S T-SHIRTS AND TOYS BUY AQUARIUM TICKETS HERE". Cars travel along the curving road, their headlights and red taillights glowing in the dark, while distant streetlights and signs, including one for "Stone Lodge", illuminate the background.

Gatlinburg doesn't quiet down when the sun sets. Neon signs light up, restaurants fill, the town takes on different energy.

Same place, different time, different story. Both worth photographing.

#Gatlinburg#SmokyMountains #NightPhotography

A rugged mountain slope rises steeply, featuring distinct diagonal layers of rock strata interspersed with green pine trees. A small stone structure sits on the rocky summit at the upper right, silhouetted against a cloudy sky and a hazy blue horizon to the left.

Unexpected find at 10,000 feet: Kiwanis Cabin on Sandia Peak. Built by the CCC around 1930, still standing nearly 100 years later.

Great spot to watch sunset over New Mexico.

#SandiaPeak #NewMexicoPhotography

A perspective shot looks down a set of train tracks at a rail yard, with maroon and cream passenger cars labeled "Cumbres & Toltec Scenic R.R." lining the right side. In the distance, steam rises from a locomotive near a tall wooden water tower, while people walk along the gravel path to the left near parked cars and station buildings under a bright, cloudy sky.

Final preparations - crew getting Engine No. 489 ready. The grade ahead reaches 4% - among the steepest narrow gauge track in the world.

The journey matters. So does the preparation that makes it possible.

#SteamLocomotives #RailroadPhotography

A vibrant field of bluebonnets fills the foreground with dense clusters of blue flowers and green leaves. In the background, slightly out of focus, a line of cars is parked along the horizon, and scattered people can be seen walking and taking photos under a clear blue sky.

Dreaming of warmer days. Mid-February in Texas means bluebonnet season is just weeks away.

Already planning where to photograph them. Here's hoping winter rains give us great fields of blue.

#Bluebonnets #TexasPhotography

A wide panoramic shot shows a town nestled in a valley surrounded by forested hills, with the left side bathed in warm, golden sunlight and the right side in deep shadow. A large mountain range spans the background under a gradient blue sky, while a tall pine tree stands prominently on the far left foreground.

If there ever was a compelling argument for visiting the Smoky Mountains, here it is. Gatlinburg at sunset - golden light on the peaks, town in the valley below.

This is why I chase sunsets.

#Gatlinburg #SmokyMountains #SunsetPhotography

A low-angle shot looks up at a tall observation tower featuring a hexagonal deck outlined in green neon lights near the top. The structure is supported by a dark metal lattice shaft with a visible internal spiral staircase and is topped by a thin antenna, set against a blue sky with scattered white clouds.

Gatlinburg Space Needle (not the Seattle one) lit up at twilight. 407 feet of views over town and mountains since 1969.

Small towns creating their own landmarks.

#Gatlinburg #SmokyMountains

A long-exposure photograph shows a stream cascading over large, jagged rocks, creating a smooth, milky white waterfall effect. Green and reddish foliage frames the top and right sides of the scene, casting dappled shadows on the stone, while a brick wall structure is visible on the upper left.

The gentle Little River becomes not so gentle at The Sinks. Calm water upstream, raging waterfall here.

No cell reception, just the sound of water. Surprisingly peaceful despite the turbulence.

#SmokyMountains #NaturePhotography

Golden sunlight illuminates the jagged red and orange cliffs of the Grand Canyon on the left, contrasting sharply with the purple and blue shadows filling the vast depths beyond. Small, scattered clouds float in a blue and pink sky, while a rocky ledge with a few small trees forms the foreground.

The sun keeps rising and the Grand Canyon keeps transforming. Same spot, but every few minutes the light changes everything.

Great locations deserve more than one shot. Patience pays off.

#GrandCanyon #ArizonaPhotography #LandscapePhotography

A scenic vista overlooks a town nestled in a valley, surrounded by rolling hills covered in green trees. Behind the town, a majestic mountain range rises against a vivid, cloudless deep blue sky, while the foreground features foliage with hints of autumn colors.

Gatlinburg at sunset - the town nestled at the foot of the Smokies, bathed in golden light.

Busy tourist town during the day. Magic at sunset. Mountains are beautiful in any light, but sunset makes everything better.

#SmokyMountains #SunsetPhotography #TravelPhotography

A high-angle shot captures two tram cars suspended against a steep, rocky mountain slope dotted with green vegetation. A tall blue support tower stands on the ridge, while a sprawling town with a grid of roads and buildings is visible in the valley background.

Sandia Peak Tramway - second longest in the world. Takes you 3,819 feet up in 15 minutes. Desert floor to 10,000+ feet, 20-30 degree temperature drop.

Sunset rides are spectacular.

#SandiaPeak #NewMexicoPhotography

A long-exposure photograph captures a waterfall cascading down dark, tiered rocks in a forest setting, rendering the water as smooth, silky white streams. A large tree trunk anchors the left foreground, while lush green foliage surrounds the scene and scattered leaves rest on the wet stones.

Worth the hike: Laurel Falls 💧

1.4 miles each way through the Smokies. Paved but still an effort. And then... this.

Not the biggest waterfall, but peaceful and beautiful. Have you hiked to any waterfalls lately?

#LaurelFalls #SmokyMountains #NaturePhotography

A dramatic black-and-white close-up captures the front of steam locomotive number 683, emphasizing its circular front plate and cowcatcher. To the left sits a diesel engine numbered 5401 with "Rio Grande" visible on its side, while other train cars rest on tracks to the right under a sky filled with textured clouds.

D&RGW No. 683 - the LAST surviving standard gauge steam engine from the Denver & Rio Grande Western. Built 1890, retired 1955. One survivor out of an entire fleet.

That's why railroad preservation matters.

#Railroads #Trains #Photography

A scenic landscape view captures a winding blue river snaking through a deep valley surrounded by rolling hills covered in dense forest with early autumn hues of yellow and green. In the distance, layers of blue mountain ridges fade against a bright sky filled with horizontal bands of white clouds.

Fern Lake in the Appalachians - now protected thanks to The Nature Conservancy and Conservation Fund purchasing 712 acres in 2023.

This fall scene will be here for generations. Photography meets conservation.

#AppalachianMountains #NaturePhotography #FallColors #KentuckyPhotography

A bright sun shines down on a wide mountain landscape, casting sunbeams over layered blue ridges that fade into the distance. A town is nestled in the valley below, surrounded by rolling hills, while the foreground is framed by lush green and yellow foliage under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Morning over Gatlinburg from the Bypass overlook. The town below, mountains all around, fall colors peeking through in the morning light.

Even busy tourist towns have quiet moments if you know when to look.

#gatlinburg  #TravelPhotography #GreatSmokeyMountains

A high-contrast black-and-white photograph features a vintage steam locomotive, engine number 74, resting on tracks. The train's detailed mechanical front is prominent, set against a backdrop of dark, rolling hills and a bright sky filled with fluffy white clouds. To the right, a tree and a passenger car labeled "Rio Grande" are visible in the background.

If you love railroad history, the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is a must-visit. Get up close with steam engines, diesel locomotives, and rolling stock from Colorado's railroad past.

Railroad museums preserve how trains built communities.

#Railroads #Trains #Photography

A long-exposure photograph captures a rushing stream in a lush forest, rendering the flowing water smooth and silky white. Moss-covered rocks emerge from the water in the foreground and line the banks, while dappled sunlight filters through the vibrant green foliage in the background, illuminating the scene with golden hues.

Sometimes you need to slow down and listen. The Little River flowing through Great Smoky Mountains - just the sound of water over rocks.

Not every photo needs to be dramatic. Sometimes the quiet moments are worth capturing.

#GreatSmokyMountains #photography

A bright sunburst peaks over the horizon of the Grand Canyon, bathing scattered clouds in golden and orange light against a fading blue sky. The vast canyon below is cast in deep shadow and cool blue haze, creating a strong contrast with the radiant sunrise, while a silhouetted tree on the right edge frames the scene.

Here comes the sun! After waiting in the cold darkness, the sunrise at the Grand Canyon delivers blue, yellow, and orange colors while the canyon depths reveal themselves.

This is why we wake up early. For moments like this.

#GrandCanyon #photography

A sunset view over the Grand Canyon shows layered rock formations in blue and purple hues beneath a horizon glowing orange and yellow. A silhouetted tree and rocky edge frame the left side of the foreground, while a small group of people stands on a fenced overlook to the right, admiring the vast landscape under a sky with scattered clouds.

Starting February with a "worth getting up early" moment. Just before dawn at the Grand Canyon - completely quiet, purple haze over the canyon, waiting for sunrise.

Sometimes the best photos require the earliest alarms.

Ending January 2026 with this painted road at Cadillac Ranch. The spray paint doesn't stay on the cars - it spreads everywhere. A month of stories, trains, mountains, and unexpected moments. Thanks for following along. What should I photograph in February?

#cadillacranch #amarillotexas

Local freight train heading down the tracks to Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham, Texas. This short section of track is all that remains of a line that once connected to Austin. Railroad infrastructure comes and goes. Documenting what's left while it's still here.

#texasrailroad #railroadhistory