Jacob Martella Photography
@jacobmartellaphotography.com
Taking Photos That Come With a Story
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
Busy tourist town during the day. Magic at sunset. Mountains are beautiful in any light, but sunset makes everything better.
#SmokyMountains #SunsetPhotography #TravelPhotography
February 10, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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
Busy tourist town during the day. Magic at sunset. Mountains are beautiful in any light, but sunset makes everything better.
#SmokyMountains #SunsetPhotography #TravelPhotography
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
Sunset rides are spectacular.
#SandiaPeak #NewMexicoPhotography
February 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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
Sunset rides are spectacular.
#SandiaPeak #NewMexicoPhotography
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
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
February 8, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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
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
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
That's why railroad preservation matters.
#Railroads #Trains #Photography
February 7, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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
That's why railroad preservation matters.
#Railroads #Trains #Photography
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
This fall scene will be here for generations. Photography meets conservation.
#AppalachianMountains #NaturePhotography #FallColors #KentuckyPhotography
February 6, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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
This fall scene will be here for generations. Photography meets conservation.
#AppalachianMountains #NaturePhotography #FallColors #KentuckyPhotography
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
Even busy tourist towns have quiet moments if you know when to look.
#gatlinburg #TravelPhotography #GreatSmokeyMountains
February 5, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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
Even busy tourist towns have quiet moments if you know when to look.
#gatlinburg #TravelPhotography #GreatSmokeyMountains
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
Railroad museums preserve how trains built communities.
#Railroads #Trains #Photography
February 4, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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
Railroad museums preserve how trains built communities.
#Railroads #Trains #Photography
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
Not every photo needs to be dramatic. Sometimes the quiet moments are worth capturing.
#GreatSmokyMountains #photography
February 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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
Not every photo needs to be dramatic. Sometimes the quiet moments are worth capturing.
#GreatSmokyMountains #photography
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
This is why we wake up early. For moments like this.
#GrandCanyon #photography
February 2, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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
This is why we wake up early. For moments like this.
#GrandCanyon #photography
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.
Sometimes the best photos require the earliest alarms.
February 1, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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.
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
#cadillacranch #amarillotexas
January 31, 2026 at 5:01 PM
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
#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
#texasrailroad #railroadhistory
January 30, 2026 at 5:04 PM
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
#texasrailroad #railroadhistory
Northbound BNSF train passing the old Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway depot in Brenham, Texas. The depot was built for one railroad company, survived through several mergers, and now watches modern trains from a different railroad roll past.
#brenhamtexas #texasrailroad #railroadhistory
#brenhamtexas #texasrailroad #railroadhistory
January 29, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Northbound BNSF train passing the old Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway depot in Brenham, Texas. The depot was built for one railroad company, survived through several mergers, and now watches modern trains from a different railroad roll past.
#brenhamtexas #texasrailroad #railroadhistory
#brenhamtexas #texasrailroad #railroadhistory
Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo - spray painted Cadillacs sticking out of the ground. You can spray paint them yourself. This sign warns you not to spray paint property... but the sign itself has been spray painted. The irony is perfect.
#cadillacranch #amarillotexas #texasphotography
#cadillacranch #amarillotexas #texasphotography
January 28, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo - spray painted Cadillacs sticking out of the ground. You can spray paint them yourself. This sign warns you not to spray paint property... but the sign itself has been spray painted. The irony is perfect.
#cadillacranch #amarillotexas #texasphotography
#cadillacranch #amarillotexas #texasphotography
Wind turbines dominating the Texas landscape between Fort Worth and Midland. These massive wind farms are converting afternoon breezes into electricity. Even in this oil and gas state, renewables are taking hold. The scale of these turbines is incredible.
#windturbines #texaslandscape
#windturbines #texaslandscape
January 27, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Wind turbines dominating the Texas landscape between Fort Worth and Midland. These massive wind farms are converting afternoon breezes into electricity. Even in this oil and gas state, renewables are taking hold. The scale of these turbines is incredible.
#windturbines #texaslandscape
#windturbines #texaslandscape
Empty coal train heading north on the BNSF Galveston Subdivision. These cars will head back to coal fields in West Virginia or Wyoming to load up again. Industrial photography has its own beauty.
#coaltrain #bnsftrains #railroadphotography
#coaltrain #bnsftrains #railroadphotography
January 26, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Empty coal train heading north on the BNSF Galveston Subdivision. These cars will head back to coal fields in West Virginia or Wyoming to load up again. Industrial photography has its own beauty.
#coaltrain #bnsftrains #railroadphotography
#coaltrain #bnsftrains #railroadphotography
Union Pacific train crossing the alkali flats west of Lordsburg, New Mexico. This dried-out desert lake bed has concentrated salts, creating this unique white landscape. Desert railroading has its own special look.
#unionpacific #desertphotography #railroadphotography
#unionpacific #desertphotography #railroadphotography
January 25, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Union Pacific train crossing the alkali flats west of Lordsburg, New Mexico. This dried-out desert lake bed has concentrated salts, creating this unique white landscape. Desert railroading has its own special look.
#unionpacific #desertphotography #railroadphotography
#unionpacific #desertphotography #railroadphotography
Albuquerque is famous for its hot air balloon festival - over 500 balloons take flight for nine days every fall. We visited in summer, so no real balloons. But we found these decorations in Old Town. Close enough!
#balloonfiesta #newmexico #photography
#balloonfiesta #newmexico #photography
January 24, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Albuquerque is famous for its hot air balloon festival - over 500 balloons take flight for nine days every fall. We visited in summer, so no real balloons. But we found these decorations in Old Town. Close enough!
#balloonfiesta #newmexico #photography
#balloonfiesta #newmexico #photography
Steep cliff, blue sky, broken clouds. Natural Tunnel State Park. Sometimes simple compositions are the best. Just rock, sky, trees. No need to overcomplicate it.
#naturaltunnel #landscapephotography
#naturaltunnel #landscapephotography
January 23, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Steep cliff, blue sky, broken clouds. Natural Tunnel State Park. Sometimes simple compositions are the best. Just rock, sky, trees. No need to overcomplicate it.
#naturaltunnel #landscapephotography
#naturaltunnel #landscapephotography
Waiting for fireworks on the Fourth of July in Texas. Kid spinning a light-up toy to pass the time. Sometimes the moments between the main event are more interesting than the main event itself.
#photography
#photography
January 22, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Waiting for fireworks on the Fourth of July in Texas. Kid spinning a light-up toy to pass the time. Sometimes the moments between the main event are more interesting than the main event itself.
#photography
#photography
Water tanks like this were essential infrastructure for steam railroads. Locomotives need to refill their water supply regularly. This one at Cumbres & Toltec is still operational, still serving the same purpose it did 140 years ago.
#cumbrestoltec #railroadphotography
#cumbrestoltec #railroadphotography
January 21, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Water tanks like this were essential infrastructure for steam railroads. Locomotives need to refill their water supply regularly. This one at Cumbres & Toltec is still operational, still serving the same purpose it did 140 years ago.
#cumbrestoltec #railroadphotography
#cumbrestoltec #railroadphotography
On top of the Smokies. 🌲⛰️
The view from Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) never gets old. Standing at the highest point in the park, looking out over those endless hazy blue layers, you really understand why this place is so special.
#Kuwohi #GreatSmokyMountains
The view from Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) never gets old. Standing at the highest point in the park, looking out over those endless hazy blue layers, you really understand why this place is so special.
#Kuwohi #GreatSmokyMountains
January 20, 2026 at 5:01 PM
On top of the Smokies. 🌲⛰️
The view from Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) never gets old. Standing at the highest point in the park, looking out over those endless hazy blue layers, you really understand why this place is so special.
#Kuwohi #GreatSmokyMountains
The view from Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) never gets old. Standing at the highest point in the park, looking out over those endless hazy blue layers, you really understand why this place is so special.
#Kuwohi #GreatSmokyMountains
Fire and ice in the Smokies. ❄️🔥
Caught this incredible moment above Gatlinburg where the sunset hit the fresh dusting of snow just right. The contrast between that golden glow and the moody blue shadows is unreal.
#Gatlinburg #GreatSmokyMountains #GoldenHour
Caught this incredible moment above Gatlinburg where the sunset hit the fresh dusting of snow just right. The contrast between that golden glow and the moody blue shadows is unreal.
#Gatlinburg #GreatSmokyMountains #GoldenHour
January 19, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Fire and ice in the Smokies. ❄️🔥
Caught this incredible moment above Gatlinburg where the sunset hit the fresh dusting of snow just right. The contrast between that golden glow and the moody blue shadows is unreal.
#Gatlinburg #GreatSmokyMountains #GoldenHour
Caught this incredible moment above Gatlinburg where the sunset hit the fresh dusting of snow just right. The contrast between that golden glow and the moody blue shadows is unreal.
#Gatlinburg #GreatSmokyMountains #GoldenHour
The water flume at Cades Cove Mill. Diverts water from Mill Creek, channels it down to the mill wheel for power. Simple engineering, but effective. Been doing the same job since 1868 (with restoration help from the WPA).
#cadescove #smokymountains #greatsmokeymountains
#cadescove #smokymountains #greatsmokeymountains
January 18, 2026 at 5:01 PM
The water flume at Cades Cove Mill. Diverts water from Mill Creek, channels it down to the mill wheel for power. Simple engineering, but effective. Been doing the same job since 1868 (with restoration help from the WPA).
#cadescove #smokymountains #greatsmokeymountains
#cadescove #smokymountains #greatsmokeymountains
Desert rain always leaves behind the best colors. 🌧️🌵
Caught this reflection in the parking lot just as the sun was dipping behind the mountains. There's something really cinematic about motel nights in Tucson.
#Tucson #Sunset #RoadTrip #Photography
Caught this reflection in the parking lot just as the sun was dipping behind the mountains. There's something really cinematic about motel nights in Tucson.
#Tucson #Sunset #RoadTrip #Photography
January 17, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Desert rain always leaves behind the best colors. 🌧️🌵
Caught this reflection in the parking lot just as the sun was dipping behind the mountains. There's something really cinematic about motel nights in Tucson.
#Tucson #Sunset #RoadTrip #Photography
Caught this reflection in the parking lot just as the sun was dipping behind the mountains. There's something really cinematic about motel nights in Tucson.
#Tucson #Sunset #RoadTrip #Photography