Photos

I thought I'd change things up and post something different after submitting multiple pictures from the Southwest United States.

This photo was taken on a beautiful day on our drive out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Shot from a lookout on US 441, the scenic highway that traverses the Smoky Mountains, just before crossing over into North Carolina. The clouds were tracing across the sky in large wisps that intermittently covered the mountains and valleys. The park lived up to its name that day, because the clouds looked very 'Smokey'. The left side of the picture is dominated by the main 'spine' of the Smoky mountains, forming the divide between North Carolina and Tennessee. The road, part of it can be seen in the valley below before the climb up to my present spot, passes over Newfound Gap which is the lowest place over the mountains. It stands at an elevation of 5046 ft (1538 m) is still relatively high, and is one of the highest mountain traverses in the Appalachians.

In the photo, the clouds parted in just such a way to light the mountain so dramatically, that i had to run back to the viewing area after almost climbing into the car again. In photoshop, increased the contrast, desaturized, and darkened the sky to enhance this already dramatic photo. Hope you enjoy!