There are times when the rising of the morning sun in the East seems positively otherworldly. This past Thursday in Sevier County, Tennessee was one of those times. I had come over from Buncombe County (NC) to meet with an old (long time) colleague and friend to discuss a book project which was appealing to me, and, as it turned out, to him as well. More about that later.
As I was approaching the Greenbrier entrance to GSMNP the light show began. At first it was merely astounding, and then it became dumbfounding. Nothing to be done except stop and create.
A focal length of 42mm, quite normal-land, gave me the angle-of-view I wanted with almost no distortion effects. An aperture of f/1.6 provided depth-of-field and a shutter speed of 1/60th second at ISO 200 gave me an overall slightly darker-than-medium exposure.
A cloud below the horizon blocked part of the on-coming rays, creating a dark shadow over part of the color explosion, a contrast that made the overall effect even more eerie.
This image is definitely on fire. What an incredible sin tie to witness. Thank you for sharing
Ooos. Sun rise.
Hey Nancy, it’s always good to have you with us. I hope all is well with you. It was, indeed, one of the most incredible sunrises I have ever seen; and after twenty-seven years of chasing early morning light, I have seen quite a few sunrises. What is not lost on me is the fact that I was not in particularly conducive surroundings and really had to scramble to find a foreground with which to anchor the image. Thanks for your kind words.
Incredible image, Don!
Hi Melissa. Thank you; I really appreciate your thoughtful comment. It was truly a blessing. I hope all is well with you.
Thanks again for sharing. I love your eye for beauty and I especially like this week’s quote by Freeman Patterson. I just ordered his book that you referenced.
Hey Ron; I am deeply honored by the words you have written. Freeman is truly a treasure, who reminds us daily of the Beauty that surrounds us and which we can enjoy simply by looking around us with the eyes of children. You are really going to enjoy “Photo Impressionism…”
Simply Awsome
Hey John; it is great to hear from you! I hope you and Michele are having a wonderful time in Ireland. Thanks for your kind comment. Hope that our paths may cross in the coming year. Walk in Beauty.
Love this image. Once again you created another masterpiece Don. Yes the sky is definitely on fire. Sunrise against an angry sky. Mr. Patterson’s statement resonates with me I totally can relate.
Hey Sandy. It’s great to hear from you! I hope all is well with you. I am grateful for your kind words and for the fact that both the Image and Freeman’s words resonated with you. I believe that the words of others that touch us deeply become reference points for our own journey, to be recalled and examined whenever needed and to serve, then, as directional arrows guiding us in the way that we should go. I trust they are that way for me.
Beautiful, Don
Hey Lynne; it’s wonderful to have you join me! We always cherish our time with you and John, and last evening was certainly no exception. I am deeply honored that this Image resonated in such a way with you. Walk in Beauty.
Beautifully bizarre! Or bizarrely beautiful!
Howdy Donald. It’s always a pleasure to have you join us, whether you are speaking bizarrely or beautifully. Your words always carry a depth and a profundity that ring with clarity and thoughtfulness that I very much appreciate. I trust you have returned to Southern Arizona. I thought about you when I was in Sedona in September. Hope you are safe and well.
Downright creepy…
I love it!
Howdy Jeanne. I am downright honored by your kind comment. It’s always good to have you join me. Be well and stay safe.
Wow … this image is breathtaking — and restoring. Thanks, Don.
Sending love and hugs.
Ah my Dear One, it is so very good to have you join me and to receive your kind words. You have been a dervish of late with all of your many on-going projects and gallery activities. I do hope that in the coming year our paths will manage to find a crossing point. I was truly blessed that the Universe chose to share this Image with me. Take good care, be well and enjoy all of your furry children.
Don, this image is simply amazing. “Mind blown” as the online kids would say. And one thing about it that just delights and astounds me is the gradient of sharp to soft from the bottom up. Wow.
Hi Ray. It’s great to hear from you. Your descriptors are musical to my ears. I hope you can imagine with me as I recall my own feelings of awe as the light show began and evolved to its crescendo of light and color. It was so amazing that all I could do was to watch silently and release the shutter. Smokies sunrises have the capacity to amaze and this one amazed early and continuously. As I said earlier: I have seen many in twenty-seven years, but this one will remain forever special. Thanks for sharing it with me. Oh, and for what it’s worth, there was just enough movement in the wind that it created a bit of movement and therefore softness as the cloud masses drifted upward. Walk in Beauty.
Sailors beware, photographers be ready! That is awesome. I am glad you were in a place where you could pull over. We are all busy looking for color to photograph in the trees but, that one is a winner! Thanks for sharing.
Hello My Dear. Sailors beware, indeed. You are so right: the only response to this encounter is gratitude. I enjoyed our recent conversation and look forward to the next one. Stay well and take good care.
Thank you all so very much for affirming my own feelings about this image. It was delightful to hear from all of you that it resonated with you as it did with me. I have always been a morning person and photographing sunrises is like a meditation for me. This particular meditation is one I will always remember. Walk in Beauty.