Luftee Overlook in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is quintessential Smokies high country. Like a sentinel it watches over Beech Flats Prong and the headwaters of the Oconaluftee River; and even though it is considered one of the finest sunrise locations in the Southern Appalachians, it is so much more besides. Regardless of the season or time of day, Luftee always has the potential to inspire awe. On a late afternoon last week I stood watching as the light periodically broke through the clouds and highlighted the forest near and far. This game of highlight and shadow played itself out across the landscape to the far horizon, but I waited to release the shutter until the breaking light illuminated the foreground immediately below me. A focal length of 72mm gave me the angle of view I wanted with about 1/3 sky and clouds and 2/3 ridge and valley. An aperture of f/20 allowed for depth-of-field, and a shutter speed of 1/4th second at ISO 100 gave me an overall medium exposure.
The clouds say it all here. Interesting how a medium exposure seems to bring them into focus from so far away. Good work, Don.
Great Shot Don. I will be up in the Smoky Mountains at the end of next month shooting the waterfalls and spring flowers. See ya on the trails.
Greetings, Don,
I look forward to your image of the week every Sunday, and I’m never disappointed. Thanks for sharing this one. It’s a powerful reminder of the beauty of our dear Earth … awesome!
Pat
The line between the hills in the foreground leads us to the valley and ridges where the cool blue shapes on those hills are matched in the sky. Their distance feels like a good by to the cold. The contrasting spring color in the trees peeking through in the foreground is saying hello to spring. Overall, this image is a big sigh and a big smile. Thanks
You nailed it. Makin’ us homesick. Back up in several weeks.
Hello Everyone; thanks for joining this conversation. Bonnie and I have just returned home from a wonderful Smokies spring workshop in Townsend, Tennessee. It was a great week! Rosemary, I hope all is well with you and I appreciate your thoughtful comment and kind words. Overall, the light was so even that a medium exposure worked perfectly. Shack, it’s good to hear from you. With the temperatures in the 70s and 80s for the past week and coming one as well, I hope your plan to be here at the end of April will work for you. I believe the dogwoods and redbuds will be at peak by mid-April. Of course, there’s always something worth coming for; enjoy your visit. Pat, I am so glad to hear from you. I hope you are well. I’m hoping to call you over the weekend so we can catch up. Your kind words are always welcomed and appreciated. Nancy T., your vision has seen this image in exactly the same way that I did. Luftee Overlook is one of my favorite places to work with lines and color. Thanks for the smile. Hey Duke, I’m enjoying your images from sunny Florida. Thanks; and thanks for your kind comments. This image, to me, was more about light recognition and patience than anything; but then, again, Luftee is a place where the light often dances.