Smoky Mountain High

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 9, 2012236 views13 comments

I've been swamped with work and unable to focus on photography as I'd like, but here's and image from a very brief trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the end of April.

Clingman's Dome has always been a hit or miss location personally due to changing conditions and I've often been socked in with cloud cover or dense fog throughout my visits. This particular morning thick clouds were rolling over the mountaintop down onto us just before the sun came up and I nearly scrapped the whole deal. Fortunately I waited it out and was dealt a nice backlit cloud formation and a great glow.

5D2, 70-200 f/4L IS, f/16 with a 2 stop hard edge Singh Ray Grad ND.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Michael Westerbeck on May 9, 2012 at 7:10 PM

The lighting is superb. I also like the layers of contrast from foreground to background. Nice work.

Registered on March 21, 2012, 32 Posts, 111 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Cross on May 9, 2012 at 7:19 PM

Nice, Peyton. There's a lot of detail in this image that requires one to examine it closely. I imagine a larger one would be even better. Great composition and a good exposure. The colors and the clouds are wonderful.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on May 9, 2012 at 10:20 PM

Peyton, the colors, layers and clouds in this image are gorgeous, but I find myself wishing there was more image on the right side as it feels very chopped off to me. It seems like a panorama would have been utterly wonderful, but then I don't know what's on the right side and you do.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on May 9, 2012 at 10:20 PM

Purty.

These are the moments that make photography so much fun. Experiencing them and being able to share that moment with others.

Beautiful sunrise Peyton.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on May 9, 2012 at 11:15 PM

You did an excellent job waiting for the right conditions here Peyton. This one turned out very well. I really like the colors and the fog/mist. Well done.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Jean Day on May 9, 2012 at 11:51 PM

Beautiful light, layers, and misty drama. Nice framing with the trees coming up the side and balancing the light.

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 10, 2012 at 12:23 AM

Awesome light and glow. Especially like the nice graphic quality of those old snags on the left, and the receding ridges. Gorgeous.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Bernabe on May 10, 2012 at 8:45 AM

Nice one, Peyton!

Registered on November 24, 2004, 180 Posts, 1545 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on May 10, 2012 at 12:29 PM

Very bucolic. I can imagine sitting there and just soaking it in. Nice.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on May 10, 2012 at 3:01 PM

You haven't gotten rusty that's for sure. What beautiful atmospheric conditions you captured with this image. Only thing I might consider is darkening the top of the image. Great shot Peyton!

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on May 11, 2012 at 6:19 PM

Somewhere in the world and you were there in the right moment. Thank you very much for sharing this beautiful shot.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on May 12, 2012 at 9:42 AM

Awesome atmosphere here, and well captured!

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 12, 2012 at 8:28 PM

The layering of elements and light have a surreal, double-exposure quality. It's quite fascinating. Only thought might be darkening down the area above the clouds a bit.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments