It’s a moody Smoky Mtn Monday in early May. The valley is lush with spring green, while the upper elevations are still shrugging off winter. The vantage point for this view is the Oconaluftee Valley Overlook, gazing into North Carolina from the parking area off Newfound Gap Rd.
This is a spot for the usual quick zoom-in-take-the-photo-zoom-out. But here’s an idea: throw a couple of lawn chairs in the trunk, come early with a take-out breakfast and coffee, and settle in to watch the morning arrive. You won’t be sorry you gave the time to it.
Some days from this spot you will see rivers of fog flowing like pillows along the valley. Other days might feature a dramatic colored sky and sunrise, as was the case the day I took a best-selling photo, Listening to Silence. But no matter what the mood of the day, it is a place to listen to the dramatic silence of a Smoky Mtn dawn.
The William Britten Gallery features all of my Smoky Mountain photos. They are meant to be contemplative and serene, and bring the spirit of the mountains back home with you.