Notes from the field :

Sunrises can be unpredictable at times, but when the conditions are just right, you are glad you were out in the field in the pre-dawn darkness. Cloud cover moved in during the days after this shot was made, making the sunrises rather dull and uneventful. Low hanging clouds with a clear horizon usually indicate something spectacular can happen. As the sun rises, the warm light is bounced down from the cloud ceiling creating a very colorful display. Without a clear horizon, you may end up disappointed.

:End

About the subject :

Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee, known for its foggy valleys and dramatic overlooks. This happened to be a first-time visit to the area and a fairly short trip of 4 days. Fortunately there was one sunrise that was a highlight of the trip.

:End

Technical details :

This image was made using a Nikon F5, Nikon 80-200 f2.8 lens at 80mm, and Fuji Velvia film. A Singh-Ray Gold/Blue Polarizer was used to emphasize the color of the scene and provide more definition of the layers created by the fog. This was only one of many compositions made this morning. See our gallery for the others.

:End

About the composition :

1] With a spectacular view like this, there are dozens of compositions you can make. This one took advantage of the snaking lines of trees and fog to create a sense of depth. Your eyes follow along the contrast points formed by the trees and fog.

2] Though the sky was intense in color by itself, a gold/blue polarizer warmed the image and added extra punch to the colors.

3] Some remaining fall color in the trees made for an interesting foreground element, also contributing to the depth of the image.

:End