Location: Looking Glass Rock Overlook, Milepost 417 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina.
Date Taken: October 12, 2013

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Location: Black Mountains Overlook, Milepost 342 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
This tear in the heavens opened up as the fog rolled above making for this beautiful spotlight display along the Black Mountain Overlook. Taken on October 12, 2013.

Camera: Canon 60D
Lens: 18-200mm
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 320
Shutter: 1/50
Aperture: f/13
Filters: Circular Polarizer
Exposure: Manual
How I Got This Shot: This picture was taken on 10-12-2013 after spending the morning at Graveyard Fields and the overlooks south of Asheville my husband and I planned to spend the afternoon and evening at Mt.Mitchell and Craggy Gardens. Unfortunately, as we traveled north up the parkway the fog set in so we were not able to fully enjoy either stop.
We decided to travel on up the Parkway taking a chance on getting below the weather in order to taken in one last peak of some beautiful fall color. As we approached the Black Mountains Overlook we noticed the small tear forming in the clouds. Much to our surprise and pleasure we were able to watch the heavens open up for a brilliant light display that lasted about 15 minutes spotlighting the Black Mountains before us.
This picture was processed with Photomatix to bring out a little bit more of the beautiful fall colors.
Photography is a hobby my husband and I both enjoy. We learn something new with every exposure. Comments, tips and techniques are greatly appreciated.

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Date Taken: 02/27/2015
Location: Grayson Highlands State Park, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
“He’s of the colour of the nutmeg. And of the heat of the ginger…. he is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him; he is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.”
― William Shakespeare, Henry V

In between trying to balance busy teenagers and careers, my husband and I try to venture every chance we get. Though we live in Southwest Virginia we typically roam in the Smoky Mountains or travel the area around Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This past Friday we decided to spend our day here in our own backyard. Grayson Highlands State Park, located in Mouth of Wilson, VA has miles of hiking trails, including access to the AT as well as the privilege of sharing the hills with these majestic creatures.

Camera: Canon 60D
Lens: 18-200mm
Focal Length: 70
ISO: 100
Shutter: 100
Aperture: f/5
Filters: none
Exposure: Manual
How I Got This Shot: With all the snow our area has received lately the park services has been assisting the ponies in their search for food by placing large round bales of hay for them along the trails. It didn’t take us long to find to find these beauties. We entered in through the gate and followed the tractor tracks straight to these beauties. Their long coats show the brutality of the elements with ice hanging from their mains.

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Date Taken: 10/12/2013
Location: East Fork Overlook Blue Ridge Parkway
A beautiful fall day along the BRP with a stop along the East Fork Overlook to take in the mountain air.

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Date Taken: 10/12/2013
Location: Mt.Mitchell Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Though taken a couple months ago the red & green hues out of this foggy fall scene at the Mt. Mitchell overlook along the Parkway fit with the color tones of the Christmas season.

Camera: Canon 60D
Lens: 18-200mm
Focal Length: 18mm
ISO: 400
Shutter: 50
Aperture: 11
Filters: none
Exposure: Manual
How I Got This Shot: With the fog setting in thick on Mt. Mitchell we decided to drive back down the mountain in hopes of getting below the changing weather. We pulled in to the Mt. Mitchell over look and much to our delight the thick blanket of gray was subtly infiltrated by the sun on the mountain side in the distance. This shot was taken hand held just to the right of the overlook sign. The foliage was rich in color along the bank and used it to frame the scene and bring out the patches of red and orange in the distance against the gray tones of the sky.

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