Date Taken: 10/16/2019
Location: Cowee Overlook, Milepost 430.7 on the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Camera: Pentax 645Z
Lens: Pentax 80-160
Focal Length: 90mm
ISO: 400
Shutter: 0.3 sec.
Aperture: F/16
Filters: Circular Polarizer
Exposure: Aperture Priority
How I Got This Shot: Being one of the best locations on the Blue ridge Parkway to shoot a sunset, the Cowee Overlook always offers splendid possibilities. There weren’t many clouds in the sky which made it very difficult to “hide” the sun behind and therefore the exposure to capture the entire scene must be manipulated . I chose to shoot five exposures of this scene, with the camera mounted on a very stable tripod so there was no movement whatsoever . The exposures ranged from two stops below to two stops above (-2 to +2) on the camera meter. To capture the detail in the sky and sun plus get detail in the ground scape this method works very well. I then post process the images and blend them into a single image, via photo editing software. Following up with regular editing produces a nice final image.
I chose a focal length that would cover most of the mountain layers in the area but keep the view tight enough to keep the sun and clouds close. I use the two second self-timer so I don’t have to touch the camera during the actual shutter operation.

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Date Taken: 06/09/2016
Location: Devil’s Courthouse, Milepost 422.4

Devil’s Courthouse is a rough and rocky summit with a devilish appearance. There are many folklore tales from the Cherokee to early mountain settlers that says the devil holds court in a cave within the mountain. There is a trail from the parking area to the summit with an inspiring panoramic view into the distant landscapes.

Visit Virtual Blue Ridge for the most comprehensive online guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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Date Taken: 10/23/2015
Location: Cowee Mountains Overlook, Milepost 430.7 on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Camera: Canon 5D Mark 111
Lens: Canon 24-105L F/4
Focal Length: 24mm
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/30
Aperture: 16
Filters: Circular Polarizer
Exposure: Aperture Priority
How I Got This Shot: This image required shooting several exposures and blending them in post processing. With sunsets, one shot will not capture the highlights and shadows that the human eye actually saw at the moment. With blending shots , the tonal range of the scene is all there. Sunsets at most overlooks from Parkway can be outstanding. Use of a steady tripod and either a cable release or self timer is a must. The small aperture of f/16 allowed a deep focus field for maximum sharpness throughout the scene.

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Want more overlook views? Visit Virtual Blue Ridge, our guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway, for virtual tours from the Parkway’s overlooks.

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Location: Waterrock Knob Overlook
As dawn breaks , the distant landscape reveals not only mountain layers but a cloud “city” rising .

Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark ii
Lens: 24-105L f/4
Focal Length: 105mm
ISO: 100
Shutter: 0.8 sec.
Aperture: f/14
Filters: 0.9 Graduated ND
Exposure: Aperture Priority
How I Got This Shot: As I waited for the sunrise from the Water Rock Knob parking area, I noticed in the distance the building cloud patterns rising from the horizon above the mountain layers. Deciding against including any foreground objects , I decided to shoot the ‘scape at 105mm and fill the frame with dawn’s color palette. A tripod and 2 second self timer steadied this image.

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Location: Blue Ridge Parkway at Graveyard Fields
View from the Parkway including Graveyard Fields, Black Balsam knobs, the falls, and a magnificent red maple.

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