One of my favorite places to visit, and photograph, is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I have taken several trips there over the last 20 years. Every time I go, I always find myself getting a little depressed as it gets closer to the day I have to leave to come back home. I can’t say that about too many places I have been.
Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of photographs from the Smokies posted on a couple of social media sites. Seeing all these images makes me miss the area and realize how much I’m looking forward to my next trip whenever that may be.
There are so many things to photograph in the Smokies that I could spend an entire month there and not even make a dent in all the opportunities. Wildlife, landscapes, wildflowers, and old homesteads, the Smokies has it all. And, if you like photographing sunsets, then the Smokies offer some of the most spectacular sunsets anywhere.
One of the best ways to view a sunset in the Smoky Mountains is to drive along U.S. Highway 441 between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina. There are several overlook areas where you can pull off the road and catch the stunning views. Another option is to take a side trip to Clingmans Dome and view the sunset from the highest mountain in both the Smokies and the State of Tennessee.
The trick is to be in the right place at the right time to see the sunset. And, a little bit of luck with the weather always helps. Because of the seemingly constant change in weather patterns at different elevations, finding the best spot to view the setting sun can vary from one day to the next. You have to be able to quickly recognize whether conditions are favorable for sunset viewing at your current location. If not, you have to either move quickly to the next possible spot or take your chances on another day.
Luck was certainly a factor when I shot this picture image. The sky was overcast at lower elevations, so I decided to go to Clingmans Dome. When I arrived, the sky had a light cloud layer that I thought would provide some dramatic lighting and color as the sun fell below the horizon.
As I waited, the clouds continued to thicken until the sky became a generally gray mass that destroyed any chance of getting a decent sunset image. Disappointed with the way things were turning out, I snapped a few pictures anyway and then loaded up to head back down the mountain.
As I got back onto Highway 441 toward Gatlinburg, I noticed the clouds had begun to disperse. Rounding a sharp curve, I noticed the sky had begun to fill with the brilliant colors of sunset. Stopping at the first overlook area I came to, I grabbed my camera and tripod and began taking pictures.
The light show did not last long. Had I stayed at Clingmans Dome for another five minutes, I would have missed it. As it was, I was only able to get a few shots before the color faded and night settled in, but it was breathtaking while it lasted.