Great Smoky National Park and The Blue Ridge Parkway

During the third week in October, 2000 my friend and fellow landscape photographerSteve Kossackand I spent three wonderful days photographing fall colour inGreat Smokyand along the lower end of theBlue Ridge Parkway. Though I'd been photographing the area for a couple of months prior due to an enforced stay in Atlanta, I wasn't prepared for the lushness of the colour. It's worth noting that most local observers consider 2000 to have been a poor to mediocre year for colour. This means I've got to come back in agoodyear!

Smoky Colour, October, 2000

Photographed with a Hasselblad XPan and 90mm lens on Provia 100F

In addition to the previous summer's weather, fall colour in theSmokiesis very much a function of the altitude, side of the mountain and numerous other factors. A small turn-out on the north end of the road that traverses the park provided this late afternoon vista. It's been a very hazy season in the park, more s...