Title: Newfound Gap Sunrise
Location: Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina
Description:
At the moment of sunrise from Newfound Gap, the first rays of light strike the eastern ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, igniting the nearest slopes in warm gold while distant peaks recede into cool blue mist. Captured at the Tennessee-North Carolina state line, this image reveals the defining characteristics of an autumn dawn in the Smokies: the dramatic transition from shadowed valleys to sunlit ridges and the layered depth created by successive mountain ranges shrouded in morning haze. The scene captures the essential interplay of light and atmosphere that distinguishes the park's expansive landscape.