Though I currently live in Japan, for several years my wife and I lived in the foothills of North Carolina. Unfortunately during that time I wasn’t huge into photography, so I missed a lot of great photographic opportunities living in that beautiful area. However, before we came back to Japan my wife and I took a visit back to Wilkes County, and one day we got a chance to go for a drive along the lovely Blue Ridge Parkway. This road is a must-see part of American heritage, as it takes you not just through the incredible scenery of the Appalachian Mountains, but also to many special historical sites along the way. Visiting some of these locations is almost like a visit back in time in fact, as they’ve maintained much of the old time atmosphere and culture that makes this part of the country so unique. Even though I didn’t always take pictures, I have fond memories of driving the stretch between Boone, NC and Highway 16, which led back to the apartment where my wife and I lived when we first got married. Anyway, when we took the visit back before returning to Japan, I stopped on the side of the road to grab this shot. I loved how dramatic the sky was, and the great lines leading the eyes over the mountains in the distance. Many beautiful places like this across the country, I’m sure, but this one has some special memories attached to it for me.
Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Tokina 11-16mm
Shot Info: f/5.6 | 1/250sec | ISO100 | 11mm
