Spectral Showers

Traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway on a stormy day is a gamble. You’re nearly guaranteed to find yourself driving within the clouds at higher elevations. You’re only hope is momentary pockets of time where the scene is cleared, and the optimism to try and find it, the drive to not given in. The light of a storm on certain days is awe inspiring, especially those where you may find the sun shining through, illuminating the rain in a valley, casting crepuscular rays through the shadows, and rarer still, you may yet find a portion of the scene awash in a otherworldly glow. Deep shadows, contrasted by a near ethereal light, a spectral shower in the distance, here and gone in the blink of an eye.

The day I headed up the forecast was for partially sunny, good overcast, so it was a risk. There wasn’t any rain in the forecast, and the radar had nothing in my path. So it should come as little surprise that it rained the entire way there, all the way to location, and of course I was still certain of my prediction that it would give me some good light. The person riding with on the other hand was very certain I would end up in a cloud, and find no photos whatsoever. It was true, I did indeed wind up in a cloud, looking for clearings, but there was yet hope. The opposite ridge was clear, a sign there might yet be breaks in the clouds.

I passed site after site with no respite, and was about to call it. Even my stubbornness has its limits after all. Despite that, I set a area for the turn, and halfway there at Caney Fork this scene set, unfolding. A small portion of the scene was blooming with light, the clouds slowly dropping down, and swirling through the scene. Rain settling, and at last I was ready to start. Perseverance, and being alright to strike out in photography are important traits. Not every trip will result in a photo, but through experience you may yet find those occasions happening less and less.

Until Next Time!

Aperture: f8
ISO: 200
SS: 1/30th
Focal: 84mm

Fujinon 50-140mm