Sunrise at Luftee Overlook, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This landscape photograph was taken from Luftee Overlook in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, capturing a panoramic view of the park’s layered mountain ridges. The scene features a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees in mid-autumn, with vibrant fall foliage creating a textured mosaic across the slopes. The image was shot at sunrise under cloudy conditions, where shafts of sunlight penetrate the cloud cover and cast warm beams onto the mist-filled valleys below. This interplay of light and shadow emphasizes the depth and rugged terrain typical of the Appalachian Mountains. Luftee Overlook provides photographers with an elevated vantage point ideal for capturing expansive mountain views combined with seasonal color variations. The soft early morning light and dynamic cloud formations make this location especially rewarding during the golden hour.

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