Fog, Layers & My East Tennessee Drive — Why I Got Lost Before I Was Found
I drove out before dawn today, shaking off sleep, chasing that thin line where the valley is half in mist, half in light. The road wound, my headlight beam sliding over curves. I stopped where the ridge opened, got out, and the fog lay in sheets below me. That’s the kind of moment I live for.
Whenever I shoot around Gatlinburg/Townsend, I’m not just collecting pretty frames — I’m chasing depth and mood. The valley scenes, mist, layers of tree lines receding — they tell a story of atmosphere, not just place.
What I look for (and you can, too)
Separation in mid-layers: even when the valley looks “flat,” a twig, branch, or ridgeline at mid-distance gives a reference plane.
Edge highlights: the light brushing leaf edges or mist edges adds definition.
Foreground interest: a rock, root, leaf cluster in bottom third helps ground the image.
Blending exposures carefully: Fog is forgiving in highlights, but pure white kills mood. I slightly underexpose and recover midtones.
Later I walked a short forest spur, let my dog lead. I crouched low, shot upward through leaf canopies, then captured his silhouette with backlight. Back at the car, I sipped coffee and scrolled frames. Some work. Some just remind me why I keep chasing.
If you’re in East Tennessee this fall — get up early. Drive the roads you think you know. Surprise yourself with the view that finally makes you stop.
