The weather was a key player in this recent trip to photograph in the Smoky Mountains and southern Blue Ridge Parkway. For the Smoky Mountains, the atmosphere and clouds are what really captures the personality of the park. The Cherokee name for this area was a perfect definition of it's many moods. This is one of the most photographed views in Smoky Mountain National Park because it constantly changes even minute by minute. On this morning, almost all the crowd of photographers left as soon as the sun broke the horizon. For those who waited longer, this was it's next show. It pays to be patient.