Here in Virginia, which is suffering from a drought, we'd been having hazy, smoke-filled days from Canadian wildfires. And then one afternoon it rained. It was enough of a good shower to clear the air, so I headed to the Blue Ridge Parkway for sunset. It may not be the most spectacular sunset you've ever seen, but sitting outside for a couple of hours in anticipation of it was a treat. What's unusual about this, though, is that I was getting occasional blobs or dust spots on my photos which required me to wipe off my lens periodically. So even though the air seemed clear, it wasn't. It was a good exercise to see if I could get the tree and the sun in focus. ISO 200, 29 mm, f 14, and 1/80 sec exposure. Canon R6 Mark 2, lens 24-105 f/4. I'm happy for your feedback.
8 comments posted
Larry Treadwell
Hi Tracy
In terms of composition, this may be the strongest image you have submitted thus far. I find the image to be simplistic as it has very few elements and therefore those, such as the tree, that remain have greater impact. There are lots of good leading lines, starting with the foreground rocks and then the various mountain ranges that all lead to the tree. There are no distracting elements and the image is clean and simple. Posted: 08/03/2026 21:26:13
Michael Jack
A lot of things to like about this image. The bright sun and colorful clouds balance the tree. The diagonals of the clouds nearly match the slope up to the tree. The exposure indicating late evening works for me. Nicely done. Posted: 08/04/2026 19:25:42
Barbara Gore
Hi Tracy. This is a lovely image, and simplicity goes a long way. The low-lying haze, the lone tree on the mountain, and the diffused sun shining through the clouds create a peaceful scene. I can understand why you enjoyed that quiet time waiting for the shot. Compositionally, the tree and the sun keep my eye centered, and the image is sharp with good exposure. Very nice. Could you tell me which mile marker on the Blue Ridge Parkway this tree is located at? Posted: 08/05/2026 14:45:25
Tracy Kaminer
Thank you, Barbara. It's 10.7 on the BRP in Virginia. Not far from me, so let me know if you head up this way. Posted: 08/05/2026 14:54:29
Bill Peake
That's a beautiful image, Tracy. The tree in the foreground is the focus but it leads the eye to the haze covered mountains and the sunset in the background. Really a wonderful job! Posted: 08/10/2026 20:48:11
Adi Ben-Senior
Tracy, Believe it or not I have a photo of the same tree. Only yours is better. I came across it accidently driving the parkway and I can't seem to remember where exactly. If you can share the location - that is great. You kept the subject above the horizon, and that adds a lot. The sunset is the icing on the cake. Great job
Posted: 08/14/2026 00:40:09
Tracy Kaminer
Adi, Thank you for posting that! Very cool. It's mile 10.7 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. Posted: 08/14/2026 13:44:39
Grace Cohen
One of the key skills I believe all good photographers have is ... patience. If you envision your shot in advance and wait for the elements to come together, sometimes you get well-rewarded, and this is such a case. Nice shot! Posted: 08/21/2026 22:08:10
